www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Contemporary Orthodox Deaconesses?

Seems to me, Zenovia, that you understood that just fine.

Shestelle, how long have you been Orthodox for? Your background seems heavily Roman Catholic...nearly all your examples are Roman Catholic...

It is just as bad to read and interpret patristics without the guidance of the Church as it is to read and interpret Scripture without that same framework.


Gaudior, who begs leave to point out that as in any field, publishing a book with a theory doesn't make one an expert.

Shestelle, I ask the above only because your posts are displaying far more Catholic and protestant points than Orthodox ones, and it may help us to answer you in a fashion you can more easily relate to, if we knew your background.

Gaudior, who knows this helps many posters...

Dear Shestelle,

I am sorry, but I am another woman who is not at all offended by an all-male diaconate or priesthood. You stated very early in this thread that a "deaconess" would be obedient to her bishop, as opposed to a nun who would owe obedience to her monastic order. Are you suggesting that they would be obedient once granted this desire? Why can't they be obedient now? Don't you see that then the argument would simply become, "we have deaconesses, now let's have women priests," and then bishops after that!

Shouldn't a woman be humbly obedient to the centuries old tradition of her Church that has absolutely ruled out holy orders for women through these same bishops in every age? Refusal to accept this in charity seems disobedient to me.

The stories you shared of women serving the spiritual needs of others are merely examples of women acting through the grace given them in the sacraments of initiation. Women have always contributed in tremendous ways to the needs of the Church. This is irrelevant to holy orders.

I must beg to offer a woman's view that is opposed to the new feminist ideology and its false notions that somehow women of the 21st century are deserving of a role in holy orders simply because they can do other things as equals with men.

My prayer will always be that those, whether men or women, adhering to this agenda will learn to listen to the Church, rather than trying to speak for her. Truly, I mean this in all charity. Study the documents of the Church, the writings of Pope JPII. These are writings of love and service intended to uplift humanity according to its proper calling.

Peace and Blessings on you my friend in Christ,

Tammy

Dear Tammy,

I agree with you. Obedience and humility seem to go hand in hand, and we have the highest example of this type of womanhood in our blessed Lady Theotokos.

Personally, while concentrating on my own salvation, the last thing from my mind is that I should be in a position of spiritual guidance like a priest, and be granted a title....

In any case, we women have the chance to do that every day without the 'title' attached to it, by gently teaching our children, ministering to our Christian friends in need, or praying for others. Ofcourse, there are many other ways a woman can serve others in her Church, and ways which could also include her intellectual skills and/or talents...

(For ex: in my Church there are the presvyteres of the group 'Eikona' who chant the Eastern services, lecturers such as Frederica Mathews-Greene, women who do charity work at old age homes like the women of the Greek Orthodox Philoptochos societies, and women who write books, articles, and/or translate books, etc.)

Also, personally, I find nothing offensive towards women in anything any of our brothers has said here.

With much love in Christ,
Alice