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St John of Shanghai
Yet all the while, he must always remain a clergyman and pastor. Joining any party, with submission
to its discipline, in unacceptable. It is also inappropriate for a pastor to become immersed in the
purely mundane side of public affairs. Everything that can be done by the laity should be left to them,
while the pastors work is to strive to concentrate on spiritual matters.
The priesthood is the light of the world, and its participation in public life should consist of sanctifying
the way of personal, public, and state life. The clergymans duty is to indicate the moral foundations
upon which society should be constructed and to inspire its activity, imbuing it with the spirit of
Christs teaching. Himself not descending into the thick of daily cares, the pastor must hover above
his flock, vigilantly watching over it, descending when those weak in spirit or body need support, to
prevent and confront evil, to encourage good deeds and ascetic struggles, and to fortify works of
good. The most sublime and important gift of the clergyman to the community is his calling to send
down upon them the blessing and grace of God, for which the pastor must be especially diligent in
prayer and, remembering that he is above all a servant of God, to be an example of the believers, in
word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12), and in prayer, example,
and instruction to lead them to the Kingdom of God.
Decree on Attracting Parishioners to Participate in the Divine Services
Decree No. 70, November 8, 1951.
For more active and effective participation of the faithful in the divine services, rectors of churches
and all clergy are encouraged to attract the laity as much as possible to read and sing on kliros, as
well as boys and young men to serve in the altar during divine services. In addition, they are
instructed to introduce the singing, if possible, of certain parts of the divine services, or even their
entirety, by all the faithful, in imitation of the ancient Church. It goes without saying that the common
singing of the following should be performed on all Sundays and feast days: at the Liturgy, the Creed
and the Our Father; and at the All-Night Vigil, when appointed, Having beheld the Resurrection of
Christ. To enact this it is useful to send a part of the choir into the middle of the church and for the
deacon or the choir director to guide the singing.
Decree on the Possibility of Clergy Testifying as Witnesses
Decree No. 424, December 29, 1954.
In cases of appeal by the authorities to give testimony in the capacity of witnesses, clergy should be
guided by the following:
If invited to testify regarding some event or incident that a priest saw as a casual observer or that he
knows in common with other people, he can and should give testimony as a witness.
If, however, the authorities propose that he testify to something that he knows through his pastoral
position or activity, then a priest should not be a witness on such matters, for anyone can approach
a priest as a spiritual father without fear that something will become known to outsiders.
In the case that the authorities require elucidation of some event of public or church life and propose
that a priest give evidence, the latter should declare that he is not authorized to do such; he should
suggest that they appeal to the ecclesiastical authorities, who can always give appropriate
explanations.
Decree to Clergy on the Commemoration of Suicides
Decree No. 489, October 8, 1955.
Clergy are reminded, for unwavering and exact compliance, that the church canons prohibit the
commemoration at the Divine Liturgy of suicides, as well as the performance of funerals and the
serving of panikhidas for them. In cases when the person had previously been in a home for the
mentally ill or when there were other exceptional circumstances, it must be submitted for the
consideration of the bishop; without his permission no one should dare to perform sacred rites selfwillfully.
Decree on the Impermissibility of Participating in Amusements on the Eves of Sundays and
Feast Days
The holy canons decree that Christians should spend the eves of feast days in prayer and
reverence, preparing for participation or attendance at the Divine Liturgy. If all Orthodox Christians
are so called upon, then all the more does this directly concern those who participate in the church
services. Their participation in entertainments on the eves of feast days is especially sinful. In view
of this, those who are present on the eves of Sundays or feast days at balls or similar entertainments
and amusements cannot participate the following day in the choir, serve in the altar, enter the alter,
or stand on kliros.
Decree to Clergy and Choir Singers
It behooves one always to remember and recognize that church singing is prayer and that the
singing of prayers should be performed reverently, to evoke prayer in those standing in church.
Unacceptable are melodies and hymns that are pleasing only to the ear, but in content or execution
are not conducive to prayer or, likewise, do not correspond to the given divine service or event
celebrated on that day by the Church. At the same time, the behavior of those singing should be
reverent and in accordance with the high calling of church singers, who unite their voices with those
of the Angels.
Supervision thereof is the responsibility of those leading the singing and of the clergy celebrating the
divine services, whose instructions should be carried out unquestioningly.
Decree on the Impermissibility of Venerating Icons While Wearing Lipstick
Clergy, and especially church rectors, are obliged to pay attention that no one wearing lipstick
venerate the icons, cross, or anything sacred, leaving on them a trace of lipstick. It should be posted
at the church entrance and repeatedly explained in sermons how great a sin it is for persons to defile
holy things with unclean touch; how those going to church should clean off the lipstick or else not
venerate anything; and never to partake of the Holy Gifts of Christ without having thoroughly cleaned
their lips.
in the altar
Inasmuch as our earthly divine services are an image of the heavenly divine services, the bishop
represents Christ Himself; the priests represent the Apostles; the deacons represent the Seraphim
and Cherubim; and the altar servers represent the Archangels and Angels, who invisibly served
Christ during His earthly life and eternally glorify Him in heaven.
Therefore, just as the angels in heaven keep strict order, with the younger subservient to the older,
so too should very strict order be kept among altar servers. The younger should unquestioningly do
what they are told by their seniors, just as the angels speedily perform orders given them by the
senior angels.
At the same time, one should not seek out seniority, remembering the Lords words: Whosoever will
be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be
your servant (Matthew 20:26-27).
We should willingly carry out every work entrusted to us, so that we may hear from the Lord: Well
done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler
over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord (Matthew 25:21).
Rules for Altar Servers
1. In order to serve in the altar one must receive a blessing from the priest; or, at a hierarchal
service, from the bishop.
2. Come to church before the beginning of the service.
3. Entering the altar, one must cross oneself facing the Holy Table and make three full prostrations
on ordinary days, or bows from the waist on Sundays and Feasts of the Lord.
4. Those who are not serving are forbidden to enter the altar.
5. Only those intending to serve may enter the altar.
6. Ties should be removed before vesting in the sticharion.
7. After removing the sticharion, one should fold it neatly or hang it in its place.
8. In the altar one must not converse, laugh, or run around the church; moreover, one may not eat
anything during the service.
9. All readers and altar servers should wear the sticharion. In order to remove the sticharion, one
must receive a blessing from the priest; or, at a hierarchal service, from the bishop.
10. Altar servers remove their sticharion when communing of the Holy Gifts, except for readers.
11. Do not touch the Holy Table or the Table of Oblations.
12. Do not walk around the church during the reading of the Gospel, Epistle, and from the
exclamation The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ until the exclamation May the mercy of our great
God and Savior Jesus Christ be with you all.
13. Ones hands should be clean before putting on the sticharion.
14. No items unrelated to the divine services should be kept in the altar or vestry.
15. It is not permitted to sit while wearing the sticharion.
16. Before exiting with the candle and ripdia, altar servers should cross themselves before the icon
behind the Holy Table and bow to the bishop or priest standing before the Holy Table. Upon
reentering the altar, the altar server does the same as before exiting.
17. One needs to remember that the altar is a most holy place, and one needs to stand in it with
special reverence, and passing by the High Place in the altar one must cross oneself, and follow the
service attentively.
18. During the Creed and the Our Father all altar servers exit onto the ambo for the common singing.
19. During the Communion of the clergy, all altar servers stand reverently in the altar, and before the
sermon they all go onto the ambo to listen.
20. Those who violate the rules for altar servers will stand on the left kliros until the completion of
the divine service