ΔΙΑΚΟΝΙΣΣΕΣ. ΜΙΑ ΠΑΡΑΔΟΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΣΗΜΕΡΑ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΥ ΑΥΡΙΟ
Μόλις κυκλοφορήθηκε η αγγλική έκδοση των πρακτικών του Διεθνούς Συμποσίου για τις Διακόνισσες, που έλαβε χώρα πριν από 3 ακριβώς χρόνια στην Θεσσαλονίκη και διοργανώθηκε από το Κέντρο Οικουμενικών, Ιεραποστολικών και Περιβαλλοντικών Μελετών «Μητροπολίτης Παντελεήμων Παπαγεωργίου» (CEMES), με την ανύστακτη φροντίδα και επιμέλεια του ομ. καθηγητή της Θεολογικής Σχολής του ΑΠΘ Πέτρου Βασιλειάδη.
Την αγγλική έκδοση επιμελήθηκαν: ο Δρ. π. Ιωάννης Χρυσαυγής, η Δρ. Νίκη Παπαγεωργίου, η Μέριλιν Ρουβελά και ο καθηγητής Π. Βασιλειάδης.
Της εκδόσεως προτάσσεται μήνυμα της Α.Θ.Π. του Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχου Βαρθολομαίου.
Παραθέτουμε ένα κατατοπιστικό κείμενο στα αγγλικά καθώς και τα περιεχόμενα του τόμου, ο οποίος εκδόθηκε από τις εκδόσεις Holy Cross.
With the publication by the Holy Cross press of the English version of most of the contributions of the CEMES second international scientific theological symposium of 2020, our Deaconesses project came to an end.
As the main organizer of both that, as well as of the first one of 2015, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who in one way or another have contributed to their success. First, to all publishing houses, and of course to all who contributed with their scientific knowledge. Special tribute is due to Ally Kateusz, whose pictures have been chosen by both publishers (Tony Vrame of Holy Cross, and Armos) and their editors (Spyridoula Denia Athanasopoulou-kypriou, Νίκη Παπαγεωργίου, Katerina Drosia, Nina Kyriatzi. To them, I also feel quite obliged for dedicated it to me).
Last but not least, to all executive members of CEMES of the last decade, without the determination and efforts of whom this titanic project could not have been accomplished.
What still remains unaccomplished is the implementation by our Church of the liturgical re-institution of the traditional order of the female diaconate. To the detriment not only of the dignity women, but also of the effective witness of our Church in the 3rd millennium. Let us hope that some slight indications will appear before our official presentation to the public in May, so that we avoid critical remarks to our mother-church!
The articles gathered here draw on multiple disciplines to argue for restoration of this venerable order… As we face the challenges of a rapidly changing world, may the ministry of deacons both male and female flourish once again!
John H. Erickson, Professor Emeritus, St. Vladimir’s Theological Seminary
This book is a remarkable achievement: scrupulously attentive to both history and theology; inclusive of Orthodox traditions and experience of the broadest purview; concrete, practical, and informative; inspiring in presentation, and visionary in scope.
Susan Ashbrook Harvey, Professor of History and Religion, Brown University
