Entries by St. Phoebe Center for the Deaconess

Women’s Gifts and the Diaconate

by Carrie Frederick Frost originally posted on Public Orthodoxy The reinstitution of the ordained female diaconate in the Orthodox Church today would result in a much-needed and transformative outpouring of women’s gifts into the Church and into the world. In order to appreciate the positive potential of the female diaconate, we must understand the absolute […]

My Journey to Hospital Chaplaincy

by Elizabeth Hawkins On the feast day of St. Luke the Evangelist in 2013, I sat in front of a small group of my peer reviewers in New York. This was the final step of a long professional journey of becoming a board certified chaplain by the Association of Professional Chaplains. A question was asked […]

Survey Results Released on “Challenges and Opportunities of the Role of Women in the Church”

In cooperation with the World Council of Churches’ Faith and Order Commission, Saint Catherine’s Vision (SCV) recently developed and inaugurated a Survey for Orthodox Christian Faithful. The survey sought participants’ input regarding “Challenges and Opportunities of the Role of Women in the Church” for the Consultation on “Ecumenical Perspectives on the Role of Women in […]

Orthodox move for women deacons is ‘revitalization’ not ‘innovation’

Appearing in the National Catholic Reporter Nov 30, 2017 by James Dearie Orthodox liturgical theologians are voicing support for the decision of Patriarch Theodoros II and the Greek Orthodox Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria to reinstate the order of deaconesses. “We respectfully support the decision of the Patriarchate of Alexandria to restore the […]

Orthodox Christian Laity Plans Annual Conference

ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY IN AMERICA: WHERE ARE WE GOING? The Future of the Orthodox Church in the American Cultural Setting Saturday October 28, 2017 at Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral Community Center, Chicago, Illinois. 60631 Speakers and Topics include: Father Frank Marangos, Former Dean of Archdiocese Cathedral of Holy Cross, NYC; Former National Director of Religious Education […]

Deaconess Presentation Made to Ecumenism Metro Chicago

St. Phoebe Center Board Member Helen Theodoropoulos recently made a presentation on the deaconess to Ecumenism Metro Chicago (EMC).  Formerly known as The Ecumenical Millennium Committee, EMC was formed in 1999 to promote and to pray for a more ecumenical millennium. It is currently comprised of 20 judicatories or communions in addition to the Greater […]

St. Elizabeth the New Martyr

from Fr. Ted’s Blog, Meditations of an Orthodox Priest “Metropolitan Vladimir does see them as being part of the ordained clergy of the Church.  His comment that “the nature of women’s ministry has always conformed to the needs of the Church in each historical period” is also fascinating.  It would indicate that any discussion about […]