In-person Anniversary Symposium: Deaconesses for the Orthodox Church Today

November 10-12, 2023

Maliotis Cultural Center at Hellenic College Holy Cross in Brookline (Boston), MA

50 Goddard Ave, Brookline, MA 02445

View the Sympsoium Program
Watch Preview of the Symposium on OCN
Register for Symposium Here

The history of the deaconess in the Christian East and the need for women in diaconal ministry today have been amply demonstrated through scores of calls, papers, presentations, and theological discussions. In the past two centuries, many sectors of the Orthodox Church, realizing the need for the diaconate to be restored to its original mission of ministry and service, have appealed for a revival of the entire diaconate including the restoration of the ordained order of deaconess. 

This symposium will briefly review the history and need, but will primarily consider the pragmatics of how the Orthodox Church might welcome women–who comprise more than half of the Church–into the diaconate once again to meet the ministerial needs of the Church and world. Attention will be given to ways all Orthodox Christians might constructively urge the Church to move forward on ordaining deaconesses to build up the entire body of Christ today.

Friday Evening Keynote and Reception

Free of charge, registration required

Saturday Symposium

General Admission – $50

Clergy, clergy wives, senior, student, & hardship – $30

HCHC Student – no fee

Walk-in registration at the conference will be $70

Sunday Liturgy and Lunch

Liturgy followed by lunch and debrief of the symposium.

St. Mary Orthodox Church, Liturgy at 10am

8 Inman St

Cambridge, MA 02139

 

See below for lodging suggestions.

St. Phoebe Center (SPC) plans to record portions of this symposium by photo, video, and audio. By registering for this event, you consent to SPC  taking, using, reproducing, altering, transforming, and publicizing photographs, audio, or video for publicity, advertising, and promotion.

Deaconesses for the Orthodox Church Today: A Symposium

Sponsored by the St. Phoebe Center for the Deaconess

November 10-12, 2023 at Hellenic College Holy Cross

Maliotis Cultural Center

Friday, November 10, 2023, 7:00pm-9:30pm

6:00 Registration Opens

7:00-8:30 Keynote

8:30-9:30 Reception

Welcome from Holy Cross: President George Cantonis

Opening Prayer and Welcome: His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago

Respondent: Archdeacon John Chryssavgis

Keynote by  Dr. Carrie Frederick Frost: Deaconesses for the Orthodox Church Today: The History, the Need, and the Future

This lecture will briefly review the history of deaconesses in the Orthodox Church, the need for them today, St. Phoebe Center’s history, and the legacy of the Rhodes Consultation of 1988 and other contemporary calls for deaconesses but will largely focus on how the Orthodox Church might go about restoring this vital order that is so essential for its health and future. It will be open to the general public and will include time for discussion. All present will be invited to attend the events of the next day, when possible processes for ordaining deaconesses once again will be discussed in more depth.

Reception to follow.

Saturday, November 11, 2023, 8:30am-6:30pm

8:00 am – 8:30 am

Registration/check-in

Coffee and light breakfast fare provided.

 

8:30 am – 9:00 am

Morning Prayers

9:00 am – 10:30 am

Calls for Deaconesses and Women’s Ministry in the Church

Moderator: Ms. Sara Tsugranis

Panelists:

Dr. Teva Regule

Ms. Sophia Kyrou

Dr. Ioana Popa

The call to revive the female diaconate is not new in the life of the Orthodox Church.  This session will present the numerous calls to do so from the modern period. It will also highlight the many ways that lay women are currently serving in diaconal-type capacities. While acknowledging that these ministries are important in and of themselves, this session will further explain why ordination is valuable and necessary to participate more fully in the diaconal ministry of the Church.

10:30 am – 11:00 am

Coffee Break

11:00am – 12:30pm

Can Women go in the Altar?: Addressing the Myths around Ordaining Deaconesses

Moderator: Ms. Kristina Baktis

Panelists:

Dr. Valerie Karras

Rev. Dr. Philip Zymaris

Dr. Paul Ladouceur

This session will directly engage with concerns and incorrect teachings about the revival of the ordained order of deaconesses in the Orthodox Church, addressing such issues as: the unfounded but wide-spread belief that women are not allowed in the altar, lingering and theologically indefensible connections between women’s bodies and impurity, and “slippery slope” concerns about deaconesses leading to women priests. 

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

Catered lunch

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

How to Restore the Ordained Order of Deaconesses Today: Proposed Guidelines

Moderator: Ms. Ann Marie and Mr. Gust Mecera

Speakers: Rev. Dr. Perry Hamalis and Dr. Carrie Frederick Frost

Respondents:  His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, Dr. James Skedros, and Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou

The St. Phoebe Center will propose and discuss a process by which the Orthodox Church might restore the ordained order of deaconesses today to minister to needs in the church and the world, acknowledging the importance for the renewal of the entire diaconate. 

3:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Coffee Break

4:00 pm – 5:15 pm

Ways to Advocate for Deaconesses

Moderator: Dr. Teva Regule

Breakout groups led by St. Phoebe Center Board Members representatives from Axia Women:

  • How to increase roles of women and girls in your parish
  • How to address myths and misleading information about Deaconesses
  • How to hold an event about Deaconesses
  • How to include Deaconesses in Church School curricula

This workshop session will offer practical ways that attendees can help the St. Phoebe Center advocate for deaconesses in the Orthodox Church today. 

5:15 pm – 5:30 pm

Break 

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Celebration of Women’s Ministry in the Orthodox Church

This celebration will not be explanatory like the above sessions, but a joyful and hopeful opportunity for attendees to pray together, honoring women’s service to the church today and looking to a future of the Orthodox Church in which women’s ministries are more fully expressed. The St. Phoebe Award will be presented to Ms. Marilyn Rouvelas. 

Light appetizer reception to follow.

Sunday, November 12

10:00 am – 1:30 pm: Liturgy at 10 am followed by luncheon and debrief of the symposium. (Luncheon hosted by parish.)

St. Mary Orthodox Church

8 Inman St

Cambridge, MA 02139

Lodging Suggestions

St. Phoebe Center will not be reserving a block of hotel rooms.

Hilton Boston/Dedham
25 Allied Dr, Dedham, MA 02026

(781) 329-7900

Residence Inn
259 Elm St Dedham, MA

(844) 204-0329

Fairfield Inn
235 Elm St, Dedham, MA 02026

(781) 326-6700


Transportation

Opportunities for rideshare coordination are being offered during the registration process.

We encourage participants to familiarize themselves with the history, calls, and need for deaconesses before attending the symposium using the resources below:

Deaconess Basics Video Series

Common Questions about Deaconesses

Calls for Deaconesses 

Towards a Reasonable and Respectful Conversation about Deaconesses

Why Deaconesses Matter