Widowed priest

Once a priest was widowed. Unable to bear the celibacy, he went to his bishop and told him. Vladyka, I will take off the robe and get married. His bishop tried in vain to persuade him. In the end he told him. "Okay, my father, but I would like you to take them off where you wore them, in the church, in front of your flock, with all the ritual." Indeed, on Sunday at the Divine Liturgy, after the great entrance, the bishop and the priest stood at the royal doors and the choir began to chant the troparion of Maundy Thursday "Today Judas seduces the Master and receives the devil". The priest was shocked and began to cry. He fell to his knees and apologized for his recklessness. He remained serving at the altar until the end of his life.

Father Vassilios Lagadinos