Editing Ordination (section)

====Details peculiar to the various denominations====
The [[Catholic Church]] teaches that one bishop is sufficient to consecrate a new bishop validly (that is, for an episcopal ordination actually to take place). In most Christian denominations that retain the practice of ordination, only an already ordained (consecrated) bishop or the equivalent may ordain bishops, priests, and deacons.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pius XII|title=Episcopali consecrationis|url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-xii_apc_19441130_episcopali-consecrationis_lt.html|access-date=20 September 2013|quote=Episcopalis Consecrationis Ministrum esse Episcopum et ad huius Consecrationis validitatem unum solum sufficere Episcopum, qui cum debita mentis intentione essentiales ritus perficiat, extra omne dubium est diuturnaque praxi comprobatum. [That the minister of episcopal consecration is a bishop, and that only one bishop–who performs the act with the necessary intention of the mind performs the essential rites—is necessary for the validity of that consecration, is proved beyond all doubt and by long practice.]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302231641/https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-xii_apc_19441130_episcopali-consecrationis_lt.html|archive-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> However, Canon Law requires that bishops always be consecrated with the mandate (approval) of the [[Pope]], as the guarantor of the Church's unity.<ref>{{cite web|title=Code of Canon Law – IntraText|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3O.HTM|work=Code of Canon Law|location=Canon 1014|quote=No bishop is permitted to consecrate anyone a bishop unless it is first evident that there is a pontifical mandate.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070402021547/https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3O.HTM|archive-date=2 April 2007}}</ref> Moreover, at least three bishops are to perform the consecration, although the Apostolic See may dispense from this requirement in extraordinary circumstances (for example, in missionary settings or times of persecution).<ref>{{cite web|title=Code of Canon Law – IntraText|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3O.HTM|work=Code of Canon Law|location=Canon 1014|quote=Unless the Apostolic See has granted a dispensation, the principal bishop consecrator in an episcopal consecration is to be joined by at least two consecrating bishops; it is especially appropriate, however, that all the bishops present consecrate the elect together with the bishops mentioned.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070402021547/https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3O.HTM|archive-date=2 April 2007}}</ref>

In the Catholic Church, those deacons destined to be ordained priests are often termed ''transitional deacons''; those deacons who are married before being ordained, as well as any unmarried deacons who chose not to be ordained priests, are called ''permanent deacons''. Those married deacons who become widowers have the possibility of seeking ordination to the priesthood in exceptional cases.<ref>{{cite book|title=National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States|publisher=United States Conference of Catholic Bishops|location=Chapter 2, No. 77|page=37|url=http://old.usccb.org/deacon/DeaconDirectory.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711045955/http://old.usccb.org/deacon/DeaconDirectory.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 July 2012}}</ref>

