§ 105. The Episcopal Oath

The episcopal oath.

After the prescribed canonical examination (p. 383), it is solemnly proclaimed in the church that the candidate in question (ὁ ψηφισθείς) is worthy of the episcopal rank and that the council of bishops and the state authority have acknowledged him for that rank; this is the so-called nomination (μήνυμα), which usually takes place on the day before the consecration itself, and at which nomination the candidate solemnly and publicly declares that he accepts the episcopate.

On the very day of the consecration, at the solemn liturgy then celebrated, in the presence of all the clergy and people concerned and of representatives of the state authority, at the appointed hour the candidate reads aloud, so that all may hear and understand, the profession and confirmation of the episcopal oath (τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν καὶ διαβεβαίωσιν). In this solemn act the candidate first confesses the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Symbol, then confesses at greater length the dogmas of the Orthodox faith, and confesses those dogmas yet a third time, and swears: a) that he will keep all the canons of the Church, b) that he will be obedient to the superior ecclesiastical authority, c) that he will govern mildly the diocese entrusted to him, d) that he has given or promised nothing to anyone for his election to the episcopate, e) that he will do nothing contrary to the canons, f) that he will attend the council of bishops when summoned, g) that he will preserve the traditions of the Orthodox Church and keep himself from all that is foreign to the Church, h) that he believes concerning the mystery of the Eucharist as the Orthodox Church teaches, i) that he will be faithful to the sovereign, j) that he will judge according to his conscience, k) that he will be gentle with all in his conduct, l) that he will keep the monks according to the rules laid down, m) that he will appoint as many priests and deacons as are needed, n) that he will make the visitation of his own diocese, o) that he will guard the people from superstition, p) that he will not meddle in worldly affairs, but will in everything act according to his conscience and the existing prescriptions of the ecclesiastical authority, q) that he will labor watchfully, with all his strength and without ceasing, for the good of the Church entrusted to him; he then declares r) that he consents to be stripped of his rank should he act against the law, and finally swears, calling God to witness, s) that he takes this oath in full understanding of what he says and that he will keep all of it to the end of his life.[1]

This profession of faith and oath must be written in the candidate’s own hand, signed publicly before all in the church, and the autograph document is then handed over at once to the metropolitan, who keeps that document in the metropolitan treasury.[2]

Besides this oath before the Church, the newly elected bishop is bound to render also a special oath of fidelity before the sovereign.[3]

After the oath has been rendered before the Church and the sovereign, and after the consecration, the new bishop receives from the metropolitan the prescribed charter (συλλαβὴ ἐνθρονιστική, συνοδικόν, γράμμα συστατικόν), by which it is acknowledged and confirmed, with the signatures of all the members of the synod, that the person concerned has been lawfully installed and ordained as bishop.[4] At the same time he receives also a special synodal instruction (ἔνταλμα, ἐνταλτήριον) on the discharge of the archpastoral office and on his rights and duties.[5]