Eastern Orthodox Christians
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Eastern Orthodox Christian clergy
Bishops in the Eastern Orthodox church are distinctive by their long beards.
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The Argument
The Bishops in the Orthodox Church are considered to be the direct successors of the original Apostles.[1] They don’t shave their beards to symbolise closeness to God.
While not being against marriage, it is generally accepted that celibacy in the Church allows for a closer understanding of the Christian life away from worldly things.[1]
Deaconesses (women who were a lower status of clergy) were allowed in the early church but lessened as female oppression increased in society.[2] ‘Holy tradition’ is given as an excuse to avoid any changes in their practices, and generally Eastern Orthodoxy views the ordination of women as an unwelcome innovation.[2]