Saint Peter's Wife

[rinnie]

Not really. In my experience with many Ukrainian Catholic priests; I am Ukrainian Catholic; our priests are just as “Catholic” as the celibate “Roman Catholic” priest. The Ukr. Catholic priest’s wife is called “Pani Dobrodiyka”, meaning Good Lady, as she can assist with Sunday school and parish life as well. 2 for 1 for work for the Church. You will find in most Ukrainian Catholic parishes very active priests’ wives helping the parish along. This has always been my experience. Our bishops though at times, as late as the 80s, met with resistance from the Vatican to consecrating married priests, and for no good reason other than to draw our rite closer to the Latin.. Our church as an Eastern Catholic Church had been agreed to keep this ancient rite of our church and be in full communion with Rome.

You may also find a Ukrainian Catholic married priest quite understanding of the problems parishioners may have with children should he have children.

The one thing I can say, and this may be irrelevant to our priests being married, is that we never underwent the harrowing scandals the Roman Catholics have had to endure of late. Our priests and hierarchy came off very well in their dealings with children. This may just be a coincidence however but one should always take everything into account.

God Bless and I sincerely hope I have not offended anyone but merely wished to point out some issues. If I am wrong in certain assertions, please correct me.

It is irrelevant and I do resent that statement. The RC Priest is just as good as dealing with children as any Priest. If a man abuses Children it has nothing to do with being married. If that were true there would be no child abuse in the world outside of the Church. Any person no matter what they do for a living that abuses children is a sick person. A priest is like anyother human in this world and can fall from grace and choose evil. Please do not blame every RC Priest for the sins of others. Many Protestant Preachers are accused of the same. Many married people, Parents for goodness sakes are accused of it. A sick person is a sick person no matter where they may be hiding.

The RCC has had problems in the past and will in the future. God told us that. But he also said that his CHurch would prevail. Well its still here and there are many many good Priests doing his work. And doing a mighty fine job too may I add.

 

[rinnie]

I understand your writings. I, too, was married for 25 years, but my family life was taken from me and I miss them and the life we had together. I am not one of those who was designed for a singular life. I love the family life. For now, I will be content that it is all a part of Heaven’s plan. I do not know what awaits me in this new phase of my life. I am open to what Heaven presents, for whatever they are preparing me to do.

So I understand the argument that more men might become priests if it included a family life. For those Catholics wishing to serve who want to be part of a family, Jesus understands that they would be torn, and encourages them to serve in other ways. (However, as Peter provided the role model for those already marrieds converting from other faiths to join the priesthood, the Church “grandfathers” them in, by Jesus’s example of allowing the Apostles and others to bring their wives with His Ministry. Please do not try to make your own interpretations about Peter’s wife. The fact that Peter was made to watch while she was crucified first, and shouted encouragement to her to remember Our Lord, is documented in historical writings and traditions.) I don’t have time to track them all down now, but there is a little thing called “Google” that gets you started on some pretty good leads. Several even give her name(s), as I recall.

Choosing the priesthood, as a lifelong vocation, is a choice not to be made lightly. Many people might have chosen differently in many of life’s paths if they would have waited it out, listening to their hearts, over a longer period of time. However, in talking to many close confidants, those single Catholic men truly desiring to be priests are not so concerned about being denied married life. They understand their role. I was surprised to hear this, but they truly understand what they are undertaking. They want for the Greater Good.

Those choosing to be part of families can be involved in the Church in so many ways … do not think about how to limit yourselves, but participate in the Church with your best selves, from the best of your experiences! Choose to be involved in roles that provide teaching, leadership with the youth programs, Catechism, couples counseling, the Mass, fundraising, getting out the bulletin … the roles are too many to list here. Just as one day there will be a place for you in Heaven, there is also a predestined role for you on Earth, and your job is to discern it. Those who discern the priesthood in their various stages of life are being granted a gift, those discerning service in other ways are also being given gifts, each to serve in his/her best capacity from his/her life experiences. Those choosing the brotherhood and sisterhood also choose carefully, having made a decision that the family life is not for them, and to serve the much larger family of Heaven. It’s all in how you see it!

Off the subject but may I add how sorry I am for the pain that you are going through. I do not know your circumstamces but pain is pain and loss is loss. I will keep you in my prayers this week.

