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Orthodox priests marry before ordination; bishops remain celibate

The video explains Orthodox practice regarding priestly marriage. A man must choose marriage or lifelong celibacy before ordination; after ordination marriage is forbidden. If a priest's wife dies, he may remarry and continue serving.

Bishops are chosen from monks and cannot be married, so a married priest remains a parish priest for life. This practice dates to the apostles; Saint Peter was married, as shown by Jesus healing his mother-in-law. The priest's wife holds a recognized role in the parish, with titles such as Presbytera, Matushka, and Khouria, serving as a mother to the community.

Key moments

Orthodox priests can get married and many have wives, children, and family life.
A priest cannot marry after ordination; he must marry before becoming a priest or remain single for life.
If a priest's wife dies, he may marry again and continue serving as a priest.
Bishops are chosen from monks and cannot be married, so a married priest will never become a bishop.
From the beginning, church leaders were married men; Saint Peter had a wife, and the Gospel records Jesus healing his mother-in-law.
The priest's wife has a special place in the parish, with titles like Presbytera, Matushka, and Khouria, functioning as a mother to the whole community.

7 opinions in the discussion 6 participants, 3 replies to each other The opinion with the most support It's a really good thing they have that option. Otherwise how would a priest be able to counsel people on marriage and raising a family? Read the discussion

37 comments at the source Original on Instagram

Discussion · 7

Opinions are anonymous retellings of real comments from the original discussion. The same colour marks the same participant.

opinion#2968 8 likes at the source

It's a really good thing they have that option. Otherwise how would a priest be able to counsel people on marriage and raising a family?
opinion#2969 3 likes at the source
In Bulgaria a priest's wife is called a popadia.
- opinion#2972 4 likes at the source
  
  In Greece it's also called papadia, with an a.
- opinion#2973
  
  In Romania the priest's wife is called his priestess.
opinion#2971 3 likes at the source

Yes, I was aware. Every priest in my home town, both past and present, was married.
opinion#2970 1 likes at the source
Matushka isn't actually the wife of a priest. The term somehow got picked up, but it's wrong. Matushka is the mother superior of a monastery. And why does no one bring up that a man can't be ordained a priest if his wife wasn't a virgin?
- opinion#2974 4 likes at the source
  
  Thanks for sharing this, sister. Actually both uses exist. In the Russian tradition matushka is the usual title for a priest's wife, the same way presvytera is used in Greek, and an abbess is also often addressed as matushka by her nuns. And the second part is correct too. The Church's canons, going back to the Apostolic Canons, say a man cannot be ordained if his wife was previously married or lived an immoral life before marriage. The reason is that the priest's family is supposed to be an example for the whole parish. As always, each specific case is left to the bishop and the spiritual father to discern.