Moscow, October 23, 2026
Photo: elitsy.ru
Priests and deacons in the Russian Orthodox Church will now have to promise to behave online, as the Holy Synod has added a pledge on public speaking and internet use to the oath every candidate takes before ordination.
The decision was made at the Synodal session yesterday, October 22, reports Patriarchia.ru.
The addition follows the line, “Without the will of my archpastor, I will not leave the place of service to which I am appointed and will not arbitrarily move anywhere.” It reads:
I will not speak publicly on behalf of the Church without the blessing of the hierarchy; I will not allow myself to make statements that discredit the Orthodox Church or distort its teaching, whether in the media or online (including on social networks and other social media); and I will not use the internet for personal gain.
The Synod also approved, for the first time, a standard text of the questioning that candidates go through before ordination as a priest or deacon.
The Greek Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia have also recently addressed clergy conduct online.
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