Is the male-only priesthood a discipline or essential to the nature of being a priest? Sr. Vassa (again unflinchingly taking up a contentious topic by climbing up the ladder to the highest platform and then jumping into the deep end head first) dives right in and says there is no reason beyond personal preference to not have female clergy. You know, when people ask me about women in priesthood, they say, 'Sister, why can't women be priests?' And I say, 'Women CAN be priests. We don't WANT them to be priests.' Because you see, God can do anything, and the Church, by divine authority, uh, can do anything, but, the Church doesn't want to - and that's a legitimate reason. What I don't like is when we TRY to pretend that there are other reasons for this, because it's legitimate not to want something, and there are reasons not to want this - right? - but, we shouldn't pretent that there's some... reason, that, for example, the maleness...
Wonderful video! I pray every day that the Holy Orthodox Church once again (one day) celebrates the old calendar in unity.
ReplyDeleteThe calendar issue has NO Orthodox Theological effect. The "Old Calendar" is just an inaccurate measurement of time. The "New Calendar" is a more accurate measurement of time - that is all. Ecumenism has nothing to do with it. In fact, to see that this kind of stuff is taught at Holy Trinity (ROCOR) only validates why this seminary/ monastery remains sectarian and not mainstream Orthodox in theology or thought.
ReplyDeleteBut ecumenism and secular pressure had everything to do with the change. Are you saying it is no longer about those things and only a historical footnote to the issue?
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