Dear kosta50,
"Thank you for clarifying things up a lot. Good answers."
You're welcome. And thanks.
"All Orthodox priests go through the same ordination -- none takes a vow of celibacy. Celibacy is taken upon assuming monastic life style."
But eventually, some, then, take a vow of celibacy, as they enter the monastic life.
Further, all Orthodox priests, correct me if I'm wrong, promise not to marry once having been ordained. Those who are already married stay married. Those not married may not subsequently married.
Effectively, a single man who is ordained a priest in Orthodoxy undertakes life-long celibacy.
But a married man does not.
The only difference for us Catholics is that we refuse to ordain most married men.
Certainly, each Catholic-Orthodox Church has the right and authority to determine who will and won't be ordained (excepting, of course, that some are not qualified, and may not be validly ordained by any Church), and what rules will be followed for ordination.
For the Eastern Churches, celibacy is the rule only for the monastic life and for the episcopacy.
For the Western Church, celibacy is the general rule for all, but admits of exceptions when deemed appropriate for the salvation of souls.
For both East and West, celibacy is required for those who enter the priesthood unmarried, or who are widowed after ordination.
sitetest
To clear up one possible misconception. Not all Orthodox monks are priests. In fact, the vast majority of them are not, but all of them are unmarried or living apart from their wives in chastity in a monastery (rather rare).
All married priests were married prior to their ordination and if they lose their wife, they may not marry again. I do remember a case some years back when a priest's wife left him, ran off and divorced him, leaving him with the kids. Contrary to the positive instruction of his bishop, he remarried. I believe he was defrocked. I know he is no longer a priest in the GOA.
Of course. I think you have done an excellent job showing that both the Church of the East and the West have flexibility, althought in reverse order, but in the end they both end on the same spot. But I can see why the Latin Catholic approach can lead to some dissatisfaction -- being that there is no choice even before ordination. The rules in the Orthodox East apply to everyone, regardless.
.. all Orthodox priests, correct me if I'm wrong, promise not to marry once having been ordained...
Aboslutely. They take the Holy Orders knowing that there will be no marriage after ordination. That's the way it has been in the East (and the West) for the longest time.