Significance of family of orthodox priest in pastoral ministry: theological approach

• Main Author: Nikolay Emelyanov
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: St. Tikhon's Orthodox University 2019-12-01
• Series: Вестник Православного Свято-Тихоновского гуманитарного университета: Серия I. Богословие, философия
• Subjects: пастырское богословие; богословие священства; богословие семьи; семья священника; пастырское служение; баланс жизни и труда; баланс семьи и труда; богословие брака; брак в православии; таинство Брака; исследования семьи
• Online Access: http://periodical.pstgu.ru/ru/pdf/article/6863

This article deals with a theological topicalisation of the issue of the priest’s family. Analysing Russian courses in pastoral theology, both pre-revolutionary and designed in Russian theological high schools and in emigration in Soviet times, one can easily notice that the priest’s family is only discussed in the perspective of practical problems in choosing the fi ancée, the degree of participation of the wife of the priest in the life of the parish, specifi c problems of the priest’s family life, etc. In Russian literature, there is almost no theological interpretation of the priest’s family and its significance in pastoral service. This article attempts to give such interpretation through the notion of fatherhood, and through protective, maintaining and limiting role and missionary signifi cance of the priest’s family. The conclusion is that the priest’s family makes up one of the determining factors in pastoral ministry.