Orthodox Women Speak
Orthodox Women Speak
Subtitle: Discerning the “Signs of the
Times”
edited by Kyriaki Karidoyanes Fitzgerald
co-published by the WCC Publications, Geneva
(www.wcc.coe.org), and Holy Cross Orthodox Press, Brookline Mass; ISBN
2-8254-1317-8. Price: $ 15.00, Swiss Fr. 22.50; £ 9.50.
Review for www.womenpriests.org
This book presents the outcome of two international Orthodox
women’s conferences in 1996 and 1997, convoked to discuss the theme:
“Discerning the ‘Signs of the Times’ (Matt. 16:3): Women in the
Life of the Orthodox Church”. Both conferences, one at Damascus and the
other at Istanbul, received official delegations and were held with the full
support of the Orthodox hierarchies.
A glance at the table of contents
reveals the wide scope of the book. It contains both the official conclusions
of the two conferences and the individual papers submitted by the international
participants. This is an important publication, also for Christians outside the
Orthodox communities who want to understand the true situation of women within
those communities.
I believe that, in the context of our website, these issues merit to be
highlighted in a special way:
- The ramifications of sexism as a sin were discussed at both
conferences. The text from Damascus, for example, states: “We note with
tremendous sadness, how easy it is for the presence of women to be
forgotten.... There are some occasions when the role and presence of women, as
well their work, is not always validated for the value it has... Rather, women
may be seen by some as more readily dispensable...” The Istanbul text
takes this a step further to suggest that sexism be taken up programmatically
by the church, observing that “the church would benefit from theological
and soteriological reflection on this issue, especially through the medium of
consultations, workshops and informal study”.
- Both the Damascus and Istanbul discussions and documents also voiced
concern about certain liturgical practices associated with the
presentation of infants, particular prayers related to miscarriage, abortion,
post-partum mothers, and the assumptions which in some places still prohibit
women from receiving communion for biological reasons. These concerns were
discussed openly, yet with great sensitivity. The delegates recognized the need
to examine more thoughtfully the relationship between theology and praxis.
Indeed, a focus on orthopraxia as the theologically correct application
of practice, was reflected in the discussions at each conference. The Synod of
the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, under the leadership of Patriarch
Ignatius IV, immediately responded to these issues, which had also been
identified a few weeks earlier by a regional meeting of Orthodox women from the
Middle East. The Synod “affirmed the God-given value of women in the
church and ordered that liturgical texts which imply otherwise be corrected . .
. Furthermore, The Holy Synod discussed certain matters which touched the lives
of women and decided that women and men should be treated equally concerning
their participation in divine services and receiving sacraments. Whatever
references are in the liturgical books that women are unclean and tainted
should be abolished . . . This necessitates a new look at liturgical
texts.”
- Both meetings placed a surprisingly strong emphasis on the serious
lack of opportunity for women to study Orthodox theology. Noting that
“in families and schools, women are the primary educators”, Istanbul
said that “theologically-educated women have a particular ministry in
teaching our faithful”, making “Orthodox theological education for
women... a priority”. Damascus expressed “deep disappointment”
that many women “have not had the chance to study theology in a formal
setting”, which “hinders our role and work in the church”. The
statement added that women should receive both spiritual and financial support
to pursue studies in theological education. At both meetings those women
present who have pursued formal studies in Orthodox theology were publicly
recognized and encouraged.
- There were calls for rejuvenating the diaconate of women at
both conferences. The participants at Damascus recognized “the ministry of
deaconesses as a response to the Holy Spirit for various needs of this present
age” and recommended “that our church leaders discern prayerfully and
courageously the presence of the Holy Spirit in those many places where the
ministry of ordained deaconesses, as well as other forms of ministry, are
needed”. The Istanbul delegates stated: “Many of us believe the
incorporation of deaconesses in the life of the church will help contribute to
the atmosphere of love and learning, and to the life of the church.”
- The ordination of women as presbyters (priests) and bishops
was not brought up at any of the discussions. But even if this is not an issue
for many Orthodox women, there was a common appreciation expressed by the
delegates that this has become an important ecumenical issue coming from
traditions originating in the West. For this reason, the findings of
Constantine Yokarinis, a member of the theological faculty of the University of
Athens, were included for consideration during one of the panel discussions at
the Istanbul meeting (see page of
contents) Of their own accord, participants organized extra discussion time
in order to consider his research more carefully; and more than a third of the
delegates attended this meeting. This may indicate that Orthodox women are
comfortable considering and discussing this issue - at least with other
Orthodox women - even when they are not themselves proponents of the ordination
of women as presbyters and bishops.
Both the official recommendations of the two Conferences and the
individual presentations published in Orthodox Women Speak make this
book a must for all who want to be up-to-date with what lives among women in
the Orthodox Churches!
John Wijngaards
The book can be ordered from:
WCC Publications,
World Council of Churches,
150 Route de
Ferney,
1211 Geneva 2,
SWITSERLAND
Tel. 0041-22-7916111
Fax
0041-22-7981346
www.wcc-coe.org.
or
Holy Cross Orthodox Press,
50 Goddard Avenue,
Brookline, MA 02445,
USA.
Tel.: +1 - 617 - 731 3500.
Email:
hcbks@hchc.edu.
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