The Church of the Holy Spirit

Contents

Contents Foreword to the Translation vii Rowan Williams Introduction: The Church of the Holy Spirit—Nicholas Afanasiev’s ix Vision of the Eucharist and the Church Michael Plekon THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Author’s Foreword 1 Chapter 1 The Royal Priesthood 9 Chapter 2 The Ordination of Laics 23 Chapter 3 The Ministry of Laics 33 I. The Ministry of Laics as a Ministry of God’s People 33 II. Sacramental Ministry in the Church 35 III. The Ministry of Laics in the Liturgy and the Sacraments 39 IV. The Ministry of Laics in the Administration of the Church 57 V. The Ministry of Laics in the Field of Teaching 69 vi — Contents Chapter 4 The Work of Ministry 81 I. Special Ministries 81 II. The Apostle 106 III. The Evangelist 116 IV. The Prophet 119 V. The Teacher 129 Chapter 5 “Those Who Preside in the Lord” 133 I. “All Things Should Be Done Decently and in Order” 133 II. The Presider 136 III. Bishop-Presbyters of the New Testament Writings 147 IV. Origin and Meaning of the Terms “Presbyter” and “Bishop” 158 V. The Ministry of Assistance 165 Chapter 6 “The One Who Offers Thanksgiving” 169 I. The Problem of the Origin of Bishop-Presbyters 169 II. Jewish and Christian Chabûrah 173 III. The “Seven” of the Jerusalem Church and Their Ministry 177 IV. Evidence from Early Christian Literature concerning the Senior Presbyter 191 V. The Ministry of the Senior Presbyter 202 VI. The Ordination of the Senior Presbyter 204 VII. The Deposition of the Senior Presbtyer and His Replacement 209 Chapter 7 The Bishop 217 I. The Bishop as a Successor to the Senior Presbyter 217 II. The High Priestly Ministry of the Bishop 220 III. Changes in Church Life Caused by the Transition from Senior Presbyter to Bishop 237 IV. Apostolic Succession 241 Chapter 8 The Power of Love 255 Notes 277 Index 315 ...