Deaconesses in Africa

(Romanian Church) - On the feast of the Saint and Great Martyr Theodore of Tyre, 17 February 2016, the day on which His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa celebrates his name day, a festive Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Holy Church of St Nicholas, within the Missionary Centre of Kolwezi.

Together with the Alexandrian Primate concelebrated Their Eminences Nicephorus, Metropolitan of Kinshasa, Innocent, Metropolitan of Burundi and Rwanda, and the local Metropolitan Meletios of Katanga, accompanied by the Clergy of the Hy Metropolis.

As the official site of the Patriarchate reports, His Beatitude the Patriarch spoke during his homily about the Great Martyr St Theodoros, emphasising the confession of martyrdom before the persecutors of faith and his love for Jesus Christ.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy the Primate of the Alexandrian Throne consecrated the Catechist elder Theano, one of the first members of the Missionary staff in Kolwezi, to “Deaconess of the Missions” of the Holy Metropolis of Katanga and read the prayer for one entering the “ecclesiastic ministry” for three Nuns and two Catechists, in order for them to assist the missionary effort of the Holy Metropolis, particularly in the Sacraments of Baptisms of adults and marriages, as well as in the Catechetical department of the local Church.

Note that it is the first time in the history of Missions in Africa that these consecrations have been done.

Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 23, 2017 at 6:40 AM

    I am confused. What exactly can these deaconesses do that any other woman in the Church could not?

    ReplyDelete
  2. MichaelFebruary 23, 2017 at 9:26 AM

    In addition to Fr John's question, the order of deaconess was present in various Apostolic Churches, but not Alexandria. And, it has fallen obsolete; Tradition has not kept it. So, what tradition is Alexandria resurrecting? And, where in Holy Tradition is the resurrection of an obsolete tradition done?

    This must be seen in the context of ecumenism of which Pope Theodoros is a keen supporter.

    So, unless these are 40+ years old, celibate unmarried women (the 2 "catechists"), and dealing only with female parishioners, this is a troubling event.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. REMFebruary 24, 2017 at 10:45 AM

      I don't believe they're just now being brought back. As I understand it, the Greeks have some deaconesses in remote monasteries.

      I say that if there's a need (taboo issues between men and women like the early Church) then great. As long as it's not being done because 21st century neo-feminism appeasing junk.

      Delete
  3. UnknownFebruary 25, 2017 at 5:04 AM

    Why there is always the flag of greece in the events of the alexandrine church, this reminds me of the greek flag waving on the chuches of holy land, it's a further proof of the hellenistic colonialism

    ReplyDelete

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