Prior Military Service & Priesthood

Nektarios14 · Post by **Nektarios14** » Thu 13 May 2004 7:20 pm

Nothing really can stop you from entering the monstatic life if you have the desire to repent. And that is all you should go to a monastery to do...repent. If there is a need in the community and the monastery's spiritual father chooses you, then you can become a priest. But to go to a monastery with the desire to attain a certain rank is not good.

PFC Nektarios · Post by **PFC Nektarios** » Thu 13 May 2004 8:07 pm

I am not looking to the monastic life to attain a certain rank. I wish to serve God and the Church as a Priest living the monastic life.

Thank you for all your replies they were very helpfull and mind easing.

In Christ
Nektarios

P.S. I have made contact with the chaplain already. Father Jerome is his name.

Nektarios14 · Post by **Nektarios14** » Fri 14 May 2004 2:19 am

The problem though is that there is a certain sutble clericalism (in a negative sense of the word) in wanting to be a priest to fulfill your personal piety. Becoming a priest should be done in order to fill a need of the church.

PFC Nektarios · Post by **PFC Nektarios** » Fri 14 May 2004 3:37 am

Well I did hear some good news. I recieved this from an Orthodox Priest in my E-Mail Inbox.

Christ is risen!
It is traditionally understood that one who has taken the life of
another may not be ordained; at the same time, decisions to ordain are solely within the jurisdiction of the Church's hierarchy and, as such, it is my understanding that each person's situation is examined individually and that, should a hierarch find cause, economia may or may not be applied to such situations. Ultimately, I would suggest that you speak with your bishop and/or Father Confessor about your situation and seek his advice.
In Christ,
Father John

So I gather there is some hope still left.

In Christ
Nektarios

Justin2 · Post by **Justin2** » Sat 15 May 2004 3:01 pm

I have to admit, I've thought about that a lot, killing people in war, and what effect it will have on my spiritual progress and condition. I must say in full honesty that I feel like my path in Orthodoxy has become far rockier and more difficult since joining the military, because you have to contend against so many new, often instilled emotions contrary to what The Church says (pride and wrath are the first two that come to mind). My spiritual father didn't seem too thrilled about my desire to join the Army, but he didn't tell me not to do it, either. I also spoke to Geronda Paisios in Arizona about it, and his reaction, although not forbidding, wasn't exactly positive, either. As you can guess, this might leave one feeling a bit uneasy about things. In the end, I'm only hopeful that Christ will see me through this six-year stint in my life (and more, if I remain active) and forgive me in the end for anything I (have to?) do during the course of my military career.

ania · Post by **ania** » Mon 17 May 2004 11:03 am

Justin,
I think you'll be ok. Remember Russia had a military going way back. Monastaries were used as fortresses. (In Troista Sergiva Lavra, in the church where lies St. Sergius, in one of the doors there is a large hole where a French cannonball went through, I believe in the 1812 war,) the monks, even if they didn't fight, participated in military activity since the dawn of Orthodoxy in Russia.

/\RT3|\/|0|\| · Post by **/\RT3|\/|0|\|** » Wed 19 May 2004 2:07 am

Hi Nektarios I read your question and what I learned is according to the canons of the Church if an Orthodox Christian kills in military service he (the one who killed) can not recieve communion for three years and he can not ever be ordained to any part of the clergyhood, ie. Deacon-Priest-Bishop if there is a Bishop saying it's o.k. then unfortunatly he's not telling the truth it's not o.k. and it is forbidden in one of the Ecumenical councels, I'll try and find out which one and I 'll post it. Love in Xrictoc !