Elusive Priest: Transformation of the Russian Orthodox Church’ Normative Discourse on Presbyter Ministry

Abstract

The article addresses one of the major issues of Orthodox pastoral education, namely the ways of how the image of presbyter ministry is being formed. Based on official texts constituting the normative discourse, the author traces the transformation of the “official” image of priest in terms of his functions and consequently points at today’s transition from the traditional position of priest to that of church diaconal or missional specialist.

Keywords

• russian orthodox church
• priest
• pastoral action
• practical theology
• pastoral theology
• normative discourse
• image of priest
• русская православная церковь
• священник
• пастырское действие
• практическое богословие
• пастырское богословие
• нормативный дискурс
• образ священника