Greek Archdiocese Requesting Constantinople to Consider Second Marriages for Several Priests

Pravoslavie ^ | 10/18/19

[marshmallow]

The Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America met in New York on October 15-16 under the presidency of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, dealing with a number of issues, including the organization of Synodal Committees, clerical discipline, the possibility of electing a new vicar bishop, the ongoing construction of the St. Nicholas shrine at Ground Zero, and much more.

In particular, according to the official communiqué published by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Synod “Examined the petitions of three clergymen who have requested to enter into holy matrimony in the second instance and decided to formally extend a request to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”

The Patriarchate of Constantinople, to which the Greek Archdiocese belongs, made serious waves last year when it decided to allow second marriages for priests in the event they are widowed or abandoned by their wives, given that the decision contradicts the long-standing canonical tradition of the Church.

The decision even contradicts the resolution on marriage approved by the Council of Crete in 2016 that was presided over by Patriarch Bartholomew himself.

Each case is to be judged individually by the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and the service of the second marriage is to be a low-key event for a close family circle.

[jocon307]

They can’t remarry even if the first wife is dead? That seems kind of overly strict to me.

[Clemenza]

Yeah, it’s extreme, but not as extreme as a certain religious cult that I was raised in that a few centuries ago banned all marriages for clergy to combat corruption/property inheritance abuse in contravention of the scriptures.

[cloudmountain]

They can’t remarry even if the first wife is dead? That seems kind of overly strict to me.

I always learned that a widow or widower CAN remarry.

[jocon307]

Hey Clemenza! Good to see you!

Well, it might be less extreme, but it makes even less sense. I mean people die all the time. My own cousin died about 2 months after she got married and she was in her 30s.

This is the only thing like this I’ve ever heard of.

I’ve become a Protestant myself and here’s a bit of a funny story that I’ll share. I went looking for a church again in part so I could get my grandchildren baptized. As we were trying to arrange this (because they don’t live local to me) the Pastor & I were discussing doing it on Thanksgiving weekend. And he kept saying to me: well, maybe, my daughter is going to be here, perhaps, but you know, my daughter is going to be here,etc. (And in my mind I’m thinking: now I see the value in an unmarried clergy.) Finally I said, yes, but Pastor MY daughter is going to be here too! The boys were both baptized that weekend.

No offense is intended by these remarks - one must issue these disclaimers nowadays.

[NRx]

In the Orthodox Church married men may be ordained as priests. But once ordained a priest may not marry or remarry. Those who are called to God but not marriage usually are pointed to a monastery. If a priest’s wife dies, he is expected to live the remainder of his life as a widower. Some widowed priests also retire to a monastery. This discipline of the Church is ancient and every priest understands it before being ordained. In the same vein we do not allow married clergy to be made bishops. Bishops come from the monastic ranks and rarely widowed priests.

This is a shocking scandal.