www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Tonsured Readers

Dear Brethren,

When someone is tonsured a Reader what role does the tonsure play? Besides being a significant rite which expresses that you are now a part of the minor clergy by receiving this clerical tonsure, and that you should consider yourself cut off from worldliness, does the tonsure fulfill any further purpose? Do tonsured Readers ever attempt to retain the significance of their tonsure by continuing to wear it? Or is this unheard of? If so, what does the tonsure look like. Obviously it is not the Latin Church's style which reminds me of pictures of St. Francis. I have read the total shaving of the head is considered a tonsure in the Eastern Churches. Any thoughts on this?

Trusting in Christ's Light,
Wm. Ghazar Der-Ghazarian

Orthodox Evangelization Mission
www.geocities.com/derghazar/OEM [geocities.com]

When I was tonsured a Reader in the OCA, it included the offices of taper-bearer, chanter, and reader within the ritual. The actual cutting of hair was done in an unobtrusive way, where the hair could grow out easily again. For my first reading after receiving the minor order, an Apostolos (Epistle book) was opened, and the bishop pointed to an arbitrary passage not selected in advance, which I read until he stopped me. After that service, whenever I entered the church for a service, I wore a black cassock and all reading except the Gospel was deferred to me because of my position.

It is mainly in the OCA and other Russian affiliated churches that you see this minor order as an end in itself as far as I know. It and the permanent diaconate are not generally in use among the Greek Orthodox. In churches with Rome I am unaware of its use except as a temporary step toward eventual ordination to the diaconate.

Jim Sprinkle, Cantor
St. Thomas BC Church, Gilbert, AZ

Thanks, Jim, for describing your experience. I hope some can speak to my question of the significance of the tonsure and whether this significance is seen as a one time event or something which is on going.

I wonder about this. I have not been able to find anythin on it for the Melkites. Generally, they only use readers.

Does anybody have any info on Melkite tonsuring of lectors?

Ghazar, I can safely say that there is in me an intuitive knowledge that I am set apart from the laity as a result of receiving this minor order. Even though I left the OCA, I continued to be drawn to the ministry I was ordained to do, and do it to this day. More than that I cannot say.

Ghazar, tonsure generally speaking is a mark of servitude and obedience. The tonsure I received at baptism is supposed to be a lasting mark of that.

Andrew

Dear Friends,

This is why I like Reader's Services so much - it allows me to be a "Home Church Reader" and Cantor, taper-bearer etc.

Although that STILL doesn't qualify me for posting on the Kliros Section

I get into enough trouble in all the other sections as it is, though . . .

Alex

Dear Ghazar,

The tonsure as a Reader is the "setting aside" of the candidate for that purpose (reading/chanting) and admission to the ranks of the minor clergy.

He is under any canons that apply to "any member of the clergy."

The tonsured Reader has the priveledge of wearing the anteri (cassock) without seeking a blessing from the priest or bishop.

The Reader is "owned" by his bishop to the extent that another bishop may not cannonically take him and elevate without permission from the former.

With permission of the proistamenos (priest-in-charge) he may lead Reader's versions of Vespers and Matins and other services, although the non-tonsured/non-ordained laity might also be asked to lead these.

On the spiritual level, I think that we attach too much value to the titles of the church. If one seeks to keep oneself unspotted by the world, a title will neither help nor hinder. For me the titles are functional, carrying responsibilities to perform certain tasks and maintain certain standards of conduct, but also grant priveledges of varying sorts.

In the end, we will all be judged by what we did with what we had.

In Christ,
Andrew,
tonsured Reader

Dear Friends:

If you use the following address you will come to a web-page for Saint Elias the Prophet Ukrainian Catholic Church, Brampton, Ontario, Canada, detailing the ordination of Ilya Galadza as reader etc.


http://www.saintelias.com/ca/mysteries/orders.php


Sincerely
defreitas

Dear Brothers,

Thank Jim and everyone for all your help. In the Armenian Church, much like the Latin, one is ordained unto four minor orders including: Porter, Exorcist, Candle-bearer and Reader. The ecclesiastical or clerical tonsure is given much like Jim described above.

I have a question for Andrew though. You mention that the minor clergy are under any canons that apply to "any member of the clergy." Do you have any idea how one could become familiar with these Canons?

Thanks again,
Ghazar

The only thing with the Latins is that they seem to only install men as Readers who are going on to Deaconate and beyond. The reason being that they want women to read in Church and they can't be installed as Readers. If they have a Reader then he takes precedence over all others to read in Church. So they simply dont do it. They will install men as Acolyte (sub Deacon)on the otherhand, as women can serve along with the other servers. Although I dont know of any adult females who serve mass in Latin Churches (probably by then hve realsied women do enough in church already and move on).

ICXC
NIKA

Dear Ghazar,

Regarding applicable canons, the Armenians and other "Oriental Orthodox" would share with the "Eastern Orthodox" only those up to Chalcedon. I don't know if your Church has had further "Councils," but I would think that it did have such.

Eastern Orthodox interpretations in English on those shared councils are available in the Pedalion (The Rudder) and ABp Peter L'Huillier's work (the exact title escapes me but it is something like this: The First Four Ecumenical Councils: The Disciplinary Work of the Church). ABp Peter focus on disciplinary, not Christological issues. Both should be available through SVS Press. www.svots.org [svots.org]

In Christ,
Andrew

Just to dovetail into Andrew's post, the book is entitled "The Church of the Ancient Councils" . I have the book and it is quite well done. In fact I can see it from were I am sitting, so I have read it recently.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Dear Andrew and Fr. Anthony,

Thanks for the book suggestions. I've been looking into which Coucnils and Canons we adhere to. Of course I know of the three Ecumenical ones which our Churches recognize and there are other local Councils, like you wrote. I will try to acquire the above mentioned books because they sound helpful.

As to my other question about tonsured Readers actually wearing their tonsure I'll close with this: I've heard of some wild things on this forum, everthing from getting tatoos to wearing various religious paraphernalia. So when this thought crossed my mind I thought I'd post it on the forum and see if its been done. This is one of the few times something hasn't been by someone on the forum. Thanks for everyone's time, answers and advice.

Wm. Ghazar