Friday, July 15, 2011

…just call him Vladika.

My Internet search for correct terms of ecclesiastical address came up with contradictory results, especially for the lower clerical ranks. However, I think I found what looks to be a reliable text for common usage in ROCOR on Fr. Deacon Eugene Kallaur’s website. The text itself was prepared by His Grace Bishop Peter (Lukianov) of Cleveland.

DISCLAIMER
1. The below forms of address are meant for the most formal written correspondence. You should not use them outside of a very formal context.
2. The translations of the non-Episcopal titles (e.g. “Your Very Venerableness”) are very, very unofficial and are meant only for educational use. If you are an English speaker, please DO NOT use them. I take no responsibility for the looks you might get.

Title Honorific Translation
Metropolitan or Archbishop Ваше Высокопреосвященство Your Eminence
Bishop Ваше Преосвященство Your Grace
Archimandrite or Abbot Ваше Высокопреподобие Your Very Venerableness
Hieromonk Ваше Преподобие Your Venerableness
Archdeacon or Hierodeacon Ваше Преподобие Your Venerableness
Protopresbyter or Archpriest Ваше Высокоблагословение Your Very Blessing
Priest Ваше Благословение Your Blessing
Protodeacon or Deacon Ваше Благовестие Your Evangelicality

NOTES
1. Abbesses also have the address «Ваше Высокопреподобие». From what I’ve read so far, monks in general also have the address «Ваше Преподобие».
2. I have found two sources with slightly different forms of address (here and here). For example, in the second source «Ваше Преподобие» can refer to priests, protodeacons, and deacons. The first source is very close to the ROCOR text I found, though it lacks «Ваше Преподобие».
3. The ultimate source of these titles is of course the Table of Ranks prepared by Peter the Great in 1722. However, I am not sure when the ecclesiastical ranks were formally codified. These forms of address have most probably changed over the course of time; further research may reveal when the ROCOR usage was adopted.

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for the disclaimer ;-). I think I'm going to stick with "Vladyka," "Father," and "Mother" - they're slightly less of a mouthful ;-) (certainly much less so than the Russian!).

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