In religious organizations, the The '''laity''' comprises all '''lay persons ''' collectively. This can mean either means any person who is not a member of the [[clergy ]] or of any [[monastic ]] order or, within such an order, a monastic who is not a priest (c.f., lay brother). In recent centuriesthe Orthodox Church, the term laity are the people of God and are responsible for preserving the integrity of the faith as much as the bishops. The example for this that is often used more generally, given is that of bishops being refused entrance to their cities after the [[Council of Florence]] until they recanted of their signatures. The laity refused to accept that the Council's decisions were in accord with the Orthodox faith. The laity are called to live by the same Christian moral standards as the clergy. They both are expected to participate in all the worship services and keep the context various days and seasons of any specialized profession[[fasting]] and [[feast]]ing. The clergy are the sacred priesthood, to refer to those who where the laity are among the royal priesthood. The clergy cannot conduct formal worship services without the participation of the laity, and the laity can not members perform the same services without the clergy to lead them. Each play a very important role in the liturgical and administrative life of the Church. ==See also==*[[Ordination]]*[[Holy Orders]]*[[Major orders]]*[[Minor orders]] ==Source==*[[Wikipedia:Laity|''Laity'' at Wikipedia]] ==External links==*[http://www.holy-trinity.org/ecclesiology/hierarchyandlaity.html Hierarchy and Laity in the Orthodox Church] – [[John Meyendorff]] *[http://www.schmemann.org/byhim/clergyandlaityinthechurch.html Clergy and Laity in the Orthodox Church] – [[Alexander Schmemann]]*[http://www.oca.org/RHPrint.asp?ID=1 Ministry of that professionthe Laity in the Church] - Nicholas Afanassieff*[http://www.unicorne.org/orthodoxy/articles/alex_roman/laity.htm St Benedict, His Rule and Orthodox Laity] – Ukrainian Orthodoxy web site [[Category:Church Life]]
