Sr. Vassa: There's no ontological impediment to priestesses
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...
Passing of an era of liturgical heavyweights. I feel that he even surpasses Schmemman in the impact on reviving his churches liturgy. Where I grew most Ukrainian Catholic churches have just now installed modified iconstases let alone revived a full liturgy and other services.
ReplyDeleteI think the Protodeacon in the service is from one of the most traditional Ukrainian Catholic churches in North America. They have an impressive cycle of services which puts many Orthodox churches to shame.
ReplyDeleteYour right, one priest and Deacon are from St Elias in Brampton, ON. Very beautiful parish that gets liturgy.
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