 

[carmelaltarboy]

Not really. In my experience with many Ukrainian Catholic priests; I am Ukrainian Catholic; our priests are just as “Catholic” as the celibate “Roman Catholic” priest. The Ukr. Catholic priest’s wife is called “Pani Dobrodiyka”, meaning Good Lady, as she can assist with Sunday school and parish life as well. 2 for 1 for work for the Church. You will find in most Ukrainian Catholic parishes very active priests’ wives helping the parish along. This has always been my experience. Our bishops though at times, as late as the 80s, met with resistance from the Vatican to consecrating married priests, and for no good reason other than to draw our rite closer to the Latin.. Our church as an Eastern Catholic Church had been agreed to keep this ancient rite of our church and be in full communion with Rome.

You may also find a Ukrainian Catholic married priest quite understanding of the problems parishioners may have with children should he have children.

The one thing I can say, and this may be irrelevant to our priests being married, is that we never underwent the harrowing scandals the Roman Catholics have had to endure of late. Our priests and hierarchy came off very well in their dealings with children. This may just be a coincidence however but one should always take everything into account.

God Bless and I sincerely hope I have not offended anyone but merely wished to point out some issues. If I am wrong in certain assertions, please correct me.

I am not claiming that Ukranian priests are less catholic…I am claiming that they have a tough job. Don’t look for a fight where non exists…I am not in need a any lesson. i am posting an observation about a parish in Detroit Michigan. That is all.

 

[KyivAndrew]

I am not claiming that Ukranian priests are less catholic…I am claiming that they have a tough job. Don’t look for a fight where non exists…I am not in need a any lesson. i am posting an observation about a parish in Detroit Michigan. That is all.

God Bless carmelaltarboy! I wasn’t trying to give any lesson (or look for a fight?. c’mon we’re all part of the Body of Christ in the Church). I guess when you post, it’s tough to judge the meaning of the posters as words fail sometime. I was just sharing my experience. That’s all. I know some very wonderful Roman Catholic priests. Sorry for any misunderstanding. Back to the matter at hand of Saint Peter.

 

[KyivAndrew]

It is irrelevant and I do resent that statement.:

Sincere apologies rinnie. That’s why I ended the post with “please correct me if I am wrong” and I am glad you have corrected me. God Bless.

 

[nlm]

Not really. In my experience with many Ukrainian Catholic priests; I am Ukrainian Catholic; our priests are just as “Catholic” as the celibate “Roman Catholic” priest. The Ukr. Catholic priest’s wife is called “Pani Dobrodiyka”, meaning Good Lady, as she can assist with Sunday school and parish life as well. 2 for 1 for work for the Church. You will find in most Ukrainian Catholic parishes very active priests’ wives helping the parish along. This has always been my experience. Our bishops though at times, as late as the 80s, met with resistance from the Vatican to consecrating married priests, and for no good reason other than to draw our rite closer to the Latin.. Our church as an Eastern Catholic Church had been agreed to keep this ancient rite of our church and be in full communion with Rome.

You may also find a Ukrainian Catholic married priest quite understanding of the problems parishioners may have with children should he have children.

The one thing I can say, and this may be irrelevant to our priests being married, is that we never underwent the harrowing scandals the Roman Catholics have had to endure of late. Our priests and hierarchy came off very well in their dealings with children. This may just be a coincidence however but one should always take everything into account.

God Bless and I sincerely hope I have not offended anyone but merely wished to point out some issues. If I am wrong in certain assertions, please correct me.

The scandle in the church dealing with children had NOTHING to do with priests not being married.This is my humble opinion.This is NOT unique to the Catholic church. Many denominations have walked down that terrible road.How it was dealth with by the hierarchy of the church is a discussion for another day. We must pray for those children, their families and indeed for those priests who need help.We must also be careful NOT to generalize. There are saintly priests in the world. NLM

 

[KyivAndrew]

The scandle in the church dealing with children had NOTHING to do with priests not being married.This is my humble opinion.This is NOT unique to the Catholic church. Many denominations have walked down that terrible road.How it was dealth with by the hierarchy of the church is a discussion for another day. We must pray for those children, their families and indeed for those priests who need help.We must also be careful NOT to generalize. There are saintly priests in the world. NLM

I agree. God Bless.

 

[Randy_Carson]

My question IS centered around the Catholic church is it not. You are refusing to answer it saying basically it’s none of my business as I am not part of the catholic church anymore. My original question was this. Perhaps others will see fit to explain.A married man can’t become a priest, that I know. I have heard the reasons for that and weather or not I agree with them is not important. How is it then that a married priest in another denomination can become a priest in the catholic church and keep his wife?

