www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West A Question for the Orthodox: Subdiaconate & Marriage in your Churches

I'd love to know something about the current Orthodox discipline (I mean mostly practice, not ancient canons from the first Millenium which I red) regarding Subdiaconate and Marriage, i.e:

1) Are subdeacons in your Churches allowed to marry AFTER ordination to the subdiaconate?
2) If yes, can such subdeacons continue their service as clerics? Can they be promoted to diaconate and presbyterate?

Every info appreciated.

Sincerely,
Peter

I'll try to answer that question (hopefully without getting into too much trouble). I'm a Subdeacon in the Antiochian Archdiocese in my last year of St. Stephen's and hopefully the Master's of Applied Orthodox Theology from St. John of Damascus at Balamand. Aa a matter of fact, I'm working on My Doctrine II (Dogmatics) final exam this weekend.

I have permssion to marry and seek ordination to the diaconate. There are St. Stephen's grads who are priests, but I believe that my class for the Balamand accredited Applied Theology Masters will be the first.?.

The Greek Archdiocese generally ordains Subdeacons as part of the Diaconal ordination process. The OCA generally like their Subdeacons to be married (although they did take my friend who was ordained from the Antiochian Archdiocese). I believe that you are alluding to the canon of the Sixth Ecumenical Council which treats Subdeacons with the Deacons regarding the subsequent marriage provisons. Thus, strictly speaking, the North American Subdeacons with permission to marry are by oeconomia. What I do is restricted by my Bishop and Pastor. You do nothing without their explicit permission. In an OCA or Greek Archdiocese parish, I always defer to their discipline. If I visit an Old Calendar Monastery, I won't say that I'm a Subdeacon and a single man. I fear that an Athonite monk might say that because of the Sixth Council, having been made a Subdeacon as a single man, I'm canonically a monk gone secularly astray. Please take the last part in the humorous spirit ("And Sarah said God made laughter", yet Christian) spirit in which it was intended. Monastics serve a priceless and vitally important role in the Church, as your Frs. Elias and Maximos prove by their examples.

In the Service of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

Three Cents

Three Cents,

Can you explain more about the Masters in Applied Orthodox Theology program? Is that a distance education program?

If so, I'd love to get more info on it.

Thanks,

Gordo, sfo

Three Cents,

Hello! I am in the same program. I just got my exam questions in the mail and have to begin writing mucho many papers. The Masters Degree tied to Balamand is a great thing. Just think; an accredited degree in Eastern Christian theology! What will they think of next?

Good luck in your studies.
Joe

Many thanks to ThreeCents for his
interesting reply. I encourage other folks
to follow his example. The subject is very
interesting indeed.

Peter

Dear $.03,

Do you know our soon to be deacon, Dr James Thayer? He wrote an article on the Antiochian House of Studies for this month's WORD magazine.

Loukas
St Antony OC, Tulsa

Just a couple of replies to this sorta, kinda, interesting thread.

First, yes, the Masters from Balamand requires acceptance and completion of the three year St. Stephen's Course of Study in Orthodox Theology, three one week sessions (residency) at the Antiochian House of Studies in Ligonier, PA and completion of an approved Masters Thesis paper (after acceptance). Additionally, all candidates for major orders from the Antiochian Archdiocese and the Ukrainian Metropolia (Ecumenical Patriarchate) must complete the Antiochian House of Studies residency requirements for their ordination boards. The Antiochian students must take Byzantine Music, it is optional for the Ukrainian students. We do the daily liturgical cycle according to the Ordo of the Great Church of Constantinople. This must be interesting for the Ukrainian students, use to the Ordo of the St. Savas Monastery of Jerusalem.

Regarding the article by Dr. James Thayer form Oklahoma, are you asking if I'm in those two pictures of that motley crew on pages 5 and 6? Well, quoting from the Blessed Solomon (the Forerunner of Our Lord and Savior) in Ecclesiastes "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher." I think that the picture from '99 looks better.

Regarding Dr. Thayer's upcoming visit (from I assume His Grace Bishop Basil), I can only say Axios, Axios, Axios, Diakanos! He is worthy!

In the Service of Our Lord and Savior,

Three Cents

Dear Three Cents,

Brother James will be ordained on Feb. 11 at St. George Cathedral in Wichita. I will be attending, or possibly I will be attending the Festival of Orthodoxy - http://www.gohtdallas.org/ - in Dallas on the same weekend. My wife wants to go to Dallas more than Wichita, and she usually gets veto power