Presbytera
Presbytera is a Greek title of honor that is used to refer to a priest's wife. It is derived from presbyteros—the Greek word for priest. Although 'Presbyteress' or 'eldress' has an equivalent meaning, it has a very small usage: most English-speaking Orthodox Christians will use the title most common in the old country churches from which their local family or parish finds its origin.Presbytera corresponds to the following equivalent titles:
- Albanian: Prifteresha
- Armenian: Yeretzgin
- Arabic: Khouria
- Bulgarian: Popadija
- Carpatho-Russian: Pani
- Coptic: Tasoni
- Estonian: Presvitera
- Finnish: Ruustinna
- Malayalam : Kochamma literal meaning is little or young mother. In Syrian Christian churches, they are formally called "baskiamo".
- Macedonian: Popadija
- Romanian: Preoteasă
- Russian: Matushka ; Popadya
- Serbian: Popadija ; Protinica for a protopresbyter's wife
- Syriac: Bath Qyomo
- Ukrainian: Panimatka or Panimatushka ; Dobrodijka ; Popadya
Books
- Presbytera: The Life, Mission, and Service of the Priest's Wife, by Athanasia Papademetriou
