christian-anthropology-ethicsfeatured in 30 works

Celibacy and Consecrated Virginity

Forgoing marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven

Celibacy and consecrated virginity name the voluntary renunciation of marriage for the sake of God's kingdom, commended in the Gospel and by Paul, and praised in early writers such as Methodius. It is highly esteemed across the traditions. They differ, however, over mandatory clerical celibacy: the Latin Catholic Church requires it of its priests, a discipline that contrasts with Eastern and Protestant practice.

How it traveled

1 Corinthians
Ephesus · 67
explains
Matthew
Antioch · 80
explains
On the Veiling of Virgins.
— · 220
explains
On Monogamy.
— · 220
explains
On Exhortation to Chastity.
— · 220
explains
The Second Epistle of the Same Clement.
— · 220
explains
The First Epistle of the Blessed Clement, the Disciple of Peter the Apostle.
— · 220
explains
On Prayer.
— · 220
applies
The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew.
— · 220
explains
The Banquet of the Ten Virgins; or Concerning Chastity.
— · 311
explains
The First Ecumenical Council: The First Council of Nice
Nicaea · 325
applies
The Church History of Eusebius
Caesarea · 339
explains
Aphrahat: Select Demonstrations
Mosul · 345
explains
The Canons of the Councils of Ancyra, Gangra, Neocæsarea, Antioch and Laodicea, which Canons were Accepted and Received by the Ecumenical Synods
— · 360
applies
Life of Antony. (Vita Antoni.)
Alexandria · 373
applies
The Incarnation of the Word
Alexandria · 373
explains
The Letters
Caesarea (Cappadocia) · 379
applies
The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril
Jerusalem · 386
applies
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen
Nazianzus · 390
explains
On Virginity
Nyssa · 395
explains
Concerning Virgins
Milan · 397
explains
Concerning Widows
Milan · 397
explains
Selections from the Letters of St. Ambrose
Milan · 397
explains
The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom
Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
explains
The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and Philemon
Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
explains
Homilies on First Corinthians
Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
explains
The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews
Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
explains
The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians
Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
applies
Homilies on Second Corinthians
Constantinople (Istanbul) · 407
explains
The Letters of St. Jerome
Bethlehem · 420
explains

Key passages(20)

Concerning Virgins — Book I. — part 6↗applies

Concerning Virgins · Ambrose of Milan