Eastern Orthodoxy

=== Holy orders ===

[[Image:Kheirotonia.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Eastern Orthodox [[subdeacon]] being ordained to the [[diaconate]]. The [[bishop]] has placed his [[omophorion]] and right hand on the head of the candidate and is reading the ''Prayer of [[Christian laying on of hands|Cheirotonia]]''.]]

Widowed priests and [[deacons]] may not remarry and it is common for such members of the clergy to retire to a monastery (see [[clerical celibacy]]). This is also true of widowed wives of clergy, who do not remarry and become nuns when their children are grown. Only men are allowed to receive [[holy orders]], although [[deaconesses]] historically had both liturgical and pastoral functions within the church.<ref name="Karras">{{cite journal |last= Karras |first= Valerie A. |title= Female Deacons in the Byzantine Church |pages= 272–316 |date=June 2004 |journal= Church History |volume= 73 |issue= 2 |doi= 10.1017/S000964070010928X |s2cid= 161817885 |issn= 0009-6407 
}}</ref>

In 2016, the Patriarchate of Alexandria decided to reintroduce the order of deaconess.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-03-09|title=Orthodox Church debate over women deacons moves one step closer to reality|url=https://religionnews.com/2017/03/09/orthodox-church-debate-over-women-deacons-moves-one-step-closer-to-reality/|access-date=2021-11-12|website=Religion News Service|archive-date=2021-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112025044/https://religionnews.com/2017/03/09/orthodox-church-debate-over-women-deacons-moves-one-step-closer-to-reality/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=|title=Second Day of Deliberations of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria|url=http://www.patriarchateofalexandria.com/index.php?module=news&action=details&id=1207|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222133346/http://www.patriarchateofalexandria.com/index.php?module=news&action=details&id=1207|archive-date=2016-12-22|access-date=2021-11-12|website=patriarchateofalexandria.com|quote=Regarding the issue of the institution of Deaconesses, it was decided to revive this and a tripartite committee of Hierarchs was appointed for a detailed consideration of the subject.}}</ref> In February 2017, [[Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria|Patriarch Theodore II]] consecrated five women to be deacons within the [[Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Patriarchate of Alexandria]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-11-30|title=Orthodox move for women deacons is 'revitalization' not 'innovation'|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/theology/orthodox-move-women-deacons-called-revitalization-not-innovation|access-date=2021-11-12|website=National Catholic Reporter|archive-date=2023-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326030550/https://www.ncronline.org/news/theology/orthodox-move-women-deacons-called-revitalization-not-innovation|url-status=live}}</ref>