Page "Abbot" Paragraph 40

Though the title " abbot " is not given in the Western Church to any but actual abbots of monasteries today, the title archimandrite is given to " monastics " ( i. e., celibate ) priests in the East, even when not attached to a monastery, as an honor for service, similar to the title of monsignor in the Western / Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church.

In the Orthodox Church, only actual monastics are permitted to be elevated to the rank of Archimandrite.

Married priests are elevated to the parallel rank of Archpriest or Protopresbyter.

Normally there are no celibate priests who are not monastics in the Orthodox Church, with the exception of married priests who have been widowed.

Since the time of Catherine II the ranks of Abbot and Archimandrite have been given as honorary titles in the Russian Church, and may be given to any monastic, even if he does not in fact serve as the superior of a monastery.

In Greek practice the title or function of Abbot corresponds to a person who actually serves as the head of a monastery, although the title of the Archimandrite may be given to any celibate priest who could serve as the head of a monastery.