Patriarchate of Alexandria to restore deaconess ministry

November 21, 2016

Photo: http://www.pravoslavie.ru/98787.html

The Alexandrian Orthodox Church intends to restore the institution of deaconesses which existed in the early centuries of the Orthodox Church, as reported on the patriarchate’s official website.

Under the chairmanship of Patriarch Theodoros II the Holy Synod of the Alexandrian Church reviewed the issue at their November 16 session, with a report being offered by Metropolitan Gregory of Cameroon in which he highlighted the missionary focus of the deaconess ministry. His report was followed by a detailed discussion of the issue.

Having decided to restore the institution, the Alexandrian synod formed a three-bishop committee for thoroughly studying the issue.

What functions, including liturgical, if any, will be entrusted to the new deaconesses remains to be seen.

11/21/2016

See also

Deaconesses: This is Not That
Fr. Lawrence Farley

Deaconesses: This is Not That
Fr. Lawrence Farley
Whatever discussions occur regarding the possible revival or creation of an order of female deacon, let us all at least be open and truthful. Let us admit that this is not that: the proffered model of deaconess bears little resemblance to the ancient order. Let us therefore debate possibility of the new model on its own modern merits.

Patriarch Theodoros II Addresses the Pan-African Parliament on Sufferings and Injustices in Africa
His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria

Patriarch Theodoros II Addresses the Pan-African Parliament on Sufferings and Injustices in Africa
His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria
"As Primate of Orthodoxy in Africa I strive to provide a podium and voice to our suffering African brothers and sisters, especially the poor and orphaned children, who look to all of us through our common actions so that they too can live happily and look to the future with hope."

Women in the Orthodox Church
Brief Comments from a Spiritual Perspective

Women in the Orthodox Church
Brief Comments from a Spiritual Perspective
There are multitudes of righteous women, known and unknown in our Church, which is often misleadingly characterized as “male-dominated”. This treatise by Archbishop Chrysostomos in Orthodox Life can shed some light on our understanding of the relationship of women’s and men’s roles in serving the Church.

Comments

Christopher Forrester11/17/2019 8:23 am

There are many including clergy who follow the world. They distort the truth to suit the world. Deaconesses were merely blessed to be among naked women at adult baptism. Men couldn't obviously go there. The agenda now is to get women into the sanctuary and build up to on unapostolic and invalid ordination. The bishops have no authority to set up this fakery. With what sort of self delusion do they think they have? If they try then there is no Orthodoxy.

Gregory 3/30/2018 5:08 am

Feminism is one of the tentacles of antichrist and therefore has no place in the Orthodox Church, the “pillar and foundation of the Truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). End of story.

Joshua10/4/2017 4:55 am

I believe that this is a very good thing, and that the Church should maintain its traditions in every way, including ones that may seem controversial.

Luke6/11/2017 5:58 am

This needs to be done in a conciliar decision. Otherwise women who may be a deacon in Alexandria may transfer or visit another diocese and expect recognition where it will not be given. That will cause dissension in the Church.

Chester11/24/2016 6:31 am

This is not good news for anyone.

John May11/23/2016 2:12 am

Could a statement be filled with more "social justice" i.e. cultural Marxist rhetoric?

This makes mr worried that Deaconesses in the Church will not even take their Traditional role (which seems unnecessary, even in Africa, in this day in age), but that the Church of Alexandria is succumbing to feminism and will re-write history and women's role in Church (I pray that I am wrong, but if the statement is a reflection of their intentions, then I don't know)...

Magdalena11/22/2016 8:03 am

This is good news for us African Orthodox women.

D. B. Soliman 11/22/2016 5:39 am

Proud of our open-minded Pope Tawadros. Hope he regulates length of mass & its punctual start & end, also limiting the Coptic language that we can read but not understand in the mass as well.

Fr. Antipas11/21/2016 9:14 pm

I hope that we will not degenerate to "inovation" or something similar to women ordination.

Demetrius Manolakos,Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.11/21/2016 5:51 pm

In light of developments in the world, I believe it is time to reconsider the position of the Church in many many matters and this is an excellent start. I hope it will be followed by all the Patriarchates of the Orthodox Church.

Patriarchate of Alexandria to restore deaconess ministry

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