This is a good overview it seems to me. In my experience, the best Priests and Bishops are those who take their role as spiritual father and pious example very seriously and with great humility. Sadly, the ideal of who ought to be ordained is sometimes very greatly missed, and I have seen parishes divided and sheep savaged by Bishops, Priests (and laity) with “wolvish vices”. I’ve been on the receiving end of some of that, and it taught me a lot about the critical importance of finding a good spiritual father with whom we can feel safe, especially when we are very young in the faith. Proper obedience to a spiritual father is not blind or servile. Even Priests with many gifts and virtues, who successfully build up the faith of many, can have blind spots or failings that cause little ones in Christ’s flock to stumble. It is an awesome responsibility to be a Priest or Bishop, and as Orthodox faithful, we should always pray fervently for our clergy.
Likewise the people went where Jesus was. Throughout scripture it is written that when the people heard He was there, they flocked to Him and/or followed Him.
This is a good overview it seems to me. In my experience, the best Priests and Bishops are those who take their role as spiritual father and pious example very seriously and with great humility. Sadly, the ideal of who ought to be ordained is sometimes very greatly missed, and I have seen parishes divided and sheep savaged by Bishops, Priests (and laity) with “wolvish vices”. I’ve been on the receiving end of some of that, and it taught me a lot about the critical importance of finding a good spiritual father with whom we can feel safe, especially when we are very young in the faith. Proper obedience to a spiritual father is not blind or servile.
Even Priests with many gifts and virtues, who successfully build up the faith of many, can have blind spots or failings that cause little ones in Christ’s flock to stumble. It is an awesome responsibility to be a Priest or Bishop, and as Orthodox faithful, we should always pray fervently for our clergy.
Jesus went to where the people were.
Likewise the people went where Jesus was. Throughout scripture it is written that when the people heard He was there, they flocked to Him and/or followed Him.