ON THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN CHURCH
Inok Vsevolod (Filipiev)
On the third Sunday after Pascha the Orthodox Church remembers in prayer the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women. From the non-Orthodox you occasionally hear statements like the following, "A woman is nobody and nothing in Church. Why should she go there when absolutely everything there depends on men?"
Can we agree with statements of this kind? It is appropriate to discuss the role of women in Church on the day of the feast of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women. What is in fact the position of a Christian woman in the Orthodox Church?
First, a woman is the mother of young Christians. She must bring them up in faith and piety, she must teach them to pray, instill in them the love for the Word of God and explain to them the meaning of Church services. Every clergyman, every monk and archbishop had a mother whose influence determined much in the choice of the way of life of the future servant of the Church. God granted mothers a gift of prayer that is exceptionally strong and is filled with grace. It is not for nothing that the folk saying goes, "A mother's prayer will save you even from the depths of the sea." A mother's role is not simply important, it is also filled with responsibility: whether or not a mother gives her blessing for a certain action may decide a person's fate.
Second, a Christian woman may be the spouse and helper of a priest. It is well known that in the life of a parish much depends on the character of the priest's wife. The wife of a priest is called upon to share with her husband all the joys and sorrows of his life.
Third, a Christian woman may even teach, but only "with her head covered" as the Apostle said. This means that she may teach only if she is deeply pious and wholly church-going. A woman can teach catechism, she can teach in Sunday schools and seminaries. She can write ecclesiastical articles, spiritual poetry, and even liturgical texts. For example, in Byzantium there lived a woman who was a Church poet and hymn-writer, the Venerable Cassia.
Fourth, in many respects, the neatness and orderliness in churches depends upon women. A woman may express herself in the painting of icons, in church singing, as well as in other spheres of church arts and architecture. We should also refer to the labor of preparing festive lunches, which is usually performed by the church sisterhoods.
Fifth, a woman may do works of love and charity among orphans, the imprisoned, the sick, and the elderly.
Finally, a woman may serve Church in the Angelic monastic rank. What can be higher than this angelic service of becoming Christ's bride, of becoming the bride of Christ by taking monastic vows, of praying for yourself, for your family and for the whole human race?
I am certain that we have enumerated only a few of the ways in which a Christian woman can serve the Church. Yet even the above-mentioned will suffice convince one that the role of women in Church is very important. Every Orthodox Christian woman will find her place and her work in Church, if only she wishes it.
Nevertheless, the work that is most important for us, and not only for women, but for men and children as well, for all Christians, is to follow Christ by the example of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women. We, the modern Christians, can follow Christ in our hearts. The very essence of the work of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women consists in the difficult, yet joyful constant following of Christ. By the prayers of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women may the Resurrected Savior have mercy on us all!
2003
