context1: It was founded in the early Middle Ages, probably in the 7th century. It is first mentioned in the Liber Pontificalis under Pope Hadrian I, using spolia from the ruins of an imperial building. The first <strong>priests</strong> who served the church were probably eastern Basilian <strong>monks</strong> who had fled from persecution during the iconoclast period.
context2: In Orthodox Hungary and Transylvania there are protopresbyterates (eparchies), in which the protopope is elected by clergy and people and rules under the bishop. In these cases he may be compared to our rural deans. Such an office is the highest to which a married Orthodox <strong>priest</strong> may aspire, since bishops are always <strong>monks</strong>.