Do a priest’s administrative duties hinder his internal liberation?

The Church Fathers linked the administrative duties of the priest or bishop with their perfect inner liberation from all worldly and bodily needs. St. Basil the Great considers the mind that is disturbed with worldly concerns as incapable of seeing the truth.¹⁶⁷⁰ Therefore, he demanded a strict examination of the candidates to ordination, so that no administrative tasks could hinder them from being spiritually free or liberated.

Among St. Basil’s rules on Christian ethics, we find:

“That it is necessary for those entrusted with the preaching of the Gospel, with prayer and supplication to ordain deacons or presbyters who are blameless and esteemed for their former life (Matt. 9:37–38).”¹⁶⁷¹

“That it is necessary not to be reckless in ordinations or to approach them heedlessly (for what is untested is not without danger), and to expose the one convicted of anything, so that one does not commune with the sin and others do not stumble into it but rather learn from it (1 Tim. 5:22).”¹⁶⁷²

“That it is necessary for the one chosen not to present himself for preaching on his own initiative but to await the timing of the good pleasure of God and to make a beginning of

1667 Everett Ferguson, “Origen and the Election of Bishops.” Church History 43, no. 1 (1974): 26–33: pp. 27– 30, 32.

1668 Origen, Homilies on Leviticus 1–16 (FOTC 83).

1669 SC 286.279; see Thomas Halton, The Church (Message of the Fathers of the Church, vol. 4) (Wilmington, Del.: M. Glazier, 1985): p. 21.

1670 St. Basil of Caesarea, Letters 1–185 2 (FOTC 13:5–7; PG 32:224C–225A).

1671 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.1 (PP 51:253).

1672 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.2 (PP 51:257).

preaching when commissioned to preach to those to whom he has been sent (Matt. 10:5– 6).”¹⁶⁷³

“That it is necessary for the one called to preach the Gospel to obey immediately and not delay (Luke 9:55–60).”¹⁶⁷⁴

“That it is necessary to teach those entrusted to one all that is prescribed by the Lord in the Gospel and through the apostles and whatever follows from these (Matt. 28:19–20).”¹⁶⁷⁵

“That if the one entrusted with the Word of the Lord’s teaching is silent concerning anything necessary for pleasing God, he is liable for the blood of those endangered by doing what is forbidden of by failing to do the good that is expected of them (Luke 11:52).”¹⁶⁷⁶

“That it is not permitted to lay upon others a requirement which one has not met oneself (Luke 11:46).”¹⁶⁷⁷

“That it is necessary for the one set over the Word to set an example for others of every good, first practicing what he teaches (John 13:12–15)”¹⁶⁷⁸

“That it is necessary for the one set over the Word not to be lackadaisical in his duty, but to recognize that it is the proper and particular work of the office he has been given to improve those entrusted to him (Matt. 5:13).”¹⁶⁷⁹

“That it is necessary for the one set over the Word to go around to all of the villages and cities that have been placed in his hands (Matt. 4:23).”¹⁶⁸⁰

“That it is necessary to call everyone to obey the Gospel and to proclaim the Word most frankly and to testify to the truth even if some would hinder you or even persecute you— indeed, even to the point of death (Matt. 10:27–28).”¹⁶⁸¹

“That the mark of one who loves the Lord is that, having great affection for those he teaches, he cares for them in every way with all zeal, even unto death if necessary, persevering in teaching both collectively and individually (Acts 20:20–21).”¹⁶⁸²

“That it is necessary for one set over the Word to be merciful and compassionate, especially to those disfigured in soul (Matt. 9:36).”¹⁶⁸³

1673 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.3 (PP 51:257).

1674 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.4 (PP 51:259).

1675 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.6 (PP 51:261).

1676 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.7 (PP 51:261).

1677 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.9 (PP 51:263).

1678 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.10 (PP 51:265).

1679 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.11 (PP 51:265).

1680 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.12 (PP 51:267).

1681 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.13 (PP 51:267).

1682 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.19 (PP 51:273).

1683 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.20 (PP 51:275).

“That it is necessary also with respect to bodily necessities to show compassion for those entrusted to one and to care for them (Matt. 15:32).”¹⁶⁸⁴

“That it is necessary for one set over the Word not to neglect the zeal due to greater things because he is earnest to work, himself, at the lesser (Acts 6:2–4).”¹⁶⁸⁵

“That it is necessary not to make a display of or put on a show with the Word of teaching, flattering the listeners for the satisfaction of one’s own desires or needs, but to be such as speak for the glory of God in his very presence (Matt. 23:5–10).”¹⁶⁸⁶

“That it is necessary for one set over the Word not to misuse his authority to abuse those under him nor, of course, to lord it over them, but rather to make his rank an occasion for humbling himself before them (Matt. 24:45–51).”¹⁶⁸⁷

“That it is necessary not to preach the Gospel out of contention or envy or rivalry with anyone (Phil. 1:15–17).”¹⁶⁸⁸

“That it is necessary not to suppose that success in preaching is attained by our own contrivances, but to rely wholly upon God (2 Cor. 3:4–6).”¹⁶⁸⁹

“That it is necessary for the one charged with preaching the Gospel not to acquire anything more than what he requires to meet his needs (Matt. 10:9–10).”¹⁶⁹⁰

“Of what sort the Word desires Christians to be: … As heralds of the kingdom of heaven unto the destruction of the one who holds the power of death in sin (Matt. 10:7).”¹⁶⁹¹

“As an example of the rule of piety for setting aright in all things those who follow the Lord and a rebuke for the distortions of those who in any way whatsoever defy him (Phil. 3:13–16).”¹⁶⁹²

“As an eye in the body, discerning the good and the bad and conducting the members of Christ to the proper portion of each (Matt. 6:22).”¹⁶⁹³

“As shepherds of the sheep of Christ, who shrink not even from laying down their life for them if this is called for, for the sake of delivering them to the gospel of God (John 10:11).”¹⁶⁹⁴

1684 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.21 (PP 51:277).

1685 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.22 (PP 51:277).

1686 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.23 (PP 51:277).

1687 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.24 (PP 51:279).

1688 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.25 (PP 51:281).

1689 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.27 (PP 51:283).

1690 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 70.28 (PP 51:285).

1691 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 80.1, 13 (PP 51:313, 317).

1692 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 80.14 (PP 51:319).

1693 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 80.15 (PP 51:319).

1694 St. Basil of Caesarea, On Christian Ethics 80.16 (PP 51:319).

“As physicians who heal the passions of souls with great compassion and according to their knowledge of the Lord’s teachings, so acquiring their health and endurance in Christ (Rom. 15:1).”¹⁶⁹⁵

“As fathers and rearers of their own children, who are well disposed out of their love in Christ to deliver to them not only the Gospel of God but even their own souls (1 Cor. 4:15).”¹⁶⁹⁶

“As coworkers with God who give their whole selves up for the Church solely to do the worthy works of God (1 Cor. 3:9).”¹⁶⁹⁷

“As planters of the cuttings of God, who allow nothing alien to the vine, which is Christ, nor anything fruitless but who cultivate with all care that which is his and is fruitful (1 Cor. 3:6).”¹⁶⁹⁸

“As builders of God’s temple, shaping the souls of each to fit well together upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (1 Cor. 3:10–11).”¹⁶⁹⁹