There are good reasons to reintroduce the female diaconate in the Orthodox Churches. The Romanian Orthodox theologian Teva Regule explained this in the Austrian ecumenical magazine “Pro Oriente”.
This Thursday, just before the conclusion of the first round of synods on synodality, the daily press conference was all about ecumenism: speakers included Cardinal Koch,…
The female diaconate is part of the history of the Orthodox Church and has never been abolished, according to North American theologian Teva Regule in the current edition of the Viennese foundation magazine “Pro Oriente”. Regule writes that in earlier times, in the Byzantine Rite, the ordination of deacons took place during the Divine Liturgy. At the same time as the service where male deacons were ordained.
“In gender-segregated Byzantine society, deacons cared for women, just as deacons cared for men. They assisted with baptisms, brought the Eucharist to those who could not participate in the liturgy, mediated between the faithful and the clergy, and taught, advised and accompanied the faithful on their Christian journey – especially those who were new to the faith.”, he said. the theologian.
Many faithful for the revival of the female diaconate
Consecration was “no longer necessary” by the 12th century, writes Regule, but: “To this day there is no canon or ecclesiastical regulation that is directed against consecration. Today, many believers believe that this ministry – particularly for the pastoral care of women (but not exclusively) – is still necessary and would like to see its revival.”
Requests reintroduction for 150 years
There have been calls for the reintroduction of the ordained diaconate for women for more than 150 years. Regule refers to several initiatives and also to some first attempts at consecration in Greece (2005) and Africa (2017). Today, according to the theologian, work continues to maintain this ecclesiastical consensus. One such US-based initiative is the St. Phoebe Center for Deaconesses. Regule serves on the center's board of directors. Its mission is “to promote the revitalization of the ordained female diaconate and prayerfully ensure that it meets the needs of the Church and the world today.”
“Great need” for renewal of consecration
Those who advocate a renewal of this consecration “see a great need for this service in the life of the Church,” Regule said. “They are able to distinguish between the diaconal ministry and that of the presbyterate and see this as a positive step in meeting the many pastoral challenges facing the faithful and the world today.”
Women in the Maronite Church
In another article in the magazine, Souraya Bechealany, professor of ecclesiology and ecumenism at St. Joseph University in Beirut, reports on current developments in the Maronite Church. The basic document “The calling and mission of women in God's economy of salvation and in the life of the church and society” was recently adopted there. This document is the first of its kind, Bechealany writes.
Souraya Bechealany in audience with Pope Francis
On March 5, 2022, Patriarch Boutros Rai opened a special synod on the presence and mission of women in the Church and society. “The Special Synod on Women is an invitation to analyze the current situation of women, to reflect on the human and ecclesial vocation of women, their place and role, and to promote their active involvement. It also aims to empower women to strengthen their presence and role in administration, leadership, education, liturgy and pastoral ministry, and to achieve participation and complementarity in responsibility and decision-making in accordance with biblical and magisterial views on women.” , writes Bechealany. .
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