www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Titles for the wives of priests and deacons

Dear John, S.

Not "most", but some were, it's true.

I think most priests and deacons wives usually let it be known how they like to be addressed, and it doesn't often have as much to do with the historical foundation of the parish, as much as their own personal preference.

the unworthy,
Elias

In the Melkite tradition, the title is deaconess or diakonissa. I don't hear it very often, but it brings me much strength and pride (in the sense of honor, not in the sense of vanity) when I am addressed that way. I wish it were used more regularly.

Father Elias bless me a sinner.

Thanks for your post.

In Christ,

John

The Indian Churches usually call the priest's wife kochamma - "little mother".

For the life of me, right now I can't recall what we call the deacon's wife in my mother's 'mother tongue' (so I guess until I remember, I will have to settle for "not much")...

My son-in-law's mother is the wife of an Antiochan Orthodox priest. She is called Matushka.

Mary Jo

My wife is referred to as Diakonisa. The priest's wife is usually referred to as Pani. Some Russian churches call the priest's wife Matushka; the Greeks call the priest's wife Presbytera.

Hi John,

Our "OCA" Church was originally from The Russian Tradition, never part of the Greek Catholic Church.

Here is an informative piece on OCA History: OCA INFO [oca.org]

In Christ,
Ray Musicbear

Thanks for the link Ray.

The OCA website is wonderful... I visit often. Very well-done!

I find the history of Rusyn Eastern Christians in the USA fascinating.

I wonder how many Ruthenian Greek Catholic Churches helped form what is now the OCA and how many remain? How many parishes did the Russian Orthodox Church have in the USA before St. Alexis Toth took the Rusyn Greek Catholics back to Orthodoxy? Is the Rusyn Plainchant alive and well in the OCA? What is the legacy of the Rusyns in the OCA? Lots of questions from a history buff.

I know our Greek Catholic Parish (www.byzantinecatholic.com [byzantinecatholic.com]) has a daughter OCA parish in Burr Ridge, Ill. In fact, I believe the Burr Ridge OCA parish is Vladyka Job's home parish.

In Christ,

John

Penthaetria when I hear deaconess or diakonissa I am taken back also. It is kind of mind boggeling. I have gotten use to Pani from it being used on the web. When I am referred to as sham'mas' that one also stops me in my tracks.

I think the deacons and deacons wives will agree, that when the husbands were ordained, the whole family changed in some way. The grace of ordination poured forth over the whole family as it did the deacon in some way. When I had to opportunity to speak with wives from my husbands class after his ordination they all said the same thing...they changed to.

The best way to explain that is Deacon Stan was very timid in his singing, not a strong voice at all. As soon as he was ordained and returned to St. Georges, he began with the Liturgy and out of no where came this strong wonderful voice we had never heard before. So there is a definate annointing that takes place. It is mind boggeling to me anyway.

Pani Rose

Or by the title that some of my married colleagues refer to thier wives by,(when they are not in ear-shot) "The Matriarch" .

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Or perhaps, according to Rumpole of the Bailey: "she who must be obeyed". :p

Kozbar,

You got it, that is what they are implying.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

John S.,
Probably the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese and the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholics are closest in Liturgical tradition. www.acrod.org. [acrod.org.] They are first cousins once removed. By now any OCA parishes that came over with Alexis Toth are third cousins
Perhaps the biggest thing you might see in an OCA parish that has a more Carpatho background is the priest wearing low back vestments and a tetrapod set up like the Ruthanian parishes versus the three icons on stands like in the Russian tradition.

From my own experience we have a small local parish that was founded in the 1890's by Rusyn coalminers. may have been on and off GC but lastly OCA without an assigned priest. When I first went there with a Greek Orthodox military chaplain the people all sang prostopienie. The last time I heard them after they got a full-time priest it was all OCA St Vladimir seminary style and all the old icons were replaced with strict byzantine russian style.

Initially,yes they would have used the term "pani". Due to the decades under Muscovite influence, the descendants of the formerly Galician Ukrainian and Subcarpathian Rusyn Greek Catholic faithful in OCA churches today only know the Muscovite "Matushka".

FYI

Ungcsertezs