Cositene clergy
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Costeny has a comprehensive system of clergy, which is involved in the organization of worship and rites, preservation and transmission of doctrines, and a general leading or authoritative role in Cositene communities. There are different types of clergy who derive their recognition and status from different sources, and accordingly serve different roles in the communion.
Intermediary roles
Intermediary clerics (typically referred to as priests) typically exist within a much more expansive and comprehensive ecclesiarchy. They are only conduits and not sources of Cositene teaching, as opposed to 'source' clerics (though some schools argue that the two differ only in extent). Thus the status of intermediary clerics derive solely from their ordination by a recognized tradition and hierarchy, and the validity of their teachings is based on canonicity.
Chitatnik
A chitatnik (Literary Vitrian čitatnik, 'reader'), generically referred to as a priest, is a minor cleric and the most numerous of the clergy. They typically act in an assisting role to rituals, preside over smaller congregations, and provide ordinary spiritual guidance to members of the laity.
Bishop
Bishops are senior clerics with greater authority; they are defined by responsibility to the practice of a community or ecclesiastical polity. They can ordain chitatniks and other bishops, and senior bishops are often authoritative in the recognition of karcists. There are numerous different bishop titles depending on the size and properties of their jurisdictions, and even the nature of their ordination.
Source roles
'Source' clerics are more or less preternatural in nature, and their teachings are typically valid because they are a direct source in themselves (it is intuitively correct, per the concept of siyaty). They are held in very high regard, and are very few in number.
Karcist
A karcist (from Later Sepcan kəràʔ, 'thirst') is a Cositene leader who derives his or her authority from exemplary monastic practice and devotion; specifically, it is the essentially supernatural powers and superb enlightenment that a karcist attains during asceticism that makes him or her able to wield respect and authority which 'naturally follows'. They should not be confused with hieromonks, who are intermediary priests, but are not mutually exclusive.
Since karcists derive their power directly from the supernatural and godly, they are in theory not bound by set procedures or criteria for recognition, and thus may theoretically arise independent of the sanction of any other religious authority, only requiring a widespread recognition of their achievements. Thus the qualification of karcists is neopisivo, or 'non-discursable'.
Accomplishing theophagy or other feats of asceticism, or receiving a divine revelation of great significance, are typical for the recognition of a karcist. Karcists often hold a great degree of social influence and respect; in rural and isolated areas, if they are present, they often directly serve as leaders of the community. Per Cositene hagiology they are accorded a status as minor saints.