Qualifications for a Priest's Wife

[smad0142]

Do the Canons of the Eastern Churches lay out any qualifications for a Priest’s wife? For example could she be an athesit or a non-Christian? Or a Protestant or Orthodox? Or would she be allowed to be of a different sui juris church? Or other qualifications like age and education. Thanks!!

 

[ConstantineTG]

Do the Canons of the Eastern Churches lay out any qualifications for a Priest’s wife? For example could she be an athesit or a non-Christian? Or a Protestant or Orthodox? Or would she be allowed to be of a different sui juris church? Or other qualifications like age and education. Thanks!!

I don’t believe there are official rules, but remember that a bishop is not bound to ordain anyone. If he sees the wife’s lifestyle or attitude can be harmful or distracting to the ministry of the man, then he may choose not to ordain him.

 

[triumphguy]

Do the Canons of the Eastern Churches lay out any qualifications for a Priest’s wife? For example could she be an athesit or a non-Christian? Or a Protestant or Orthodox? Or would she be allowed to be of a different sui juris church? Or other qualifications like age and education. Thanks!!

First you need to marry a priest…

Thank you. I’m here all week

 

[Catya]

Am I right - my understanding was that Byzantine Catholics studying for the priesthood basically have a window of opportunity to marry before they’re ordained, but not after?

 

[Vico]

Am I right - my understanding was that Byzantine Catholics studying for the priesthood basically have a window of opportunity to marry before they’re ordained, but not after?

Yes, holy orders is an impediment to matrimony.

 

[Catya]

Thank you Vico.

 

[superamazingman]

First you need to marry a priest…

Thank you. I’m here all week

Actually, you’re not quite right… no man can marry after being ordained. That’s how it is with both deacons and priests in all rites. So… actually you marry a “normal” man, or a seminarian…

All in good fun though.

 

[Madaglan]

In Orthodoxy, most if not all American jurisdictions the priest’s wife must be Orthodox.

In America, Orthodox Christians can only marry Christians. The stricter norm is that Orthodox Christians only marry other Orthodox Christians, but allowances are made in America.

So, both husband and wife must be Orthodox should the man be ordained. Husbands with non -Orthodox wives cannot be ordained while such is the case. It may be that the wife marries as a non -Orthodox Christian but converts before her husband is ordained. Seminaries consider family life in the application process.

Orthodox men who have been divorced are usually not ordained (at least what I’ve heard). I wonder if a wife who was divorced before bars her husband from being ordained. I am not aware of any specific canons for a priest’s wife but know she is to seek the highest standards of a wife, as enunciated by St Paul in his epistles.

I imagine Eastern Catholics require a priest and his wife to be Catholic, no matter if the wife is of another sui iuris church.

 

[smad0142]

Magdalan,

I assume belonging to a different Orthodox jurisdiction than the husband would not prove a problem though?

 

[Madaglan]

Magdalan,

I assume belonging to a different Orthodox jurisdiction than the husband would not prove a problem though?

This is not a problem so far as I’m aware. For lay people to move from one jurisdiction to another is common, due to moving, travel considerations, etc. So long as the jurisdiction is within SCOBA or another canonical jurisdiction it should be all right.

 

[babochka]

It is perfectly fine for the wife to be a member of a different church. I do know that the wife has to consent to her husband’s ordination, but I don’t know of any other requirements.

 

[Patchunky]

Traditionally, the sons of priests married the daughters of priests.

Today, those women engaged to seminarians often take classes along side their fiances to help them prepare for their future life as the wife of a priest.

Hope this helps…

 

[Diak]

Most bishops will want to talk to the wives as well before ordination to make sure there are no serious family conflicts.

Am I right - my understanding was that Byzantine Catholics studying for the priesthood basically have a window of opportunity to marry before they’re ordained, but not after?

A man must be married prior to diaconate, which is the first of the major orders. At the point of being ordained deacon his state is fixed, whether married or celibate. I have quite a few friends in our UGCC who waited (or are still waiting) after subdeaconal ordination to discern marriage.

 

[Shiranui117]

The first qualification for a priest’s wife is for the woman to be liked by the priest-to-be.

 

[5Loaves]

At the point of being ordained deacon his state is fixed, whether married or celibate. I have quite a few friends in our UGCC who waited (or are still waiting) after subdeaconal ordination to discern marriage.

I’m aware that some jusirdictions choose to ignore the canon the does not allow a subdeacon to marry. It is actually written into the canons of the UGCC that subdeacons are allowed to marry?

 

[ConstantineTG]

I’m aware that some jusirdictions choose to ignore the canon the does not allow a subdeacon to marry. It is actually written into the canons of the UGCC that subdeacons are allowed to marry?

I heard from a friend that the Melkites allow subdeacons to marry, but not Ukrainians. I’m surprised to hear here that the UGCC allows subdeacons to marry. Perhaps the information I was given earlier is not correct.

 

[Diak]

Subdeacons are still minor clergy. Canonical limitations on marital state only apply to major clergy. Subdeacons can marry after ordination.

I’m aware that some jusirdictions choose to ignore the canon the does not allow a subdeacon to marry. It is actually written into the canons of the UGCC that subdeacons are allowed to marry?

Regarding the Canon, I would have to do some research on subsequent praxis and declarations, as this is the case even amongst many Orthodox that the subdeacon can marry after ordination. I think canonically the distinction arose when the Latin Church maintained the idea that the subdiaconate was a major order, which would require a fixation of the marital state, while the East maintained the subdiaconate as a minor order, which was freer in this regard.

 

[Diak]

You bring up a good point - it is very important to differentiate between disciplinary canons as opposed to dogmatic canons. Disciplinary canons are mutable and subject to hierarchal economia and later clarifications based on praxis as well as circumstances of time and place; dogma, of course, is immutable.

 

[dochawk]

First you need to marry a priest…

nah,that’s second.

First, yah gots to be a girl . . .



And in a more serious vin . . .

I believe the ukranian dare in the minorityinimposingclibacy at major orders, rather than the subdiaconate. There are also oriental churches which ordain to the subdiaconate vey young for priest’s children, and do not impose celibacy.

in the east, the lay altar servers (such as myself) are filling for subdeacons–there really aren’t supposed tobe any non-clergy in the tHoly Place . . .

And finally, going back to the original question . . . Especially inthe context of questions like this, it’s important to realize that the Code of canon law for the eastn churches should not exist; these churches should be following the ancient canons, not a code. this is a serious issue with the orthodox (and rightly so but that’s an issue for another thread)

hawk

 

[ByzCathCantor]

And finally, going back to the original question . . . Especially inthe context of questions like this, it’s important to realize that the Code of canon law for the eastn churches should not exist; these churches should be following the ancient canons, not a code. this is a serious issue with the orthodox (and rightly so but that’s an issue for another thread)

A very good point, not at all out of context here, but indeed worthy of another thread at some point.