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Eastern Orthodox Priests


Overview

Eastern Orthodox Priests

Introduction

Eastern orthodox priests lead prayers, administer the sacraments, provide spiritual support to parishioners, and oversee the daily operation of their parish. Only men can become priests. Orthodox priests conduct services in more than 20 languages. They are also called pastors or presbyters.

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$50,000

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Employment Prospects

Fair

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Minimum Education Level

Doctorate


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Experience

Three years of seminary training with field experience


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Skills

Interpersonal
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Personality Traits

Hands On
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Earnings

Before a priest is assigned to a parish, a representative of the diocese visits the parish to set salary and benefits (if salary and benefits are not previously established by the diocese or jurisdiction).

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America publishes annual compensation and benefits guidelines for its parishes. Suggested salary ranges for priests in 2017 (the most recent year for ...

Work Environment

Orthodox churches are known for their beauty and unique designs. “The rich color, distinctive iconography and beauty of the interior of an Orthodox Church generally are in sharp contrast to the simplicity which one finds in many Roman Catholic and Protestant churches,” explains Reverend Thomas Fitzgerald in an article about Orthodox houses of worship at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America...

Outlook

The percentage of Americans who identify as Orthodox Christian declined slightly from 0.6 percent in 2007 to 0.5 percent in 2014 (the most recent year for which data is available), according to America’s Changing Religious Landscape, a report from the Pew Research Center. On the plus side, Orthodox Christians had the lowest median age (40) of adults for all Christian traditions—suggest...