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.
Dear Kolokotronis,
"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)."
That's the same in the Western Church. Monastic orders will have both "fathers" (priests) and "brothers" (not priests).
My high school alma mater is run by the monastic order, the Order of the Most Holy Trinity (known by their Latin initials, OSST). Most of the vowed men in the community were brothers, not ordained priests.
"All married priests were married prior to their ordination and if they lose their wife, they may not marry again."
Identical discipline in the Western Church.
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