“I will go to the monastery!”, Many of us pronounce such a phrase in a comic form, without attaching importance to this expression. However, some young people are seriously thinking about forgetting worldly life, disappointed in love, friendship or tired of injustice and indifference of others. It is not easy to become a priest, this is a rather difficult path, but if you have made a firm decision to devote yourself to serving God, then you will need a huge endurance and power of faith. So how to become a priest?
How to become a priest
Before you pass special training, a young man should prepare his spirit in advance for righteous life and purity. This is achieved by teaching yourself to prayers, and this desire should proceed “from the inside”, you must sincerely thank God for everything that you have, and also ask for your neighbors who are in trouble.
It is important to learn how to tame your lust and bodily flesh. The future clergyman must protect his soul from “worldly entertainment”, not listen to unacceptable music, avoid all kinds of entertainment and obscene companies.
The future priest must definitely read the Holy Scriptures, seek and understand the Word of God.
Time in temples and churches as often as possible, read prayers, communicate with God.
How to become a priest
Only baptized faces are allowed to the priesthood, they can become members of the church and enter its hierarchy.
All of the above recommendations relate only to bodily and spiritual preparation for the service of God. To enter the theological seminary, you will need a recommendation of a parish clergyman. Without recommendations, independent zeal to become a priest is considered a manifestation of vanity, which in itself is a sin. The parish priest decides whether you are ready to serve God (what is your experience of spiritual life) and in case of positive consideration, will give you a recommendation. The age of the future student of the seminary from 18 to 35 years, he can be idle or consist in the first and only marriage, also a candidate for clergy should have at least a complete secondary education. For admission, you will have to pass the reception exams, as well as go through an interview in the selection committee in order to identify the degree of your submission about church life and introduction to it. You should know the biblical history, the main prayers (for example, “Glory to you, our God, glory to you”, “The Most Holy Trinity…”, “Our Father…”,” The Virgin Mary, Rejoice…”), And if you are able to read in the Church Slavonic, this will be an advantage in exams.
How to become a priest
In addition to church history, the candidate must know and be interested in the spiritual and cultural heritage of our country, and also be interested in the political, social processes taking place in modern society.
The most famous and recognized centers of church education in our country are the Moscow Theological Seminary and the Moscow Theological Academy.
A citizen of the Russian Federation from any region of the country and citizens of the CIS countries, near or far abroad can enter the Moscow Theological Seminary. Candidates are accepted from those countries where Christianity is not the main religion.
Admission to the theological seminary is the same for all educational institutions, differences only in the disciplines that will need to be taken in the entrance exams, so make sure that the rules of receipt in the educational institution where you are going to enter.
Having entered the seminary, 100% of the confidence that you will become a priest, since the final decision will make the leadership of the seminary. It is important to remember: the clergy are spiritual mentors and leaders of the people, therefore the highest requirements are imposed on their personal qualities. The future priest must have a depth (fortress) of faith, morality and impeccable reputation.