by Carrie Frederick Frost | ру́сский Multiple petitions are offered for the fruitfulness of a couple’s union during an Orthodox marriage service, so many that a college friend characterized my wedding as a fertility rite. One such example: “That He will grant unto them the enjoyment of the blessing of children…let us pray to the…
Continue readingWomen Deacons in Africa; Not in America
by Carrie Frederick Frost History was made on February 17, 2017 when five women were consecrated deaconesses in the Orthodox Church. For many of us, this is a welcome but shocking development. Speaking for myself, I expected the reintroduction of a female diaconate to occur in Greece, or elsewhere in Europe, or, even more likely,…
Continue readingIn the Hope of Restoration of Communion between the Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches
by Carrie Frederick Frost, Vigen Guroian, Jennifer Haddad Mosher, and Valerie G. Zahirsky We wish to bring attention to one of the items not specifically included on the Great and Holy Council’s agenda or in its preconciliar documents: the restoration of communion between the Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. Our group is comprised…
Continue readingWomen and the Great and Holy Orthodox Council
by Carrie Frederick Frost, Susan Ashbrook Harvey, Teva Regule, Alexandra Lobas Safchuk, and Gayle E. Woloschak As preparations continue for the Great and Holy Council set for Pentecost 2016, we eagerly look for the inclusion of women in the Council proceedings. Voting delegations of the Great and Holy Council are exclusively comprised of hierarchs from…
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