The Parish Priest is the representative of the local Hierarch (Metropolitan) in the Parish and as such heads and administers the parish. As the Spiritual Leader of the Parish, his priestly duties consist in shepherding the Parish entrusted to his care, directing its orderly life, preserving its unity, and keeping it faithful to its divine purpose of proclaiming the Gospel of Christ (GOAA Regulations 17:1). He and the members of the Parish Council are together responsible for the administration of the Parish. The following pastoral and theological guidelines should govern the working relationship of the Priest and the Parish Council:

"As Christians we are obligated to honor and appreciate the Saints of God for two reasons. The first reason is because all the Saints had placed the hope of their spiritual salvation upon the sacred prayers. The second reason is because the prayers which they offered to God with joy and fear have been preserved in their writings. Thus their spiritual treasures, having been transmitted to us, may draw all subsequent believers toward the zeal of these Saints. The way of life of the teachers must be transmitted to their pupils.

Monastics are Orthodox Christians who have been called out from the world to live the Angelic life. For this reason, lay people have always been encouraged to visit monasteries regularly, so as to form their own spiritual lives around those who represent the standard of spiritual dedication. Serious monastics who truly dedicate themselves to prayer represent the True purpose of our being on this earth: to love God and our neighbor.

Thus, purification of the heart, i.e., our inner world, is the first stage of the spiritual life, through which we must pass in order to attain salvation.] In the following, the meaning attached to "purification of heart" by the Holy Fathers must be ascertained. They intend primarily three things:

"And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds".

[Please note: The correct and proper word is the word "Mystery" or "Mysterion", to refer to the "sacraments" of the Orthodox Church. Though the word "sacraments" is used in English by almost all Orthodox writers, the Greek word for the Church's vivifying ministrations are correctly rendered "Mysteries." Not only is the word "sacraments" borrowed from the lexicon of the Western (Latin or Roman Catholic) tradition, but it reflects theological ideas that do not accurately correspond to Orthodox Christian thinking.]

A catechumen is defined as "one receiving instruction in the basic doctrines of Christianity before admission to communicant membership in the Church." You may have already decided to join the Orthodox Christian Church. However, participating in a learning program does not obligate you to join the Church.