PRZYGOTOWANIE DO KAPŁAŃSTWA W ANTIOCHII W CZASACH JANA CHRYZOSTOMA
Preparation for Priesthood in Antioch during John Chrysostom’s Time

Summary/Abstract: Both practice and legislation in the IV century Church clearly indicate that although there was not any structured form of preparation for priesthood, people who wanted to be ordained had to prepare themselves for this event, and above all, meet certain requirements determined by law and custom. The requirements for those who aspired to be ordained were closely connected with the general requirements described by St. Paul in his pastoral letters. From the legal sources we usually learn about them from negative perspective, more rarely from the positive one as the ecclesiastical legislation most often expressed Church’ view on some irregularities or fraud, which were strongly disapproved. On the other hand John Chrysostom thought presents those requirements primarily from the positive perspective because the Antiochene introduced a certain model which he wanted to promote. The requirements included personal, moral and intellectual qualities as well as pastoral experience of candidates for holy orders. But in the first place they were required to be free men of suitable age, fit, long- time members of Christian community, married to believing wives (or unmarried) and training their children in discipline, having high moral and intellectual qualities (especially proficient in their knowledge of Holy Scripture, Christian teachings and fluent in speech), and also familiar with the Church’s life and clergy’s customs. This kind of formation was possible to achieve by means of studying in schools, both Christian and pagan, and ‘apprenticeship’ with bishops and presbyters.

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