A good father and mother love their children more than themselves and provide all the necessary nurturing care necessary for their children to grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. Good children love and obey their parents. A proper order exists. The parents are not obedient to their children, but the other way around. Everyone loves one another. This is a healthy hierarchy, an order not based on power over others, but a balanced family relationship rooted in self-giving love. Within the Church, some have received greater authority and higher positions than others. The Church is a well-ordered, hierarchical family.
Within a marriage, the husband is the head, that is, the head servant responsible for loving his wife, living for his wife’s benefit, and, if necessary, dying for his wife’s sake. If you are in authority over others, you must be a servant, too. This is what being the chief means: Working as the chief servant. Our Master, Jesus Christ, taught the nature of spiritual leadership when He washed His own Disciples’ feet and dried them with a towel. For this reason, a simple towel serves as a powerful symbol of family hierarchy, humble leadership, and obedient servanthood within the Church. A leader in the Church is one who serves, being an icon of humility and an example of obedience.
A Bishop, even one holding the high office of Patriarch, must be humbly obedient to the decisions of His brother Bishops who together form the Synod. Everyone over whom the Bishop is a spiritual Shepherd is called to be obedient to the Bishop and to the Priests, who are given authority to serve as spiritual fathers, pastors, and ministers. Again, this is not a hierarchy of power, but a balanced family structure rooted in love.
Consider the Deacon with regard to proper, reverent obedience. The Deacon does not put on his vestments until the Priest blesses him to do so. Before he leads the people in a prayerful litany, the Deacon receives the blessing of the Priest. Before he census with the censor, the Deacon asks the Priest to bless the incense. The Deacon does not presume to lift up the Gospel Book from the Holy Altar, but instead receives it from the hand of the Priest as he kisses the Priest’s hand. Before he reads the Holy Gospel, the Deacon asks the Priest to bless him. The Deacons is an icon of humility and obedience.
When the Bishop visits an Orthodox community, much of what the Priest usually does is performed by the Bishop, who is superior in office and authority to the Priest. The Priest does not bless the Deacon, the people, or the incense when the Bishop is there because the Bishop offers the blessings. The Priest does not presume to put on his vestments when the Bishop is visiting until he receives a blessing from the Bishop. When he offers prayers during the services, the Priest and Deacon often bow to the Bishop in reverence and recognition of His authority.
The spiritual life flourishes in the community characterized by good order, loyal obedience, and mutual love. Love and respect those who have been set in authority over you for the benefit of your salvation and endeavor to love and serve others. Strive to be a leader within the Church by being a faithful servant of Jesus Christ. If you live this Way, you will contribute to the harmony within your spiritual family and also nurture peace and harmony within yourself. Remember, this is part of your spiritual therapy for the healing of your soul and the fulfillment of your potential and purpose.
Read: Matthew 20:20-28; Matthew 25.14-30; John 13:1-17; 21.1-25; Acts 6.1-8; 20.28; 2 Corinthians 11.22-33; Ephesians 5.1-33; Hebrews 13.7, 17; 1 Peter 5.1-4
Text copyright © 2018 by Fr. Symeon D. S. Kees