1. Lecture 7: Ordination and Selection of Bishops (Priests)
Dr. Ann T. Orlando
17 March 2017

2. Outline Meaning of ‘ordination’ Selection of Bishops
Clerical and Popular acclaim
Recognition and ordination by other bishops
Aversion to being a bishop
Gregory Nazianzus
How Augustine became bishop of Hippo
Assignments

3. Greek cheirotoneo Laying (or raising) of hands
In antiquity could be used to indicate a vote of approval, or to symbolize a transfer of power
In LXX
Lev 16:21 Aaron places his hand on the sacrificial goat that will carry the sins of the people on Day of Atonement
Dt 34:9, Moses laid his hands on Joshua to transfer power to him; note reference to the Spirit of wisdom coming on Joshua

4. Cheirotoneo in New Testament
In Acts
6:1-6 ministry of deacons established by laying on of hands, power of Holy Spirit
13:1-3 Paul and Barnabas are commissioned for their ministry by the laying on of hands, power of Holy Spirit
In Pastorals
I Tm 4:14, office and gift of prophecy
2 Tm 1:6, office and spirit of power

5. Examples
Tertullian, On Baptism 8, describes laying on of hands by bishop to confer the Holy Spirit at baptism
Hippolytus, Apostolic Tradition: Comparison of Greek and Latin manuscripts for the laying on of hands(Greek)/ordination (Latin) of bishops
See Apostolic Constitutions

6. Latin ordinatio Meaning to become a member of an ordo
An ordo is a Roman social rank; each rank has obligations, privileges and ordinances governing it
Senators, equestrians, decurians, military veterans
Plebeians, free foreigners, slaves
Constantine the Great makes bishops a Roman order

7. Distinction of Ranks (Orders) in the Early Church
I Clement 40-44;
The laity are bound by the ordinances of the laity (laikos)
Rank (tagma)
Written in Greek, but with a Roman legal environment
Tertullian, On Baptism 17
Laicis do not have the privilege of baptizing, which belongs to the higher rank of bishop

8. Process for Selection of Bishops
Bishops are chosen from ranks of the Christian faithful
NOT hereditary (see Origen Homily on Numbers 13)
In early Church in some places
Selected by council of elders (presbyterate)
‘Elected’ by the faithful
Combination
Bishop is ordained by laying on of hands of other bishops, not by community
Presbyters seem to have been suggested by community of believers, but selected and ordained by bishops
By 4th C in many places, being ordained presbyter was often with the expectation of becoming a bishop

9. Aversion to Being a Bishop
Develops especially in 4th C
Contemplative life seen as much preferable
With Constantine the Great, bishops take on increased secular administrative roles
Community of faithful increasingly a mixed group
Political advantages to being a Christian (Orthodox or Arian)

10. Gregory Nazianzus,
Knew Athanasius as a young man; wrote a funeral oration for Athanasius
Very close friend of Basil; studied in Athens with him
Great rhetorician and poet
As young men, Gregory and Basil go to Pontus to study in a monastery
Gregory returns to Nazianzus where his father is bishop
Father ordains him presbyter in 361
Expectation is that Gregory will become bishop when his father dies
But Gregory feels unworthy and flees back to Pontus

11. On Flight (Oration 2)
Gregory encouraged to return to his ‘station’ by his father and Basil
Upon his return to Nazianzus (362), Gregory was met with displeasure and disappointment from by the community
To try and explain his action, he offered this oration
Part defense
Part apology
This Oration will be foundational for later works on qualifications and duties of priesthood
Gregory also wrote a funeral oration for his father, who died soon after his return

12. Gregory in later life The rest of the story:
Gregory named Patriarch of Constantinople 380
Presided at Second Ecumenical Council, 381.
Died
Sermons on Christology and Trinity very influential
St. Jerome was his disciple in Constantinople
Known as ‘The Theologian’
Gregory died in 389, we celebrate his feast jointly with St Basil on Jan 2

13. Augustine Also did not want to be a bishop
Possidius in his Life of Augustine, gives an account of
Community selection of Augustine for presbyter and his ordination by Valerius
Valerius petition to bishop of Carthage make Augustine coadjutor bishop of Hippo

14. Gregory of Nyssa, d. 385 Younger brother of Basil and Macrina
Married (perhaps to sister of Gregory Nazianzus??)
May have been bishop of Nyssa; wrote catechetical instructions
Philosophically very influenced by Origen and NeoPlatonism
Also very deeply influenced by his sister, Macrina
Life of Macrina
Macrina as The Teacher in On the Resurrection

15. On Baptism of the Lord
Epiphany celebrated in East as the Baptism of the Lord
Festival of Light
Manifestation of Christ to he World
Epiphany very important in Church liturgical calendar
Presentation of those to be baptized at Easter vigil
Bishop presents the annual liturgical calendar (Festal Letter)
Nyssa’s homily notes important changes through sacramental actions
Including change in a man at ordination

16. Assignments Origen, Homilies on Numbers, Homily 13
Cyprian, “Letter 55 and 67”
Constitutions of the Holy Apostles VIII.ii-v, xxvii-xxviii
Possidius, Life of Augustine, Ch. 4-8
Augustine, Letter 21 “To Bishop Valerius”
Gregory Nazianzus, Oration 2: On Flight
ADDED: Gregory of Nyssa, On Baptism of the Lord
Prepare paper #7