Orthodox Patriarchate [Alexandria] Moves to Restore Female Deacons

Aleteia ^ | 11/17/16 | Deacon Greg Kandra

[marshmallow]

As I noted earlier, yesterday I took part in a panel discussion with America Media on the subject of deacons in general and women deacons in particular. This morning, one of the panelists, George Demacopoulos, theologian and founding co-director of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University,, passed along a timely item from the Orthodox (which has been translated by Google from the original Greek).

The big news, from George: “News broke this morning that the Patriarchate of Alexandria (which is the autocephalous head of Orthodox, Chalcedonian Christians in Africa) officially voted to restore the female diaconate.”

The story:

On November 16 the Synod of aboriginal Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa continued its work under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Theodore Vstin Patriarchal Seat.

[NRx]

What does this mean? Are we discussing the return of the “deaconess” (an obsolete and purely lay office) or is this an attempt to promote heresy via the pseudo-ordination of women to one of the three ranks of Holy Orders? The former is something I think is unnecessary and possibly ill-advised. The latter would likely provoke a breach in communion. If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say it is most likely the former. But clarification is needed.

[marshmallow]

That important distinction was deliberately fudged by Kandra, I believe. He’s on board the FrancisTrain.

[Bigg Red]

women deacons

***
Terrible idea.

[cloudmountain]

Google the deaconate...they are MEN, single or married.
The Church has held to the male model...no reason for them to change.

If women become deacons they will then lobby EVEN MORE FEROCIOUSLY to become priests. Knowing my gender as I do...this WILL happen.

TOO many women think that "if a man has or does it, it MUST be better than what I, a female, have or do.

[cloudmountain]

You: pithy, clear, concise.
Me: wordy.

[NRx]

I believe that it is and has always been part of the Orthodox sensus fidelium that all three ranks of Holy Orders are reserved to men by Divine Ordinance and that therefor female ordination is simply not possible. That is certainly reflected in the historic praxis of the Church which shows no instance of females being ordained as deacons or priests.

To attempt something that has never been done and which is so thoroughly alien to the cогласия отцов принцип (consensus patrum) I think could be fairly described as heresy.

[Bigg Red]

:)

[NRx]

Update: They are talking about the ancient lay office of “deaconess” not ordaining female deacons.

http://theorthodoxchurch.info/blog/news/alexandrian-patriarchate-to-revive-the-institution-of-deaconesses/

[cloudmountain]

I believe that it is and has always been part of the Orthodox sensus fidelium that all three ranks of Holy Orders are reserved to men by Divine Ordinance and that therefor female ordination is simply not possible. That is certainly reflected in the historic praxis of the Church which shows no instance of females being ordained as deacons or priests.
To attempt something that has never been done and which is so thoroughly alien to the cогласия отцов принцип (consensus patrum) I think could be fairly described as heresy.

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