 |
| Ancient fresco depicts Deaconess Phoebe, spoken of by Paul in Romans 16:1 |
POPE FRANCIS HAS CREATED A COMMISSION TO STUDY THE POSSIBILITY OF WOMEN TO SERVE AS DEACONS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH; ALLEGED NEWS.
Following the promise made last May, His Holiness appointed experts as members of the commission, which will be led by Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria, Alleged News. [1]
Study Commission on the Women's Diaconate
The formal name given to the group is "Study Commission on the Women's Diaconate".
The commission's members include experts in Patristic Theology, Eccesiology and Spirituality; Alleged News.
Members of Commission
The list of members of the commission are;
- Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria
- Sr Nuria Calduch-Benages
- Francesca Cocchini
- Msgr Piero Coda
- Fr Robert Dodaro
- Jesuit Fr Santiago Madrigal
- Sr Mary Melone
- Fr Karl-Heinz Menke
- Fr Aimable Musoni
- Fr Bernard Pottier
- Marianne Schlosser
- Michelina Tenace
- Phyllis Zagano; Alleged News. [1]
Women in the Early Church; Epistolary Evidence
By the time Saint Paul began his missionary travels, women formed an important part of early congregations.
Historical evidence within the Letters of St Paul point to the vital role played by women within the Early Church.
Paul specifically mentions Prisca, who, together with her husband Aquila, were missionary partners with Paul.
Tryphena and Tryphosa, 'women who work hard in the Lord', and Persis are greeted by Paul in Romans 16;12.
Rufus' mother is given special mention in Romans 16;13.
Julia and Nereus' sister are greeted in Romans 16;15.
Paul commended to their hospitality Phoebe, a leader from the church at Cenchreae, a port city near Corinth.
Paul attaches to her three titles;
- diakonos meaning 'a deacon' [literally, a servant]
- sister
- prostatis meaning 'a woman in a supportive role, patron, benefactor'
There is no difference when the title of deacon is used for Phoebe and Timothy.
The Greek word 'diakonos' is grammatically a masculine word, the same word Paul used for his own ministry. [2]
Women following Christ
Women were among the last disciples at the cross, and the first at the empty tomb.
They played an enormous role in the Early Church.
A number of women served as leaders of the house churches that sprang up in the cities of the Roman Empire - the list includes Priscilla, Chloe, Lydia, Nympha, Apphia, the mother of John Mark.
Apostolic Fathers and Ignatius
The apostolic fathers mention women as stalwarts of the faith.
Twice Ignatius sent greetings to Alce, whom he called especially dear to him.
Roman Governor Pliny the Younger
About 112 AD the Roman Governor Pliny the Younger found it necessary to interrogate the leaders of the developing church in Bithynia, two slave women called ministrae, or deacons.
These women apparently followed in the tradition of Phoebe. [3]
Women as Deacons
As Clement of Alexandria made mention of Paul's reference to deaconesses in 1 Timothy 3;11, so Origen commented on Phoebe, the deacon Paul mentioned in Romans 16;1-2.
'This text teaches with the authority of the Apostle that even women are instituted deacons in the Church.
This is the function which was exercised in the Church of Cenchreae by Phoebe, who was the object of high praise and recommendation by Paul . . . and thus this text teaches at the same time two things; that there are, as we have already said, women deacons in the Church; and that women, who by their good works deserve to be praised by the Apostle, ought to be accepted in the diaconate.' [3]
Other women deacons whose names are documented include;
Asia Minor
Constantinople
Eusebia [of Constantinople], Amproukla, Saint Olympias, Elisanthia, Martyria, Palladia, Celerina, Bithynia and Pontus,
St Macrina, Lampadion of Annesi, Aeria, Basilike, Matrona [of Cosila]
Cappadocia
Daughters of Count Terentius, St Theosebia [of Nyssa], St Gorgonia, St Nonna [of Nazianze], Maria [of Archelais], Basilina, Dionysia [of Melitene]
Caria
Eusebia [of Mylasa] also called Xene, Arete
Cilicia
Athanasia [of Korykos], Charatina, Theodora [of Korykos], Theophilia, Timothea
Galatia
Domna, Nonna [of Galatia], Philogonis
Lycaonia
Basilissa, Goulasis
Lydia
Epiphaneia, Lampadia [of Smyrna]
Phrygia
Aurelia Faustina, Kelsa, Dipka, Eistrategis, Elaphia, Magna [of Laodicea Combusta], Masa, Matrona [of Axyfos], Mesalina, Nune, Paula, Pribis, Severa
Greece
In Corinth, St Phoebe; In Thyatira, St Lydia.
