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Hierarchy and Decision-making
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preparing and defending a dissertation. A
celibate priest may become a bishop without
having these orders, but he cannot confer
them to others.
Celibate Priest
Celibate priest (abełay), otherwise called
monk or monastic priest, generally lives in a
monastery and devotes himself to educa-
tional and missionary activities. In special
cases he may also assume pastoral or specific
responsibilities in a diocese. Catholicoi,
bishops, vartabeds, and monks are not
married. Celibacy emerged in the Armenian
Church in the 5th Century.
Married Priest
A married priest (k‘ahanay) is the pastor
of a parish; he lives with his family among
his parishioners and carries out his pastoral
work under the supervision of the diocesan
primate. For his many years of dedicated
service, the married priest is given the title
of archpriest (awag k‘ahanay). If a married
priest's wife (erēc‘kin) passes away, he may
either remarry or assume the order of celi-
bate priesthood with the permission of the
catholicos.
Deacon
Deaconhood is the first order of church
hierarchy. The main role of the deacon