Phanar Head: Church is misguidedly deemed as male-centered
Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: orthodoxtimes
On July 7, 2020, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople declared that “the Orthodox Church is unfortunately and misguidedly deemed as male-centered,” the Orthodox Times website reports.
However, according to him, “the central position of the Virgin Mary in the Church life, the plethora of Holy women, the contribution of women to the parish, and the essential role they play in the family, which are some admirable facts, prove these views wrong.”
According to Patriarch Bartholomew, Metropolitan John (Zizioulas) of Pergamon very aptly stresses that women are the pre-eminent expression of the person-centered morality in Orthodox tradition. He writes: “Women, more than anyone else, and perhaps, first and foremost, as Mothers, teach us to live as persons, not as individuals, that is, as beings in a relationship, not as autonomous and independent beings.”
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that on May 29, 2020, Georg Batzing, Catholic Bishop of the German city of Limburg, declared that the Church itself "calls for female clergy".
Read also
ROCOR Priest Reflects on Trip to Capitol Hill
Archpriest Victor Boldewskul participated in the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco's Day of Action to raise awareness about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Hundreds of Chinese Christians Arrested in Pre-Christmas Crackdown
Hundreds of Chinese Christians face spending Christmas in detention after authorities launched a sweeping pre-holiday crackdown on churches under Beijing’s campaign to control religious life.
Ukraine Adviser: UOC Not Banned, but Offered a 'Choice' of Jurisdictions
A Ukrainian presidential adviser said the UOC is not banned but pressured to choose between joining the OCU, submitting to Constantinople, or remaining unregistered, while dismissing international concerns as propaganda.
Indiana Reports 98% Drop in Abortions Under Stricter Law
Indiana’s latest health report shows a 98% drop in reported abortions under stricter laws, though dozens still occurred under legal exceptions and concerns persist about unreported pill abortions.
Armenian Apostolic Church Pushes Back on Political Encroachment
The Armenian Apostolic Church plans to appeal to international bodies to resist government interference and defend its clergy and sacred relics.
Attempted Takeover at Armenian Etchmiadzin Cathedral Thwarted by Faithful
Supporters of Armenian PM Pashinyan attempted to storm Etchmiadzin Cathedral amid calls for the Catholicos’s resignation but were blocked by parishioners and security.