Eastern Orthodox Church

=== 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 [[deacon]]s 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 [[deaconess]]es 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=9 March 2017|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=12 November 2021|website=Religion News Service}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |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=22 December 2016 |date=16 November 2016 |access-date=12 November 2021 |website=Patriarchate of Alexandria |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 Theodoros II]] consecrated five women to be deaconesses within the [[Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Patriarchate of Alexandria]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/theology/orthodox-move-women-deacons-called-revitalization-not-innovation|last=Dearie|first=James|title=Orthodox move for women deacons is 'revitalization' not 'innovation'|website=National Catholic Reporter|date=30 November 2017|accessdate=5 December 2023}}</ref>