Armenians Restore Female Diaconate

Communio ^ | 1/14/18

[marshmallow]

The female diaconate has been restored with the ordination of Ani-Kristi Manvelian, 24, in Tehran as a deacon for parish life who is not a nun.

It is understood as a “restoring” rather than “reinstating” of the Order of Deacon for women. This act is see as a precedent. The ordination happened at St. Sarkis Church on 25 September 2017 by Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, the Primate of the Diocese of Tehran (Catholicosate of Cilicia).

Archbishop Sarkissian said:

“Today, our Church is confronting the imperative of self-examination and self-critique. It is imperative to rejuvenate the participation of the people in the social, educational and service spheres of the Church. It is our deep conviction that the active participation of women in the life of our Church would allow Armenian women to be involved more enthusiastically and vigorously, and would allow them to be connected and engaged. They would provide dedicated and loving service [to the people]. The deaconess, no doubt, would also be a spiritual and church-dedicated mother, educator, and why not, a model woman through her example. It is with this deep conviction that we are performing this ordination, with the hope that we are neither the first nor the last to do it.”

[vladimir998]

First deaconess in Armenian Church in Iran in 100 years; pictures: https://news.am/eng/news/430380.html

[redgolum]

The LCMS has deaconesses, and has had them for a long time.

Sadly, we don’t really know how to use them at times.

[Tax-chick]

Wishing the Armenians the best. They are in a tough environment.

[Zionist Conspirator]

It's my own personal opinion (and we all know how useless that is) that the Oriental Orthodox or Miaphysite churches are the most liberal and non-dogmatic of any of the ancient communions (I must confess that I have no experience of the Nestorians). This is because they define themselves primarily ethnically--"the church is the nation; the nation is the church."

One summer I attended services at an Armenian church for several weeks and found the priest very liberal (and the Catholicos in Etchmiadzin at that time was also very pro-Communist). Their liturgy is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, but they just seemed to be all about being Armenian, with little attention paid to theology. And I also believe a person could be an atheist and still be a priest in that (and many other) churches. It's a beautiful rite and it's a nice living.

Then of course they are fully committed to ecumania. How in the world do such ancient churches participate in such things?

[BlackVeil]

Wonderful news.