Because the celibacy of Catholic priests in a discipline and not a doctrine, and the Church can relax its discipline when it is in the best interest of the parties involved. For example, an Episcopalian pastor may want to bring his entire Church into communion with Rome; it make sense for him to remain the priest of that Church even though he is married.

The second part of my original question was. Are the duties and responsabilities of this married priest in the catholic church limited or different then that of a non-married priest? Seems pretty simple to me.NLM

Generally speaking, a married priest will not be the pastor of a parish (except in cases like the one I describe above).

 

[Randy_Carson]

The scandle in the church dealing with children had NOTHING to do with priests not being married.This is my humble opinion.This is NOT unique to the Catholic church. Many denominations have walked down that terrible road.How it was dealth with by the hierarchy of the church is a discussion for another day. We must pray for those children, their families and indeed for those priests who need help.We must also be careful NOT to generalize. There are saintly priests in the world. NLM

Well said. Thank you.

 

[carmelaltarboy]

The scandle in the church dealing with children had NOTHING to do with priests not being married.This is my humble opinion.This is NOT unique to the Catholic church. Many denominations have walked down that terrible road.How it was dealth with by the hierarchy of the church is a discussion for another day. We must pray for those children, their families and indeed for those priests who need help.We must also be careful NOT to generalize. There are saintly priests in the world. NLM

I quite agree. Pedaphilia is not an issue for celibate or single people. Pedphilia is a crime. In addition, the numbers by percent of priests that engaged in such behavior was a FRACTION of what it is compared to the general population (about half)! This is non sequator as an argument. In fact as a result of this one could really argue that being a priest makes one LESS LIKELY TO BECOME A PEDAPHILE!

The REAL issue with the “scandal” was that instead of turning in these men as criminals or ill, the sin and the CRIME was swept under the rug! Well meaning and some not well meaning but proud or misguided or naive or rotten individuals in the hierarchy thought it was better to shuffle decks, assign priests to inneffective treatment, or truly not see that justice for the children be served. Not every priest is a pedaphihle and not every pediphile is a priest. When you somehow equate or try to exaserbate the issue with a lack of facts you do the holy priesthood and their service a grave diservice. In addition, it allows non catholics or atheists an excuse to pound on this beautiful and wholesome group of men who have dedicated their lives to OUR service. In addition, it perpetuates a lie about what is really going on…by the way, there were pedaphile Ukranian priests, lutheran ministers, orthodox priests, rabbi’s, and ministers of every faith found, though of course the favorite target has always been throughout the ages the Roman Catholic Church.

 

[inkaneer]

Not really. In my experience with many Ukrainian Catholic priests; I am Ukrainian Catholic; our priests are just as “Catholic” as the celibate “Roman Catholic” priest. The Ukr. Catholic priest’s wife is called “Pani Dobrodiyka”, meaning Good Lady, as she can assist with Sunday school and parish life as well. 2 for 1 for work for the Church. You will find in most Ukrainian Catholic parishes very active priests’ wives helping the parish along. This has always been my experience. Our bishops though at times, as late as the 80s, met with resistance from the Vatican to consecrating married priests, and for no good reason other than to draw our rite closer to the Latin.. Our church as an Eastern Catholic Church had been agreed to keep this ancient rite of our church and be in full communion with Rome.

You may also find a Ukrainian Catholic married priest quite understanding of the problems parishioners may have with children should he have children.

The one thing I can say, and this may be irrelevant to our priests being married, is that we never underwent the harrowing scandals the Roman Catholics have had to endure of late. Our priests and hierarchy came off very well in their dealings with children. This may just be a coincidence however but one should always take everything into account.

God Bless and I sincerely hope I have not offended anyone but merely wished to point out some issues. If I am wrong in certain assertions, please correct me.

But can you guarantee that a married priesthood is the answer? It’s a rhetorical question as the answer is of course a big NO. The Latin Rite Catholics took a a big hit because we were a big target. Still less than 1% of priests were implicated. Yet in response to a survey question posed in a Baptist clergy magazine a whopping 14% of Baptist clergy admitted to either having a sexual relationship outside of their marriage or of knowing a fellow clergyman who did. So marriage is not the panacea people think it is. The perdnasty matter [that is the correct term, not pedophoilia] involved homosexual issues, not celibacy.

