ROC bans priests from speaking on behalf of church without blessing
The changes were made after the commission of the Inter-Council Presence revealed the absence in the current oath of provisions on the behavior of clergy in social networks. The Synod also approved a single text of the interrogation before ordination. n
The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) has supplemented the text of the oath given by priests during ordination with a ban on publicly speaking on behalf of the church without a blessing, according to the journals of the Holy Synod published on the website of the Russian Orthodox Church.
In addition, priests should “not allow statements in the media and when using the Internet (including social networks and other social media) that discredit the Orthodox Church or distort its teachings.”.
The changes were prepared after the work of the commission of the Inter-Council Presence on church administration, pastoralism and organization of church life on the topic of priests’ activities in social networks. The Commission concluded that certain issues related to this activity were not covered by the current oath.
In addition, the Holy Synod approved the unified texts of the proxies interrogation during ordination to the rank of presbyter and deacon. Previously, there was no single approved text. To examine the practice, the commission requested documents used in dioceses and received 209 responses.
The approved texts of the oath and interrogation will be published on the official website of the Russian Orthodox Church and sent to the diocese. The commission was also instructed to develop a separate text of the probe interrogation for monastics.
At the same meeting, the Synod released Bishop Kirill of Sergiev-Posad and Dmitrov from the post of Viceroy of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. The new viceroy was appointed Bishop of Armavir and Labinsky Savva, who will receive the title “Zaraisky” and leave the administration of the Armavir diocese.
Bishop Kirill will retain the administration of the Sergiev-Posad diocese and the post of rector of the Moscow Theological Academy.
Also at the meeting, the Synod replaced the viceroy of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg. Instead of Bishop Nazarius of Kronstadt, this post was taken by Bishop Benjamin of Ardatov and Atyashev, who left the administration of his diocese and received the title of Kronstadt.
