Presbytera

Presbytera (Gk. πρεσβυτέρα, pronounced - and sometimes spelt - presvytera) is a Greek title of honor that is used to refer to a priest's wife. It is derived from presbyteros—the Greek word for priest (literally, "elder"). Although 'Presbyteress' has an equivalent meaning, it has a very small usage: most English-speaking Orthodox Christians will use the title most common in the old country churches from which their local family or parish finds its origin.

Other languages

Presbytera corresponds to the following equivalent titles:

• Albanian: Prifteresha
• Arabic: Khouria (from the word khoury, meaning "priest")
• Carpatho-Russian: Pani (literally "lady," comparable to Pan for priests, meaning "lord")
• Finnish: Ruustinna (from the word rovasti (protoiereos), in Karelia: Maatuska)
• Estonian: "Presvitera"
• Old Icelandic: Prestkona ("priest's woman")
• Romanian: Preoteasa
• Russian: Matushka (pronounced MAH'-too-shkah, literally means "mama," i.e., the intimate form of "mother"; more common in "diaspora" Russian traditions than within Russia itself)
• Serbian: Popadija (from the word pop, meaning married priest); Protinica (pronounced proh-tee-NEE'-tsah) for a protopresbyter's wife
• Ukrainian: Panimatka or Panimatushka (pani, "lady" + matushka, "little mama"); Dobrodijka (pronounced doh-BROH-deey-kah, literally means "a woman who does good"); Popadya ("priest's wife")

See also

• Diakonissa

Books

• Presbytera: The Life, Mission, and Service of the Priest's Wife, by Athanasia Papademetriou (ISBN 0972466142)

External links

• National Sisterhood of Presvyteres (GOARCH)
• "The Orthodox Clergy Wife" by Matushka Valerie G. Zahirsky (Orthodox Family Life)
• "The Shadow of a Priest" from Orthodox America
• Clergy Etiquette