My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
THE PRIESTHOOD–EARTHLY AND ETERNAL
"Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for
under it the people received the law), what further need was there
that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizwdek,
and not be called according to the order of Aaron? [Hebrews 7:11).
"And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek,
there arises another priest who has come, not according to the
law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an
endless life. For He testifies:
'You are a priest forever
According to the order of
Melchizedek" [Hebrews 7:14-17).
"And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath (for
they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath
by Him who said to Him:
'The LORD has sworn
And will not relent,
You are a priest forever
According to the order of
Melchizedek"), by so much more Jesus has become a surety of
a better covenant. Also there were many priests, because they
were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He
continues forever, has AN UNCHANGEABLE PRIESTHOOD.
Therefore HE is also able to save to the uttermost those who
come to God through Him, since He always lives to make
intercession for them. For such a High Priest ws fitting for us,
who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and
has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily,
as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own
sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when
He offered up Himself.
For the law appoints as high priests men who have
weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law,
APPOINTS the Son Who has been perfected forever" [Hebrews 7:20-28].
A major theme of the Book of Hebrews is the contrast between the earthly, or Levitical, priesthood, and the eternal priesthood of Melchizedek, which is fulfilled IN CHRIST. The Levitical Priesthood, established by Aaron of the Tribe of Levi, is limited simply because those who fill it are ordinary human beings. The Levitical priests carry out God’s instructions and assist the people in their worship, but they cannot ultimately reconcile people with God.
The mysterious figure of Melchizedek, on the other hand, represents an entirely different kind of Priesthood. Melchizedek appears in Genesis {Gen. 14:18-20), long before the establishment of the Levitical priesthood. He is given no genealogy, and nothing is said of his death. He receives tithes from Abraham, implying he is superior to Abraham in rank–and by extension, superior to Abraham’s descendants, the Levites. Melchizedek is NOT ONLY a priest but a KING as well. In this dual office he is able to reconcile the justice of God (the business of a king), with His mercy (the business of a priest). His name means "King of Righteousness," and his title "King of Salem" [Genesis 14:18) means "King of Peace." He may be A THEOPHANY–A PREINCARNATE APPEARANCE OF CHRIST; AT THE VERY LEAST IS A TYPE OF CHRIST, AS THE AUTHOR OF HEBREWS EXPLAINS IN DETAIL.
There are several specific points of contrast between the Levitical priesthood and the priesthood
of Melchizedek, which is fulfilled in Christ.
The Priesthood of Levi
(1) Genealogical requirement: The Levitical
priesthood is limited to one Tribe. It cannot
transform mortal and corrupt humanity,
because it consists of mere men.
(2) Ordination: The power given at ordination is
incomplete. The Levitical priesthood is weak, its
sacrifices have to be repeated, and it cannot perfect
the worshippers. It CANNOT RECONCILE PEOPLE
TO GOD, NOR GIVE THEM THE INNER POWER TO
OBEY. THE ORDINATION IS WITHOUT DIRECT
CONFIRMATION FROM GOD.
(3)Term of office: The Levitical priesthood is temporary.
Since it is composed of mortal men, it requires many
members.
(4) Moral and spiritual requirements. These must be less
than perfection, for the Levitical priests are all created
beings subject to sin.
THE PRIESTHOOD OF MELCHIZEDEK
As Melchizedek was without earthly genealogy, so is Christ by virtue of His virgin birth. He is God incarnate, immortal and sinless, and therefore His priesthood is able to transform humanity. The power given at ordination is strong and effective. The power of Christ's Priesthood is PERFECT AND DRAWS US NEAR TO GOD. HIS SACRIFICE IS OFFERED ONCE FOR ALL. The Father Himself ORDAINS THE SON.
Since Christ IS IMMORTAL, the PRIESTHOOD OF MELCHIZEDEK NEEDS ONLY ONE, ETERNAL PRIEST. The REQUIREMENT OF PERFECT HOLINESS IS MET IN CHRIST, THE ONLY SINLESS ONE. HE IS MORE THAN MERE MAN–HE IS THE SON OF GOD.
