1 of 14

Women in Service

The Bible – The Church

2 of 14

The List…

Old Testament

Hagar (Gen. 16:1–16; 21:8–21)

Rahab (Joshua 2)

Achsah (Joshua 15:16-19 and Judges 1:12-15)

Hannah the Prophetess (1Samuel 1-2)

Deborah (Judges 4)

Ruth and Naomi (Ruth)

Abigail (1 Samuel 25)

Miriam the Prophetess

Esther

New Testament

While the Lord Jesus was on Earth

St. Mary, The Mother of God

Mary Magdalene (Mt 27:55-56; Mk 15:40-41; Lk 8:2-3)

Mary and Martha (Lk 10:38–42 and Jn 11:1–46.)

The early Church

Phoebe (Romans 16:1-2)

Priscilla (and Aquilla) (Acts 18:1-3 and Romans 16:3-5)

Lois and Eunice (2 Timothy)

Euodia and Syntyche (Phil. 4:2-3)

Lydia (Acts 16:11-15; 40)

Tabitha (Acts 9)

The Church Worldwide

St. Sophia

St. Anastasia

St. Philomina

St. Demiana

St. Mary of Egypt

there are many

St. Macrina the Younger

St. Monica the mother of St. Augustine

3 of 14

Equality…

The Original Plan

And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him."

…

And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man."

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:18-24)

Before the original sin, there was no difference between men and women
After sin, God assigned different roles
As a result of sin, God created marriage

Men are the head and women are the body
Different roles but one cannot exist without the other
The church is one body with different parts…all have different roles (spiritual gifts) (1 Cor 12)
No gift is more important than another

4 of 14

“I will make him a helper comparable to him."�

The structure of the creation narrative reaches its highest point in the creation of woman, as it fulfills man’s need for a partner corresponding to him (Gen 2:18, 20).
The text describes woman being created to be the man’s ʿēzer kĕnegĕdô, literally, “a strength corresponding to him.”
The word Ezer is often translated to the word helper in English: not subordinate and actually means a strength
We use the word Helper to describe the Holy Spirit and is any part of the Trinity less than the other?

“She is his bride, the way the church is the bride of the Lord Jesus Christ... She is not created to be his maidservant, but to be his helper… Not to satisfy his lust and pleasures, but to be his partner and support in life… Not to become of a nature lower than his, but of the same nature, a friend to share with him his pleasures and grief… Being a helper to support him in the truth, would not lessen her honor… Being in need of her, both would walk together on the same path.” – Fr. Jacob Nadian

5 of 14

Equality…

Confirmation

The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?"

And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,' and said, 'FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH' ?

So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?"

He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. (Matthew 19:3-8)

6 of 14

Equality…

Issue with 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

The Head and the Head Cover

Regarding…

Presenting ourselves in the Church in front of God

Remembering and respecting the Creation events

But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God. (1 Corinthians 11:11-12)

“That trend to uncover their head was counted by the apostle as a dishonor to a woman, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. The hair being a sign of beauty for women, shaving it was an attempt to look as equal to man, and to reveal that she does not cherish her race as a woman. The honor of each race is in cherishing his or her race. Neither of them should feel haughty or envious of the other race as being superior.” – Fr. Tadros Malaty

You will notice that some of St. Paul’s writings especially in 1 Corinthians might be unfavourable to women. But we must understand that although St. Paul is also talking to us the church of Corinth had issues of its own. Here is what Fr. Tadros Malaty has to say about the history behind why St. Paul tells the women of Corinth to cover their heads:

“Having had its special circumstances, it so seems that some women in the church of Corinth were so filled with haughtiness, that they used to force themselves on the front rows of the church, and to lead meetings, and to give sermons with their heads uncovered. And, imitating the pagan priestesses, they used to take off their veils, uncover their heads, and display their hair in a disorderly way, as a sign of having inspiration. Yet those priestesses they imitate were also known for their ethical corruption and sexual looseness.

It was the custom of some women at that time to keep their heads uncovered in an attempt to draw the attention of men; and as a sign of non-submission and disrespect for authority, in particular of the husband, the father, or men in general in the public meetings. The apostle, intending for the Christian women to be respectful, reserved, and humble, particularly during the collective worship, forbade them to uncover their heads while praying or prophesying.

That trend to uncover their head was counted by the apostle as a dishonor to a woman, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. The hair being a sign of beauty for women, shaving it was an attempt to look as equal to man, and to reveal that she does not cherish her race as a woman. The honor of each race is in cherishing his or her race. Neither of them should feel haughty or envious of the other race as being superior.

