Do Orthodox Move Priests a Lot?? And Pencils and Prayer Ropes

Markie Boy said:

OK - two things here:

1. Do Orthodox move priest around like the RCC, where a priest is only at a parish usually 5 years or so, and then they shuffle them around? (poor practice in my opinion, makes it hard to build anything.)

2. Funny - I stumble on to Pencils and Prayer Ropes - this one cracked me up in the middle where they show the differences between Catholic and Orthodox priests -

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My experience is that when an GOA priest graduates, he is installed at a church under an experienced priest for a few years then might be moved around once or twice before settling into a permanent parish. Since most of them have families, uprooting them every so often isnt an ideal situation.

As for the video... I wish to become one with the beard but my wife wont let me grow it any longer than what you see in my profile picture.

In the OCA, I haven’t seen much moving around, though ultimately the priest is under the direction of the bishop, and if the bishop directs them to move for the benefit of the Church, then they obey that. I think it would be done in conjunction with talking to the priest though.

For my parish, we have had the same priest for 12 years - and I don’t want him to leave! The other OCA Church has a priest who 12 years ago was the junior priest at that parish. The senior priest retired and still attends that parish.

We do, however, have an “intern” priest at our parish right now. He was there as a deacon before being ordained and now is there as a priest in training. Our parish families host him for weekends since he doesn’t live in this area. He is there for awhile to learn under an established priest and will eventually be given to a long term parish. He’s part of our church family though

Our previous deacon, now ordained, was asked to move to a different parish from his first one (first as a priest) due to needs of the Church as a whole, so it certainly can happen. It isn’t like an evangelical church where the church hires the pastor - and the pastor has full control if or when he decides to retire or move.

I think the Greeks in the US are the only ones to move priests a bit. Our parish has had I think 4 or 5 priests in the last 50 years (two of those retired out, and the one who is still alive visits and celebrates with us when he is in town - and one was not a good fit and only stayed a few years).

Our priest just got reassigned after 7 years with us. He served first under an experienced priest, and ours was his first parish. He's a very good priest and I think the move is related to the fact that he is able to handle more responsibility.

We are getting a priest who was ordained 4 years ago and has been serving under another priest.

I think these things are common with the Greeks. Not moving for the sake of shuffling, but as the priest matures to match the need. Sometimes we have had longer-term priests who retired from us.

The other jurisdictions seem to do much less of this. The priest at the Antiochian parish near us is fairly youngish and still raising his family, but expects to serve his parish for the rest of his life. There's a comfort in that, IMO.

priests move as needed. some I have known move a lot, some not so much.

I think that depends on your area

Markie Boy said:

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I believe it's more common now than in the past atlast concerning the GOA.

For example a very large parish I attended ordained a priest in 1962 and remained their till his retirement like 45 years later. The second co-priest of the community was there for over 30 years as well. Another community nearby hadthe same priest from the time they built the church in 1980 till his retirement a few years ago and still retains an office in the church to this day!
But lately I think it's become more common especially with the newer priests.

Markie Boy said:

Do Orthodox move priest around like the RCC

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Not at all - or very, very rare - in Romania, Greece, Cyprus, Jerusalem, Serbia.

JohnTh said:

Not at all - or very, very rare - in Romania, Greece, Cyprus, Jerusalem, Serbia.

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I have to admit, I'm wishing that was the case here.

It takes time to build a relationship of trust with a priest - at least it had for me. And with a very good priest. To be losing him right now and starting over - and knowing that the new one will likely leave in some years too ...

Well it would be a comfort to expect stability of place, for all of us.

Not to mention with our parish size, we will always receive relatively inexperienced priests.

I would just add, that with communication the way it is today, you can still keep in contact with your former pastors. I certainly do for prayer and advice.

ArmyMatt said:

I would just add, that with communication the way it is today, you can still keep in contact with your former pastors. I certainly do for prayer and advice.

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That's a good point. I just feel like I should balance it with (1) not being over-dependent on a particular person in a way that's not appropriate and (2) not causing him even MORE work when he's going to be responsible for an even larger parish and still having increasing responsibilities within the archdiocese.

Forgive me. I know I'm whining and complaining and I wish I wasn't. I'm trying to figure out how to navigate this though, and I appreciate everyone's patience.

If it wasn’t for Fr Justin Orthodoxy would probably be just a distant memory. Being an introvert I can very easily visit a congregation for years without anybody ever knowing my name but Fr Justin not only greets me by name but when possible gives me a quick hug and asks how I’m doing and he means it. It’s probably from years of doing confessions but he can sum up the situation quickly and always tries to help you move to the next step. Also when you know them for an extended period of time you see them go through their struggles and it causes a richer level of relationship.

Tigger45 said:

If it wasn’t for Fr Justin Orthodoxy would probably be just a distant memory. Being an introvert I can very easily visit a congregation for years without anybody ever knowing my name but Fr Justin not only greets me by name but when possible gives me a quick hug and asks how I’m doing and he means it. It’s probably from years of doing confessions but he can sum up the situation quickly and always tries to help you move to the next step. Also when you know them for an extended period of time you see them go through their struggles and it causes a richer level of relationship.

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Thanks for Fr. Justin then.

I've met many Orthodox priests, and often could quickly see something good and admirable in them. (Some are just harder to get to know.)

But they are called "Father" for a reason. And deeper relationships take time.

Maybe it's partly that I had nonexistent or bad relationships with my father, stepfather, and pretty much other male role models as I was growing up. I'm long past a young age, but it was still a healing thing - and good for relating to a Heavenly Father in a new way as well.

Yeah, I'm still sorting through this, it seems. Our priest is younger than me, but not by too many years. The newer priest ... is probably easily young enough to be my son. As I get even older (God willing), I guess I'm going to have to get over that anyway.

~Anastasia~ said:

That's a good point. I just feel like I should balance it with (1) not being over-dependent on a particular person in a way that's not appropriate and (2) not causing him even MORE work when he's going to be responsible for an even larger parish and still having increasing responsibilities within the archdiocese.

Forgive me. I know I'm whining and complaining and I wish I wasn't. I'm trying to figure out how to navigate this though, and I appreciate everyone's patience.

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you're not whining. it's a legit issue when a priest leaves (or when you do).

ArmyMatt said:

you're not whining. it's a legit issue when a priest leaves (or when you do).

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Thank you Father.

ArmyMatt said:

I would just add, that with communication the way it is today, you can still keep in contact with your former pastors. I certainly do for prayer and advice.

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yep, I've been keeping in touch with the priest that received me in to Orthodoxy in the meantime while I was finding a parish and now while I'm starting to build a relationship with the priests there

AMM said:

yep, I've been keeping in touch with the priest that received me in to Orthodoxy in the meantime while I was finding a parish and now while I'm starting to build a relationship with the priests there

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same here. former priests always helped me through seminary. lots of my classmates did that as well with their former priests.

~Anastasia~ said:

Thank you Father.

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no probs.