Qashisha: Elder AND Priest?

[Paul Younan]

so my pondering now is should the "elders" of the NT passages be understood as priests -- is that how the COE teaches it, or am i assuming too much? and one other question, since i'm here: Scripture speaks of those who were Levitical priests who became believers in Messiah (Acts 6:7), so could the "elders" as mentioned elsewhere be referring to strictly Levites who are now coming to faith? just wondering....

Shlama Akhi Jeremy,

This touches on a bit of a deeper understanding of how the CoE interprets the role of Elders within the Church. The Levitical priesthood, like the Temple, are no longer needed by us as Christ is our eternal High Priest. As Christ's role as High Priest is after the order of Melchizedek (not dependent on ancestry or succession), so is the "priesthood" of the Qashishe.

I use the term "priesthood" again with caution, since it's not really an office within the Church of the East. They may be loosely called "Priests" in English after the custom of our western brethren, but that title is inaccurate. They are only addressed as such during very specific portions of the liturgy.

They do not hold the title of "Priest", again, that is not an office within the Church. Only Elders, whose actions during certain portions of the liturgy (specifically when involved with preparation of the "Sacrifice") are "priest-like", therefore they are addressed as "Priests" during parts of the liturgy.

In the CoE, offices are classified generally as:

Mshamshana (vulgar: Shamasha): Deacon
Qashisha (vulgar: Qasha): Elder
Episcopa: Bishop

The Patriarch being the Episcopa of Babylon.

--Shamasha Paul

PS - this has nothing to do with Levites or descendants of Aaron.