Here it is noticed that women and virgins of the early church, used to have a role of leadership, leading prayers and giving sermons (prophesying), yet with their heads covered. And as it was the custom among the Greeks and the Jews, that women would not appear publicly with uncovered head; it was the custom, on the other hand, among prostitutes to appear with uncovered heads.” “The apostle gives the woman the choice to cover her hair or to have it shaved. And if, according to nature or custom, it is disgraceful to shave the head, uncovering the head would be on the same level. “ – which also gives another reason for head covering being just long hair generally

There is also a historical reason of the same nature for the verse on women learning in silence and submission (disruptful Corinth women), nonetheless we have adopted what St. Paul has said because it represents the nature of women (her long hair) and is a symbol of humility unique to women

Fr. Tadros is saying that men and women should be happy for who they are and not compare each other

7 of 14

Equality…

Issue with 1 Timothy 2:8-15

Teaching and Learning in the Church

Regarding…

Our different ROLES in the Church

Remembering and learning from the Fall

Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control. (1 Timothy 2:8-15)

“He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord.” Psalm 113:9

8 of 14

Equality…

Issue of Submission: Ephesians 5, Colossians 3, 1 Peter 3

Love and Respect

Regarding…

Harmony in the family

Nourishment of each other

Ephesians 5:21 says “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:31-33)

This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

“Talking about the glory of man, the apostle Paul sets the following balance: Man should not boast beyond what is befitting; nor apply pressure on the woman; since, in the Lord, woman is not independent of man, nor man is independent of woman. Each of them is the cause of the other; or rather, none of them is of the other, but God is the cause of all… As any exaltation of the man, completely refers to God; we are committed to obey Him and stop complaining” (St. John Chrysostom)

In the passage read in marriage services from Ephesians about submission it begins by this before anything: Ephesians 5:21 says “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

So God makes it clear that first both people must submit to God and only good can come from that, by submitting to God first then each person will want to do what is best for the other in the eyes of God. Just because God gives different instructions to a man and woman does not mean they are any less of one another

For example, Ephesians says that a husband should love his wife, does that mean a woman doesn’t have to do that either? Not really but love may come easier to her, likewise it says to a woman to respect her husband, does that mean a husband does not have to respect his wife. No, if the husband is acting as Jesus and wife as church, Jesus always gave the upmost respect to anyone he spoke to no matter how much they sinned. These instructions are just emphasized for man and woman because God knows His creation�

9 of 14

Women in Service

Women were praised by God for their strong faith; as we learn from the story of the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15: 22-28, Mark 7: 24-30).
Women were praised by God for their love and almsgiving, to the extent of giving their whole livelihood (Mark 12: 43-44).
Women were the first to preach the resurrection of The Lord and were giving the first preaching duty (Matthew 28: 10).
Women were praised for praying unceasingly (Acts 1: 14).
Women were going along with the apostles in their missions (1 Corinthians 9: 5).
Women were prophetess like Miriam (Exodus 15: 20), Deborah, a prophetess and a judge (Judges 4: 4), Huldah the prophetess (2 Kings 22: 14, 2 Chronicles 34: 22), the great Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4: 12-36), St. Mary the new Eve and her relative Elizabeth (Luke 1: 36), Priscilla (Acts 18: 2-26), the four daughters of Philip (Acts 21: 9), Phoebe the servant (Romans 16: 1), Tryphena and Tryphosa and Persis (Romans 16: 12), Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4: 2) ...etc.
The Synaxarium (Book of Saints and Martyrs) is full of women saints whom we love with all our hearts and consider them to be great examples of the love of God and how to hold strongly unto our faith even unto death, like the great martyr St. Demiana.�

10 of 14

Serving…

Witnessing and announcing the Resurrection

First witnesses and preachers

Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. …

So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciplees word. (Matthew 28:1-10)

Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. (Mark 16:1-8)

11 of 14

Serving…

Witnessing and announcing the Resurrection

First witnesses and preachers

And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. …

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. …

Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. (Luke 23:55-24:12)

12 of 14

Serving…

Witnessing and announcing the Resurrection

First witnesses and preachers

Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. …

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. (John 20:1-18)

13 of 14

St. Macrina, the Younger

She is titled the younger because she was named after her grandmother St. Macrina the Elder
Parents: Emmelia of Caesarea, Basil the Elder
Four of her nine brothers and sisters are commemorated as saints: Basil the Great (Basil of Caesarea), Peter of Sebaste, Gregory of Nyssa, and Theosebia the Deaconess
“Macrina greatly influenced her younger brother Peter in his religious training, directing him toward a spiritual and ascetic life. After her siblings grew up and the death of her father, she convinced her mother to take monastic vows with her. Following her mother's death, she led the nuns in the monastery. She died in 379/380 and was buried in a grave shared with her parents, with a eulogy by her younger brother, St. Gregory. He also wrote The Life of St. Macrina.” (orthodoxwiki.org/Macrina_the_Younger)

14 of 14

St. Monica, the mother of Augustine

The patron saint of mothers
Born in Tagaste, present day Algeria, in 331
“Monica figures significantly in Augustine's journey all the way through to his eventual conversion, and is remembered in history - according to his own words - as the mother "who brought me to birth, both in her flesh, so that I was born into this temporal light, and in her heart, that I might be born into eternal light" (Conf. 8, 17). Her great joy was to witness the baptism of Augustine, after his long and restless journey to the faith of the Church, by Bishop Ambrose in Milan in 387. Some months later, as mother and son, together with Augustine's own son and a small group of friends were making their way back to North Africa to begin living a monastic life, Monica died at Ostia while awaiting the ship.” (The Augustinians, Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova)