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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Custom and legislation provided for the status of clerical wives. On the day of the husband's ordination, the wife received a special blessing. Such wives, known as presbyterissae (presbyterae) and diaconissae (diaconae), wore a distinctive garb and were not permitted to remarry, even after the death of their husbands (Orléans, c. 573, c.22; Les 'Ordines Romani' du haut moyen-âge 4:140*41). At the time of Leo I, clerics were not obliged to dismiss their wives, but could live with them in celibacy. Writing to Bishop Rusticus of Narbonne, Leo stated that married clerics should not give up their wives but should live together in wedded love, without the acts of love, so that a spiritual marriage might replace a carnal one (Patrologia Latina 54:1204). Later, however, such cohabitation appeared to be overly difficult and suspicious, and canonical legislation proceeded more cautiously. A bishop was required to provide another household for his wife. Each day she might come to the bishop's house and carefully look after its needs; but she was not to bring her servants, and, as a safeguard, the bishop was always to be attended by clerics. A priest, on the other hand, was permitted to keep his wife in his home (probably for reasons of economy), but they were not to share a common room (Orléans, 541, c.17). The archpriest was always to be attended, especially at night, by his clerics (canonici clerici), and one of them, or if necessary a layman, was to sleep in his room. Other priests and deacons slept alone, but were expected to provide a female servant who should sleep in the wife's room to warrant her virtue. Married clerics who disregarded these precautions were branded with the heresy of Nicolaitism (Tours 557, c.20). Priests were forbidden to have other women in their household, and VIRGINES SUBINTRODUCTAE were especially suspect (Bordeaux, 663, c.3). In the cities, common sleeping quarters were to be provided for priests and for lesser clerics (Tours, 567, c.15). Thomas Izbicki Collection Development Coordinator Eisenhower Library Johns Hopkins Baltimore, MD 21218 (410)516-7173 fax (410)516-8399 >>> [log in to unmask] 01/13/05 10:41 AM >>> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture I'm sorry I have another vocabulary question here. Unfortunately, not even the better and larger dictionaries contain some of the more specialized religious terms. Does anyone know the English term for the German 'Nikolaitismus' (unchaste or married clergy or a member of the clergy who lives together with a concubine)? Sandra Lowerre ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html