 

[rinnie]

The answer lies in the way you framed the question…

Priests are male as Jesus was male…they do not necessarily have to be celibate/unmarried males. Thus, priests may be married as is common in the Orthodox Church (which has valid orders) and in other rites of the Catholic Church.

If it were not so, Jesus would not/could not have made Peter a priest by commanding him (among the other apostles at the last supper) to “Do this in memory of me.”

It is Church discipline that priests must (normatively) remain unmarried in the Latin rite. It is Church doctrine that priests must be male in all rites. Discipline can be relaxed or changed; doctrine cannot.

Hope that helps.

That is the best and easiest way I have ever heard anyone explain it. thank-you.

 

[rinnie]

But can you guarantee that a married priesthood is the answer? It’s a rhetorical question as the answer is of course a big NO. The Latin Rite Catholics took a a big hit because we were a big target. Still less than 1% of priests were implicated. Yet in response to a survey question posed in a Baptist clergy magazine a whopping 14% of Baptist clergy admitted to either having a sexual relationship outside of their marriage or of knowing a fellow clergyman who did. So marriage is not the panacea people think it is. The perdnasty matter [that is the correct term, not pedophoilia] involved homosexual issues, not celibacy.

While I agree with you 100%, He did say he was sorry, and I for one accept his apology.

 

[KyivAndrew]

While I agree with you 100%, He did say he was sorry, and I for one accept his apology.

Thanks rinnie. God Bless. I am not sure why I am being addressed consistently in this thread. I was not even going to get involved in this thread but when I read a post about Ukrainian Catholic priests being “poor” or their parishes “unfortunate” or “how would you like [a Ukrainian Catholic priest] in your parish”, that got my blood up. Why?

Because as a student I was involved personally in a movement to have the Ukrainian Catholic Church legalized after years of state murder and liquidation in the Soviet Union. I gave it my all, visiting the head of the underground Ukrainian Catholic Church, Y. Terelya, after he was exiled by the Soviets to Toronto. I had to personally watch as he had mild heart attacks in his home, breathing for his life, all because the Soviets had poured drugs down his throat for 20 years while he was incarcerated and sent to “psychiatric prisons” to deal with his illness of Ukrainian Catholicism. The Church means something to me, just as it does to you, and, hence, my initial reaction upon seeing a post like that.

My father was taught by the second most powerful prelate in Ukrainian Catholicism in Ukraine before the Soviets went out, arrested the bishop, tortured him brutally, and disposed of his corpse; all because he refused to recant the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

My parish priest [married], before he was released by the Soviets, would travel at night from village to village in Ukraine giving the sacraments or saying a liturgy at great risk to his life. Had he read that post that I referred to, I can assure you he would have responded differently.

This is my personal experience and hence it may go a bit to explaining why I react defensively to the terms in question about our Catholic priests.

That’s it. I do not wish to be involved in this thread if it just goes to me answering my posts. I stated my experience; I look up to all Roman Catholic clergy as I perfectly understand what commitment they have undertaken before God. I attend Roman Catholic Masses. I have nowhere suggested that Roman Catholic priests should be married nor have I stated that marriage is a panacea. As the thread goes on, more words are being attributed to me than I even wrote or suggested. That’s it. I especially do not want this thread to go off on the question of children now, as the original OP was about St. Peter having a wife, not the rites in the Catholic Church.

That’s all. I was speaking as someone who has personally dealt with people who went through the Golgotha of the Ukrainian Church, and I just wanted some understanding from Roman Catholics. Evidently, I went out about it the wrong way, have apologized and wish the thread gets back on course without me. God Bless, and the Peace of Christ with you all!

 

[rinnie]

Thanks rinnie. God Bless. I am not sure why I am being addressed consistently in this thread. I was not even going to get involved in this thread but when I read a post about Ukrainian Catholic priests being “poor” or their parishes “unfortunate” or “how would you like [a Ukrainian Catholic priest] in your parish”, that got my blood up. Why?

Because as a student I was involved personally in a movement to have the Ukrainian Catholic Church legalized after years of state murder and liquidation in the Soviet Union. I gave it my all, visiting the head of the underground Ukrainian Catholic Church, Y. Terelya, after he was exiled by the Soviets to Toronto. I had to personally watch as he had mild heart attacks in his home, breathing for his life, all because the Soviets had poured drugs down his throat for 20 years while he was incarcerated and sent to “psychiatric prisons” to deal with his illness of Ukrainian Catholicism. The Church means something to me, just as it does to you, and, hence, my initial reaction upon seeing a post like that.

