GOA now tonsuring women as clergy?

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Wed 19 May 2004 2:37 pm

Daniel

So, does any know what role deaconess's actually played?

It is my understanding that the functions of the Deaconess were as follows:

Teaching, by word and deed, the females who were new to the faith (whether catechumens or newly baptized). In essence, they were something of a role model for those young in the faith to emulate, go to for help, etc.
Counselling those who were in need, whether they be those who were weak in the faith, those who had to live with pagan spouses, or whatever other needs.
Assist in the baptism of females (people were baptized naked in the early Church).
Do charitable work, such as distribute help to the widows in need, feed those who were starving, etc.

Past this, I think it is mostly speculation, though I admit that my reading on the subject is very limited.

Lucian · Post by **Lucian** » Fri 21 May 2004 7:59 pm

Here is Canon 19 from the First Ecumenical Council (Nicea, 325):

CANON XIX.
CONCERNING the Paulianists who have flown for refuge to the Catholic Church, it has been decreed that they must by all means be rebaptized; and if any of them who in past time have been numbered among their clergy should be found blameless and without reproach, let them be rebaptized and ordained by the Bishop of the Catholic Church; but if the examination should discover them to be unfit, they ought to be deposed. Likewise in the case of their deaconesses, and generally in the case of those who have been enrolled among their clergy, let the same form be observed. And we mean by deaconesses such as have assumed the habit, but who, since they have no imposition of hands, are to be numbered only among the laity.

Notice that deaconesses had "no imposition of hands" and were "to be numbered only among the laity."

So much for the idea that deaconess is just the female flip side of the office of Deacon.

I recall reading somewhere that deaconesses assisted with the baptism of women and with charitable service to widows and orphans.

They were not actually ordained and did not serve at the altar.

PFC Nektarios · Post by **PFC Nektarios** » Sat 22 May 2004 12:44 am

Thank you for post it was intresting.

Nektarios

PFC Nektarios · Post by **PFC Nektarios** » Mon 24 May 2004 2:27 am

My priest is doing some serious research on this entire matter.

In Christ
Nektarios

尼古拉前执事 · Post by **尼古拉前执事** » Sat 5 March 2005 11:34 pm

Unfortunately they removed the photos of the tonsuring and all we now have are these before shots:

http://www.stpaulsirvine.org/25thannive ... C01143.JPG

http://www.stpaulsirvine.org/25thannive ... 010064.JPG

尼古拉前执事 · Post by **尼古拉前执事** » Sat 5 March 2005 11:40 pm

Unfortunately for them, I, with the help of the Way Back Machine at http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www ... C01313.JPG found it!

George · Post by **George** » Mon 7 March 2005 4:02 pm

Is she being ordained?! What as?! Who, what, where, when, WHY?