Patras, Aggripiane. Thrace, Alexandra. [Alexandra was a subdeacon]. Delphi, Athanasia.
Nea Ankhialos in Thessaly, Eirene.
Nicopolis, Thrace; Eugenia. Thessaly; Tetradia.
Achaia
Peloponnesus, Alexandria [of Elis]. Klauseios, Andromacha. Mount Hymettus, Athens; Nikagora.
Macedonia
Philippi, Agathe. Axia. Edessa; Agathokleia. Stobi; Matrona. Philippi; Posidonia.
Edessa; Theodosia. Bonitsa; Theoprepia.
Moesia
Novae; Celerina.
Greek Islands
Melos, Agaliasis; Kos, St Xenia.
There are many more deaconesses attested to with historical accuracy in Gaul, Dalmatia, Italy, Palestine, Egypt, Armenia and Syria. For the purposes of the brevity of this blog post, the above named will suffice.
John Chrysostom and Gregory of Nyssa
Examples of early documentation attesting to the historical veracity of the deaconesses include;
John Chrysostom, Letters; Letter 191: 'To Amproukla, deacon'
Gregory of Nyssa wrote the following in his work, 'Life of Saint Macrina' no 62; 'Now there was a lady called Lampadia, leader of a band of sisters, a deaconess in rank.' [4]
Early Church Councils
Documentary evidence is extant, attesting to the accepted role of deaconesses within the Early Church.
The Council of Chalcedon was held in 451 AD. Canon 15 of this Council stipulated 'A woman shall not receive the laying on of hands as a deaconess under forty years of age, and then only after searching examination.' [5]
Testament of the Catacombs
The walls of the Roman Catacombs bear pictures showing women in authoritative stances, with their hands raised in the posture of a bishop.
They are depicted standing in prayer, exercising a ministry of intercession and benediction. [3]
Ministry of Women in the Church
What do women bring to Church Ministry?
- Jesus told us that indeed, the harvest of people for eternity is plentiful, but the workers in the field of the ministry of the Lord are few. He directed us to ask the Lord of the Harvest to send workers into the field. Women bring dedicated labor into the fields of the LORD [Luke 10;2] [6]
- Women bring faith. Women work, tend children, teach the gospel to infants, families and community. They bear testimony to Jesus Christ the Son of God through their witness, prayer and worship
- Women bring life experience and discernment to the community
- Women bring maturity and wisdom. Knowledge of life, together with ongoing prayer and worship, deepens experiential knowledge of the LORD and deepens witness in the service of God
- Women bring knowledge and education in the areas of Theology, Philosophy, Sacramental Theology, Moral Theology, Systematic Theology, Biblical Theology, Preaching, Worship, Canon Law, Church History, Christian Ethics, Bioethics, Pastoral Care, Counseling, Spiritual Direction, Chaplaincy in all fields, Christian Leadership and Management, Qualitative and Quantitative pastoral skills, Integration of Theology and Ministry in praxis, Christian Education from infancy to doctoral level, Ecumenical studies, Church History, Exegesis advanced level, Music Ministry, Various pastoral ministries
[1] [His Holiness] Francis institutes commission to study female deacons, appointing gender-based membership; Alleged News
[2] Paul the Apostle and Women
[3] Dr Catherine Kroeger, The Neglected History of Women in the Early Church
[4] Gregory of Nyssa, 'Life of St Macrina'
[5] Early Church Texts; The Canons of the Council of Chalcedon [451]
[6] Luke Chapter 10, verse 2
Commission for the Study of the Diaconate of Women, Alleged News
Pope Francis calls for Study on 'Reinstating 'Female Deacons, Alleged News
With thanks to ncronline.org, wikipedia.org, christianhistoryinstitute.org, tertullian.org, earlychurchtexts.com, biblehub.com, and associationofcatholicpriests.ie
