The Russian Orthodox Church has established new obligations regarding the online communication of candidates for ordinationtranslated

The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church approved the completion of the oath taken at the ordination of priests and deacons with new provisions regarding public communication in the online environment.

The decision was adopted in the meeting of October 22. According to the document, the new provisions were introduced at the proposal of the Commission for church administration, pastoral care and the organization of church life.

The commission found that certain aspects of communication in the digital environment were not reflected in the ordination oath, the text of which had been approved in 2011.

The new obligations regarding online communication According to the decision, candidates for ordination will have to undertake the following commitment:

"Not to speak publicly in the name of the Church without the blessing of the church authority; not to make, in media interventions and through the use of the online space (including social networks and other social communication platforms), statements that discredit the Orthodox Church or distort its teaching; not to use the online space to obtain personal advantages".

The decision does not prohibit the use of social networks by clerics, but establishes obligations…