Orthodox Women Speak: Discerning the ‘Signs of the Time’s'
December 17, 2018
SCV is pleased to announce we are electronically re-circulating as an educational “diakonia”, Orthodox Women Speak: Discerning the ‘Signs of the Time’s'. This book offers a penetrating introduction to vital themes related to the participation of women in the life of the Church. In celebration of its 20th year publication anniversary, the book is now available on our website. With much joy, we encourage you to tell others about this unique, cost-free educational resource!
Published in 1999, this book is the product of ground-breaking, officially sponsored, international Orthodox Women’s Conferences that took place in Damascus, Syria (1996) and Constantinople/Istanbul, Turkey (1997). From all over the canonical Orthodox world women were invited by their regional hierarchs to serve as official representatives of their local churches. Whole-heartedly affirming the conclusions of the historic 1988 Rhodes, Greece Inter-Orthodox Symposium on Women, the official statements from the Damascus and Constantinople conferences present a stunning global consensus expressed by faithful female representatives of Orthodox regional churches that invites thorough consideration today.
Presentations delivered during the conferences are included as articles in the book. These offer very timely engagement regarding several concerns including:
The participation of women in the life of the contemporary Church, Jesus’ relationship with women, Women in the early Church, Saintly women and Orthodox spiritual life, Orthodox women in theological studies, Human sexuality and the body, The ordination of women to the diaconate, Women and the priesthood The challenges and opportunities of growing up Orthodox Contemporary Spiritual challenges and much more . . .
Contributors include: official greetings of His Beatitude, Patriarch Ignatius of Antioch (of blessed memory) and His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew; as well as: Dr. Elizabeth Behr-Sigel (of blessed memory), Mother Maria Rule, Rev. Dr. Thomas FitzGerald, Dr. Kyriaki Karidoyanes FitzGerald, Dr. Despina Prassas, Dr. Sophie Deicha, Dr. Constantine Yiokarinis, Christina Shaheen Reimann, Deborah Malacky Belonick and others.
We believe the research, results and the exchange of information expressed throughout Orthodox Women Speak, will encourage faithful Orthodox Christians, to consider more deeply the many ways the thrice-holy, compassionate God calls women (and men) to serve within the life of the Church, today!