[Kolokotronis]

In great haste as I am at the office. What you have posted may well be Roman theology. It is not Orthodox theology. Orthodoxy follows the formulations of St. Ignatius of Antioch who wrote that the bishop stands in the place of Christ, the priests in the place of the apostles. And of course, the apostles were married. What you propose is in accord with some of the ancient canons for bishops but not priests. This is forcefully brought home to us at the consecration in the Divine Liturgy. It is not the priest who consecrates the bread and wine but rather the God through the Holy Spirit. Similarly, at confession, the priest does not say "Absolvo te..." but rather " May Christ our God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, forgive your sins...." or words to that effect.

[sinkspur]

It is not Roman theology either.

[annalex]

The point is the priest's presence in the Divine space is in conflict with the purpose of marriage, -- which is to restore a proximity to the Divine space of the Garden where the three-way communion between man, woman and God was intact.

A priest may remain nominally married as an act of charity to his wife, and it was extended to the Apostles in that spirit. It cannot be but an exception due to a preexisting peculiar circumstance. A man who wants, by rights, to marry and be a priest at the same time is someone who has no understanding of either marriage or priesthood.

[Tantumergo]

"Orthodoxy follows the formulations of St. Ignatius of Antioch who wrote that the bishop stands in the place of Christ, the priests in the place of the apostles."

Ahem!!!!!

Check your texts again friend! According to St. Ignatius it is the DEACONS who stand in the place of Christ, the Bishop in the place of the Father, and the priests in the place of the apostles!

At least one saint had his priorities right!

;)