My father was taught by the second most powerful prelate in Ukrainian Catholicism in Ukraine before the Soviets went out, arrested the bishop, tortured him brutally, and disposed of his corpse; all because he refused to recant the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

My parish priest [married], before he was released by the Soviets, would travel at night from village to village in Ukraine giving the sacraments or saying a liturgy at great risk to his life. Had he read that post that I referred to, I can assure you he would have responded differently.

This is my personal experience and hence it may go a bit to explaining why I react defensively to the terms in question about our Catholic priests.

That’s it. I do not wish to be involved in this thread if it just goes to me answering my posts. I stated my experience; I look up to all Roman Catholic clergy as I perfectly understand what commitment they have undertaken before God. I attend Roman Catholic Masses. I have nowhere suggested that Roman Catholic priests should be married nor have I stated that marriage is a panacea. As the thread goes on, more words are being attributed to me than I even wrote or suggested. That’s it. I especially do not want this thread to go off on the question of children now, as the original OP was about St. Peter having a wife, not the rites in the Catholic Church.

That’s all. I was speaking as someone who has personally dealt with people who went through the Golgotha of the Ukrainian Church, and I just wanted some understanding from Roman Catholics. Evidently, I went out about it the wrong way, have apologized and wish the thread gets back on course without me. God Bless, and the Peace of Christ with you all!

I understand bud, and apologize for it also. Hope you stick around. I feel responsible because I think I took what you said personally about my Church and Priests, and kinda got the ball rolling as they say:blush: But hopefully this will be the end of it. God Bless you.

 

[KyivAndrew]

I understand bud, and apologize for it also. Hope you stick around. I feel responsible because I think I took what you said personally about my Church and Priests, and kinda got the ball rolling as they say:blush: But hopefully this will be the end of it. God Bless you.

No you don’t own me any apology rinnie. It was just one post that got me riled up late at night And your Church is my Church too, just different rites. I remember His Holiness John Paul the Second commemorating Mass in 1988 at St. Peter’s with all our hierarchy in commemoration of a millennium of Christianity in Ukraine and him speaking perfect Ukrainian as his mother was Ukrainian. He held our cause dear to his heart as well.

I feel bad now for venting but that’s what these forums are for partly sometimes and I again feel sorry. Must, however, control self

God Bless.

 

[nevadagardener]

I stumbled across the historical writings from Foxe’s Book of Martyrs about Saint Peter’s wife, and their martyrdom occurring at the same time. Earlier in the thread, months ago, I had mentioned that I knew I had once read about this, somewhere along the way.

So, first, the paragraph about her, and second, about Peter (and actually, I have provided the link to the text following that, showing all of it). All that we know is not contained in the Bible, and I would think that everyone should be glad that there are sources other than it, which support it. That Saint Peter traveled with his wife until their end, would seem to be demonstrated in these references of the times.

Eusebius, moreover, writing of the death, not only of Peter, but also of his wife, affirmeth that Peter, seeing his wife going to her martyrdom, (belike as he was yet hanging upon the cross,) was greatly joyous and glad thereof, who, crying unto her with a loud voice, and calling her by her name, bade her remember the Lord Jesus. Such was then, (saith Eusebius,) the blessed bond of marriage among the saints of God. And thus much of Peter.

1. THE FIRST PERSECUTION UNDER NERO
   
   The first of these ten persecutions was stirred up by Nero Domitius, the sixth emperor before mentioned, about the year of our Lord threescore and seven. The tyrannous rage of which emperor was so fierce against the Christians, as Eusebius recordeth, that a man might then see cities lie full of men’s bodies, the old there lying together with the young, and the dead bodies of women cast out naked, without all reverence of that sex, in the open streets, &c. Likewise Orosius, writing of the said Nero, saith, that he was the first which in Rome did raise up persecution against the Christians; and not only in Rome, but also through all the provinces thereof; thinking to abolish and to destroy the whole name of Christians in all places, &c. Whereunto accordeth moreover the testimony of Hierom upon Daniel, saying, that many there were of the Christians in those days, which, seeing the filthy abominations and intolerable cruelty of Nero, thought that he should be antichrist.

