Presbytera is a Greek title of honor that is used to refer to a priest

Presbyter

Presbyter in the New Testament refers to a leader in local Christian congregations, then a synonym of episkopos...

'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)
• Macedonian: Popadija (from the word pop, meaning married priest)
• Old Icelandic: Prestkona ("priest's woman")
• Romanian: Preoteasa
• Russian: Matushka ; (antiquated) Popadya ("priest's wife")
• Serbian: Popadija (from the word pop, meaning married priest); Protinica for a protopresbyter's wife
• Ukrainian: Panimatka or Panimatushka (pani, "lady" + matushka, "little mama"); Dobrodijka ; Popadya ("priest's wife")

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