Does He Return to His Congregation or to His Wife?
Does He Return to His Congregation or to His Wife?
In some churches, an inappropriate liturgical custom has become widespread—one that is neither spiritual nor pastoral in nature. It is the practice of welcoming a newly ordained priest, after he has completed the forty-day retreat in a monastery, by ceremonially escorting him in church to his wife, from whom he had been separated during that period.
From a spiritual perspective, however, the newly ordained priest has returned to his congregation and his church—to his spiritual children. Therefore, everyone rejoices at his return, not only his wife.
His wife is not the only one who has been awaiting his return; the entire congregation has been waiting as well. Moreover, his family has now become the whole congregation, not merely his wife and children in the narrow sense of family.
We also notice that his children do not participate in this procession. Why, then, is the wife singled out? Does this not seem inappropriate?
Furthermore, it may be embarrassing for the wife herself.
It may also give the congregation the impression that the new priest is more concerned with his wife than with the entire church, which is not a healthy pastoral image.
The proper practice is for the newly ordained priest to enter the church, pray the Prayer of Thanksgiving, offer Vespers incense, deliver a sermon, and be escorted by the deacons in an ecclesiastical procession—not a family one. The whole congregation can then congratulate him and rejoice in his return.
As for the custom involving the priest and his wife, it should be discontinued.
Through ordination, he has entered a higher level of ministry and responsibility.
His family has become the entire Church. The Church is his bride, as the Apostle speaks of the relationship between Christ and the Church, saying, “This is a great mystery” (Ephesians 5:31–32).