Illustration – The Martyrdom of St. Peter

In this persecution, among many other saints, the blessed apostle Peter was condemned to death, and crucified, as some do write, at Rome; albeit other some, and not without cause, do doubt thereof; concerning whose life and history, because it is sufficiently described in the text of the Gospel, and in the Acts of the Apostles, I need not here to make any great repetition thereof. As touching the cause and maimer of his death, divers there be which make relation, as Hierom, Egesippus, Eusebius, Abdias, and others, although they do not all precisely agree in the time. The words of Hierom be these: Simon Peter, the son of Jona, of the province of Galilee, and of the town of Bethsaida, the brother of Andrew, &c., after he had been bishop of the church of Antioch, and had preached to the dispersion of them that believed, of the circumcision, in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, in the second year of Claudius the emperor, (which was the year of our Lord forty and four,) came to Rome to withstand Simon Magus, and there kept the priestly chair the space of five and twenty years, until the last year of the aforesaid Nero, which was the fourteenth year of his reign, of whom he was crucified, his head being down, and his feet upward; himself so requiring, because he was (he said) unworthy to be crucified after the same form and manner as the Lord was, &c. Egesippus prosecuting this matter something more at large, and Abdias also, (if any authority is to be given to his book, who following not only the sense, but also the very form of words of Egesippus in this history, seemeth to be extracted out of him, and of other authors,) saith, that Simon Magus being then a great man with Nero, and his president and keeper of his life, was required upon a time to be present at the raising up of a certain noble young man in Rome, of Nero's kindred, lately departed; whereas Peter also was desired to come to the re viving of the said personage. But when Magus, in the presence of Peter, could not do it, then Peter, calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus, did raise him up, and restored him to his mother; Whereby the estimation of Simon Magus began greatly to decay, and to be detested in Rome. Not long after the said Magus threatened the Romans that he would leave the city, and in their sight fly away from them into heaven. So the day being appointed, Magus taking his wings in the mount Capitolinus, began to fly in the air; but Peter, by the power of the Lord Jesus, brought him down with his wings headlong to the ground, by the which fall his legs and joints were broken, and he thereupon died. Then Nero, sorrowing for the death of him, sought matter against Peter to put him to death. Which, when the people perceived, they entreated Peter with much ado that he would fly the city. Peter, through their importunity at length persuaded, prepared himself to avoid. But coming to the gate, he saw the Lord Christ come to meet him, to whom he, worshipping, said, Lord, whither dost thou go? To whom he answered and said, I am come again to be crucified. By this Peter, perceiving his suffering to be understood, returned back into the city again, and so was he crucified in manner as is before declared. And this out of Egesippus.

exclassics.com/foxe/foxe5.htm

Hardly happy material, any of it, but seemingly answering questions on this thread. Every one of the Apostles and their families knew this would eventually be their fate. Jesus told them it would. It is unfathomable that humans can be so cruel to each other, once you research the martyrdom of the believers. They believed anyway. All the more remarkable, and venerable.

 

[Cashue]

I think its clear from the answers that Peter was indeed married but his wife was dead. In the same way, the call to remain single is not obligatory, a man can marry and wait for his wife to die and then answer his calling to be a priest.

Peter was the first pope so he set the pattern and several popes have been married men that qualified to the position after their wives died.

 

[nevadagardener]

Anyone here can speculate all they want, or make stuff up, but that doesn’t mean it’s true. Instead, we have at least one Bible passage referencing that Peter’s wife traveled with the mission, and a historical source providing some evidence that they were martyred at the same time, hence together until the end of both.

Kindly provide actual references for your remarks, either links or sources either of historical or traditional nature or Biblical passages, in the interest of fairness of the forum. “Opinions” don’t count, unless you can provide something to back it up. We could all do that all day, and then it’s no longer a learning exercise, which is the intent of these forums.

 

[BerhaneSelassie]

Tradition says that Apostles after their call and ordination abstained from their wives, its less clear if their wives traveled with them or not, it seems to infer they did not, The only Church Father that I am aware of that had the view that they traveled with their husbands was St Clement of Alexandria, and he asserted that they functioned as deaconesses of sorts because it was not always proper for a man to minister to a woman. Regardless he states that they abstained from theirs wives. Most Church Fathers assert that 1 Cor 9:5 is a reference to the apostles having women not wives ministering to them as was the case with Jesus, as opposed to wives, as the Greek word can mean either one.