According to the Orthodox Holy Tradition of the Church in every good work we ask the blessing of God and the help of God, can we imagine entering upon such an exalted and responsible pastoral ministry–entering upon it for whole life–without the invocation of God's Grace which this labor, which cooperates with it and strengthens the future pastor? This blessing does indeed take place. It is brought down upon the one approaches with sacred trembling to the reception of the sacred ministry in the Mystery of Priesthood, through THE LAYING ON OF HANDS BY A BISHOP WHO HIMSELF BEARS BY SUCCESSION THE GRACE OF THE PRIESTHOOD, ACCOMPANIED BY THE PRAYER OF THE ENTIRE CONGREGATION OF CLERGY AND PEOPLE WHO ARE PRESENT AT THE DIVINE SERVICE. IT IS CALLED THE Mystery of CHEIROTONIA.
The Holy Scripture gives direct and clear indications that placing in the rank of Priesthood is the communion of a special Grace-giving mystical gift, without which this ministry cannot be fulfilled. The Holy Apostles, by the authority of Christ, established THREE HIERARCHICAL DEGREES, and that for the raising up of selected persons into three degrees THERE WAS ESTABLISHED ORDINATION, WHICH COMMUNICATES TO THEM THE ACTIVE GRACE OF GOD, WHICH IS INDISPENSABLE FOR THEIR MINISTRY (DIAKONIA). It goes without saying that the SUCCESSORS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES, THE BISHOPS, had to fulfill precisely what had been decreed by the Apostles: THAT IS, ORDINATION THROUGH LAYING ON OF HANDS, JOINING TO IT THE SAME EXALTED MEANING AND THE SAME SIGNIFICANCE THAT WERE GIVEN BY THE HOLY APOSTLES.
And so it has been in actual fact in the Church in later times. Although in the early Church ordination to the rank of PRIESTHOOD OCCURRED AFTER A GENERAL ELECTION, WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE CHURCH COMMUNITY OR THE LOCAL CHURCH, THIS "ORDINATION" ITSELF WAS AN ACT TOTALLY SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM THE AGREEMENT OR ELECTION, AND IT WAS PERFORMED BY PERSONS EQUAL IN THEIR AUTHORITY TO THE APOSTLES, AND WHO WERE THEIR SUCCESSORS:THE BISHOPS. So it has remained up to our days. Among the earliest testimonies of this we may indicate the homily of Saint Irenaeus of Lyons (2nd century), which says: "One must follow those presbyters (in the sense of the 'eldest' in the Church, that is, bishops) who are in the Church and who have THE SUCCESSION FROM THE APOSTLES, AND WHO, TOGETHER WITH THE SUCCESSION OF THE EPISCOPACY, BY THE GOOD DISPOSITION OF THE FATHER, HAVE RECEIVED THE RELIABLE GIFT OF THE TRUTH."
The Apostolic Canons command: "Let a bishop be ordained by two or three bishops. Let a presbyter (priest), deacon, and the rest of the clergy be ordained by one bishop." Here also is established THE UNREPEATABILITY OF THE CHEIROTONIA (ORDINATION: "If any bishop, presbyter, or deacon shall receive from anyone a second ordination, let both the ordained and the ordainer be deposed; unless indeed it can be proved that he has his ordination from heretics." Thus the Grace given in the Cheirotonia (Ordination) of the PRIESTHOOD IS ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE JUST AS UNCHANGING AND INEFFACEABLE AS THE GRACE GIVEN IN BAPTISM. However, the Grace of Cheirotonia (Ordination) IS SPECIAL AND DISTINCT FROM THE GRACE WHICH IS GIVEN IN BAPTISM AND IN THE MYSTERY (SACRAMENT) OF CHRISMATION.
[Resources: The Orthodox Study Bible and Orthodox Dogmatic Theology]
(To be continued)
_____________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +
With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos