Clergy & Priesthood

The Assyrian Church of the East maintains the ancient Eastern Orthodox practice of ordaining married men to the priesthood and diaconate. A man must be married before ordination to the priesthood or diaconate; celibacy after ordination is not required. However, bishops are chosen from the celibate clergy (typically monks) and must maintain celibacy. This reflects the Eastern tradition's distinction between the monastic and pastoral vocations.

The ordained clergy—deacons, priests, and bishops—are understood to stand in apostolic succession and to mediate the sacraments for the people. The priesthood is understood sacramentally and liturgically: priests are authorized to celebrate the Divine Liturgy and to administer the mysteries. The church maintains no doctrine of apostolic succession through papal authority; rather, each bishop in the succession from the Apostles possesses the fullness of apostolic authority. Women are not ordained to any level of clergy.