Do the Eastern Orthodox think the state of virginity is more meritorious than marriage?
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I'm not EO but I read lots of their stuff (I am lapsed Coptic Orthodox).
A few points however to be made.
1) The terminology you use "meritorious" is Roman Catholic. The EO has a different outlook than the Latin Church in regards to "the saints", Ecclesiology etc.
2) The easy answer however is to say "yes" or "sort of". Such an argument can be made by actually looking at what saint Paul says in 1 Cor. 7: "32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord."
That being said the EO like the Catholics believe that marriage is a special vocation from God and honorable (just as saint Paul did). But like saint Paul says, the single life of virginity does allow someone to focus solely on serving the Lord. It is interesting that many Protestants believe we are "living in the Last Days", but have a very different outlook on this subject than saint Paul!
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