An Excerpt from St. Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium
In praise of Virginity, Marriage and Widowhood

Many among the greatest of men have praised virginity; and it is truly worthy of praise, in its nature angelic, akin to the heavenly powers, belonging to the company of incorporeal natures, as the shining glory of Holy Church, as that which overcomes the world, that which rises above earthly affections, which restrains desires, without relationship to Eve, as free of pain, immune from anguish, that need not hearken to that dread decree in which it is said: I will multiply thy sorrows, and thy conceptions: in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children, and shalt be under thy husband's power, and he shall have dominion over thee (Gen. 3:6). Venerable in truth is virginity, as an unconquered possession, a fruit tree that withers not, a dwelling of freedom, as the glory of the ascetic life, as something above the power of man, as being free of the compulsion of the appetites, as that which enters with Christ the Bridegroom into the bridal chamber of the kingdom of heaven. And these are the glories of virginity, and of those who draw near to it: but marriage is honorable in all (Heb. 13:4), and above every gift of earth, as a fruit-bearing branch, as a flowering tree, as the root whence comes virginity, the husbandman of the living and reasoning shoots, as the gift bestowed for the increase of the world, as the comfort of the race of men, as the creator of humanity, as the painter of the image and likeness of God, as blessed of the Lord, as chosen to bring forth the whole world, as governing the same, and which He also honored that He might become man, as being able freely to declare: Behold I and my children, whom the Lord hath given me (Is. 8:18). Take away honorable marriage and where will you find the flower of virginity? For from nowhere else is this flower gathered. In saying this to you, Beloved, we in no way desire to place conflict between marriage and virginity, for both we admire, as one completing the other, since the Lord, Who in His Providence has ordained both has not set one against the other; for the true service of God embraces both the one and the other. For without the holy and precious love of God, neither is virginity to be revered, nor is marriage honorable.