In a historic ceremony on May 2, 2024, the Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa will appoint Angelic Molen as the first deacon in the global Eastern Orthodox Church.
The event, held at St. Nektarios Mission Parish near Harare, Zimbabwe, marked the culmination of efforts to revitalize the female diaconate within the Church.
Metropolitan Seraphim, the Archbishop of Zimbabwe, led the consecration ceremony on Maundy Thursday, just before Orthodox Easter. Molen expressed her initial nervousness about entering the altar, but felt comforted and ready after receiving the blessings of Metropolitan Seraphim.
“At first I was nervous about going to the altar, but when Metropolitan Seraphim blessed me to enter the altar as part of my preparation this week, those feelings disappeared and I felt at ease. I am ready,” said Molen Religion News about her ordination.
The revival of the female diaconate is a controversial issue among Orthodox Christians. While some see it as a return to an ancient tradition, others see it as a departure from the Orthodox hierarchy. The patriarchate’s decision to consecrate Molen is seen as a bold step that could set a precedent for other branches of the Orthodox Church.
Molen’s ordination is part of the Patriarchate’s broader efforts to meet the growing need for priests and deacons in African parishes.
A deaconess is not a priest/priestess. Her responsibilities include assisting priests with liturgical duties and meeting specific parish needs in Zimbabwe.
The St. Phoebe Center for the Deaconess, an advocacy organization for the revival of the female diaconate, called Molen’s ordination an important moment for the Church.
They said the restoration of the female diaconate could help meet the needs of women in congregations and provide much-needed support to overworked priests.
“Being the first to do something is always a challenge, but the Patriarchate of Alexandria has courageously chosen to lead the way, with Metropolitan Seraphim laying hands on Deacon Angelic,” wrote Dr. Carrie Frost, St. Phoebe’s board chair, said in the news release.
“The Alexandrian Patriarchate in Africa felt the need to revive this order to meet the daily pastoral needs of Orthodox Christians in Africa.”
However, not everyone within the Orthodox Church sees the consecration of Molen as a positive development.
Dr. Jeanne Constantinou, a retired professor of Biblical studies, believes that changes in the Orthodox Church are happening slowly and are unlikely to result in widespread acceptance of the female diaconate.
“What makes an Orthodox Christian Orthodox is that they follow tradition and do not change it… We do not accept innovations in the Church, and therefore, even though this has happened, you cannot expect any ripple effect. in the rest of the Orthodox world,” she said.
“In other words, it should not be interpreted as a statement that the door is now open to women everywhere. Should they be deacons or priests?’ she said.
The patriarchate’s decision could also have broader implications for the unity of the Church. Since the war between Russia and Ukraine, tensions within the Orthodox world have been high, and Molen’s ordination could deepen these rifts, potentially leading to further divisions within the Church.