While some Eastern churches have in the past recognized [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] ordinations as valid,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://orthodoxanglican.net/downloads/alexandria.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723233345/http://orthodoxanglican.net/downloads/alexandria.pdf|url-status=dead|title="Orthodox Statements on Anglican Orders"|archivedate=23 July 2011}}</ref> the current Anglican practice, in many provinces, of [[Ordination of women|ordaining women to the priesthood]]—and, in some cases, to the episcopate—has caused the Orthodox generally to question earlier declarations of validity and hopes for union.<ref>[http://www.anglicancommunion.org/ministry/ecumenical/dialogues/orthodox/docs/the_dublin_statement.cfm#s2] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131083118/http://www.anglicancommunion.org/ministry/ecumenical/dialogues/orthodox/docs/the_dublin_statement.cfm|date=31 January 2011}}"Unity Faith and Order – Dialogues – Anglican Orthodox," Introduction, par. 2 ("From Moscow to Lambeth (1976–8)</ref>  Anglicanism recognizes Catholic and Orthodox ordinations; hence, clergy converting to Anglicanism are not "re-ordained". In 1896, [[Pope Leo XIII]] issued the papal bull Apostolicae Curae, which declared Anglican orders "absolutely null and utterly void."<ref>{{Cite web |title=CATHOLIC LIBRARY: Apostolicae Curae (1896) |url=https://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_le13ac.htm |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref> While the Vatican has not officially retracted the statement, Roman Catholic actions after the issuance of the bull imply varying positions on the matter. In modern times, the Pope has on several occasions gifted to the Archbishop of Canterbury signs of ecclesiastical office, including a crozier,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pope Francis gave Archbishop Justin Welby a replica of the Crozier of St. Gregory the Great ~ IARCCUM.org |url=https://iarccum.org/gallery/?g=259#:~:text=Pope%20Francis%20gave%20Archbishop%20Justin,Gregory%20the%20Great%20~%20IARCCUM.org |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=iarccum.org}}</ref> an episcopal ring,<ref>{{Cite web |title=World: Pope Paul's gift marked moving moment of ecumenical drama |url=https://www.natcath.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2003d/101703/101703e.htm |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=www.natcath.org}}</ref> and a Eucharistic chalice,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Fr Gerald E. |date=2017-05-18 |title=The Truth Is Real, Not Rigid |url=https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2017/05/18/the-truth-is-real-not-rigid/ |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=The Catholic Thing |language=en-US}}</ref> signaling a softening on the Roman view of Anglican orders. In addition, under Pope Francis' tenure, an Anglican bishop was allowed to celebrate mass on the altar of the Archbasilica of [[Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran|Saint John Lateran]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-20 |title=Over 50 Anglicans celebrate liturgy at Pope Francis’ cathedral after “breakdown in communication” |url=https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2023/04/20/rome-basilica-apologizes-anglicans-celebrate-mass-245154 |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=America Magazine |language=en}}</ref> the seat of the Pope's own bishopric.

With respect to [[Lutheranism]], "the Catholic Church has never officially expressed its judgement on the validity of orders as they have been handed down by episcopal succession in these two national Lutheran churches" (the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden]] and the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland]]) though it does "question how the ecclesiastical break in the 16th century has affected the apostolicity of the churches of the Reformation and thus the apostolicity of their ministry".<ref>{{cite book|last=Sullivan|first=Francis Aloysius|title=From Apostles to Bishops: The Development of the Episcopacy in the Early Church |year=2001|publisher=Paulist Press|isbn=0809105349|page=4|quote=To my knowledge, the Catholic Church has never officially expressed its judgement on the validity of orders as they have been handed down by episcopal succession in these two national Lutheran churches.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sakasti.evl.fi/sakasti.nsf/0/DA1B501CC09E109FC22577AE002A3DD8/$FILE/Report%20Justification%20in%20the%20Life%20of%20the%20Church.pdf|title=Roman Catholic – Lutheran Dialogue Group for Sweden and Finland, ''Justification in the Life of the Church'', section 297, page 101}}</ref>

Some [[Eastern Orthodox]] churches recognize Catholic ordinations while others "re-ordain" Catholic clergy (as well as Anglicans) who convert.  However, both the Catholic and Anglican churches recognize Orthodox ordinations.

In the Catholic and Anglican churches, ordinations have traditionally been held on [[Ember Days]], though there is no limit to the number of clergy who may be ordained at the same service.  In the Eastern Orthodox Church, ordinations may be performed any day of the year on which the [[Divine Liturgy]] may be celebrated (and deacons may also be ordained at the [[Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts|Presanctified Liturgy]]), but only one person may be ordained to each order at any given service, that is, at most one bishop, one presbyter, and one deacon may be ordained at the same liturgy.<ref name="DS">{{Citation
 |last             = Sokolof
 |first            = Archpriest Dimitrii
 |year             = 1899
 |publication-date = 2001
 |title            = Manual of the Orthodox Church's Divine Services
 |pages            = 132–136
 |place            = [[Jordanville, New York]]
 |publisher        = [[Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity Monastery]]
 |isbn             = 0-88465-067-7
 |url              = http://www.ccel.org/ccel/sokolof/services.toc.html
 |url-status          = live
 |archive-url       = https://web.archive.org/web/20170702051031/http://www.ccel.org/ccel/sokolof/services.toc.html
 |archive-date      = 2 July 2017
}}</ref>