The Hellenic Orthodox Youth Group Homepage.

For best viewing use MS Internet Explorer 3.x

Q & A

Below are answers to questions that have been asked by people who have visited the website or in general have a question about Orthodoxy or the Greek Orthodox Church. If you have any questions you wish to submit that are not listed here please send them to Youth@bigfoot.com.


08 September 1997
	Q. If I believe in Jesus as one body with God and the Holy Spirit, why go to Church and practice the Sacraments?
	Q. How do we explain death? Violent crimes?
	Q. Is it correct to switch off a medical machine to allow a person to die?
	Q. Marriages with other races (not Greek). Good or bad?
	Q. What is the purpose of Monasteries if we have to spread our religion around to the people?
	Q. Are the Saints overglorified by man? Should we treat the Saints like normal people? Should we glorify them?
	Q. It is right for us to give promises to God in thanks (Tamata) in return for what He gives?.
	Q. Is speaking in tongues importent?
	Q. How does the Orthodox Church see woman?
	Q. Why are there no woman priests in the Orthodox Church?

Q. If I believe in Jesus as one body with God and the Holy Spirit, why go to Church and practice the Sacraments?

: The Church is the Body of Christ. It is Holy and grants holiness to those who become memebers of Her Body, because Christ is Holy as being God by nature. Within the Body of the Church the Holy Spirit acts. The Holy Sacraments of the Church are the actions of the Holy Spirit and anyone who dishonours them, dishonours the Holy Spirit, thus commits the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

Through the Holy Sacraments the presence of Christ is revealed. The Holy Spirit for example sanctifies the bread and wine and changes them to actual Body and precious Blood of our Lord. The Holy Spirit unites man to his wife as one. The Holy Spirit sanctify the waters. The Holy Spirit sanctifies the water used in the Sacrament of Baptism in order to regenarate man as a new creation giving him the second birth in Jesus Christ. When we are chrismatated, we receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit within us. These actions of the Holy Spirit cannot be achieved outside the Church, but only within the Church and by a canonical Bishop or Priest. A layman cannot replace the Sacrament of Priesthood. The personal prayers cannot replace the validity of the public prayers, where the Body of Christ is expressed visiblely.

Anyone who goes against the Holy Sacraments aqually proves his faithlessness to God, Who atcs through the Holy Sacraments for the sanctification and salvation of man. Only heretics will say, 'you do not need to go to Church, but pray by yourself!' But this proves how proud one is, in that he places himself above the Church of God.

We must never forget that religion is not a matter of what one feels, or what his personal ideas might be. Orthodoxy is what we have received from the Apostels and was passed down from the Apostolic Fathers to us through the Holy Fathers of our Orthodox Church. We remain faithful to the Apostolic Teachings and practice their Holy Traditions without changing anything.

"Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle" (2 Thess. 2:6) and "But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disordely and not according to the tradition which he received from us" (2 Thess. 3:15).

The person who does not go to Church on a Sunday deprives himself from God's Grace granted to man during the diving Liturgy. It is our duty to go every Sunday to Church without missing any Sunday. Sunday is not a day of rest, or for outings, or for pick-nicks, or camps etc. Sunday we as Orthodox Christians we worship our God and thank Him for all that He has given us. Sunday is a day of charishable work and not a day for laziness. We can do everything, as long as we do not sin, but after we have gone to our Orthodox Church.

God the Lord command saying: "Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days thou shalt labour, and shalt perform all thy work. But on the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God; on it thou shalt do no work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy servant nor thy maidservant, thine ox nor the stranger that so-journs with thee. For six days the Lord made the heaven and the earth, and the sea and all things in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it" (Exodus 20: 8-11; see also Levit. 23:2-3).

In the New Testament it is written: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostle' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). "So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart" (Acts 2:46).

The breaking of bread is, of course, the Eucharist, Holy Communion. "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers" (Acts 1:14).

God spoke against the rulers of Sodoma and Gomorrha through the Prophet Isaiah concerning the falsehood of their feasts days (Is. 1:10-15); and demands purification of heart. "Wash you, be clean; remove your iniquities from your souls before mine eyes; cease from your iniquities; learn to do well; diligently seek judgment, deliver him that is obtain justice for the widow. And come, let us reason together, saith the Lord" (Is. 1:16-17).

"And this day shall be to you a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord through all your generations; ye shall keep it a feast for a perpetual ordinance" (Exodus 12:14); "These are the feasts to the Lord, holy convocations, which ye shall call in their seasons" (Levit. 23:4).; Feast days in the Old Testament:; 1) Pentecost (Exodus 23:16; 34:22; Deut. 16:10, 16; Acts 2:1); 2) Day of Atonement (Levit. 23:26-32 and chapter 16; Num. 29:7); 3) Tabernacles (Levit. 23:33-36, 39; Exodus 23:16; 34:22; Deut. 16:13-15); 4) Pourim (Esther 9:17-31).; Feast days in the New Testament:; 1) Pascha, "Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth"(1 Corinth. 5:7-8).; 2) "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ" (Col. 2:16-17).; 3) Sunday (in Greek "Kyriaki" = The Lord's day [The day on which our Lord was risen]).

"Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message untill midnight" (Acts 20:7).

"I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day" (Rev. 1:9-10). Here we have the earliest reference to the Christian name for Sunday.

Collections for those in need to take place on Sunday. "On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come" (1 Corinth. 16:2). "For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem" (Rom. 15:26).

Q. How do we explain death? Violent crimes?

: Death is the result of man' sin. God, after the failure of man to repent and ask for forgiveness, said "In the swat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread until thou return to the earth out of which thou wast taken, for earth thou art and to earth thou shalt return" (Gen 3:20).; Death is in three types:; 1) Biological death.; 2) Spiritual death and finally; 3) Eternal death.

Biological death occures, when man' soul seperates from the body and the second stops functioning. Spiritual death occures, when one is alive, but has no tides with the source of life which is God during this life time, nor does he lead a virtuous life. Man's life is full of emptyness. Eternal death occures, when man dies unrepentant and in the state of sin.

The first type of death is natural, as being placed by God Himself (Gen 3:20).

The second is spiritual and man can overcome it through repentance. Christ refered to this type of death when He spoke to His disciple saying: "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead" (Matth. 8:22). Also in the Parable of the Prodigal Son the Father ordered to kill the fatted calf "for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found" (Luke 15:24); and says to the elder brother: "It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found" (Luke 15:32). Those who ignore heavenly priority are spiritually dead.

The third type of death is the worst of all, because man is separated from God and is condemned, because of sin to lose the Heavenly Kingdom. "And these will go away into everlasting punishment" (Matth. 25:46). "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to reproach and everlasting shame" (Daniel 12:2).

Death comes upon man by the laws of nature, or by force (accidents, killing), or by suicide. God respects man's free will and does not interferes in man's actions. He allows man to act, in order to be accounted for. If man will give an account for the words which he shall say, how much more if he kills, or commits suicide.

God gave a commandment, "Thou shalt not kill" (Ex. 20:15). Jeremias 7:9. Matth. 5:21; James 4:2.

"God will punish those who kill. The King sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city" (Matth. 22:7); Murdrers shall not inherit God's Kingdom "But the cowerdly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers ... and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death"(Rev. 21:8); "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? " (1 Corinth. 6:9); "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie" (Rev. 22:14-15).

"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners" (Romans 5:19). "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12). "For by the one man's offense death reigned through the one" (Romans 5:17). "Sin reign in death" (Romans 5:21).

"For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live" (Romans 8:13).

"And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immortality or their thefts" (Rev. 9:21)

Q. Is it correct to switch off a medical machine to allow a person to die?

: Life is the gift of God to man. Man comes into the world by God's Will and through God's Will he must separate again from this life. No man can kill another as this is against God's Commandment. "Thou shall not kill" (Exodus 20:15).

No one has the right to switch off a medical machine, which prolongs man's life. God enlightened men to discover ways in which life can be prolonged. No one has any authority to decide on one's life. Only God has the authority over life and death.

As Orthodox Christians we must trust ourselves in God's Divine Providence. The examples of Job in the Old Testament (Job 1:13-2:8) and the beggar Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) are only two of many examples of christian patience which one must have in difficult moments of one's life. On the other hand where is the christian love of the family if they decide to switch off the machine? God curses man who takes away his brother's life. "And now thou art cursed from the earth which has opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand" (Gen. 4:11).

God forbids any man to take the life of his brother. "He that sheds man's blood, insttead of that blood shall his own be shed, for in the image of God I made man" (Gen. 9:6). In the New Testament the same God, our Lord Jesus Christ said to St. Peter, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword" (Matth. 26:52).

St. James, the step-brother of the Lord, teaches us saying, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him" (James 1:12) and again, "Brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials" (James 1:2).

St. Paul says that, "We must through many tribulations enter the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22) and "if we endure, we shall also reign with Him" (2 Tim. 2:12). One must never forget, that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suufer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). In the Book of Psalms we read: "Behold the eyes of the Lord are on them that fear Him, those that hope in His mercy; to deliver their souls from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits on the Lord; for He is our helper and defender. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, and we have hoped in His holy name. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in Thee" (Ps. 32:18-22).

Concluding this question, the Orthodox Church does not believe in EUTHANASIA, nor allows any member of the Church to practice it. The Orthodox Church sees euthanasia as a form of MURDER and SUICIDE. Murder, in the case that one switches off the machine and stops the life of another man; suicide, in the case that one orders someone else to switched off the machine.

If one orders the mechine to be switch off, then the Church will not preform the Funeral Service, Memorial service (Mnemosina), neither will make a Trisagion on the tomb, nor will commemorate that person during the Divine Liturgy, because he/she took his/hers own life away and conciders their souls lost for ever. It is blasphemy against God to switch off the machine, and he commits the sin of blasphemy against God is not forgiven neither in this world nor in the world to come (Mathh. 12:31-32). "Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation" (Mark 3:28-29. See also Luke 12:10).

Q. Marriages with other races (not Greek). Good or bad?

: God created man and woman to join their lives as one united couple. Love is a gift from God, but one must be assured about the person to whom he will join his life with. Marriage is a very serious matter and one must not take it lightly.

As Orthodox Christians, one must have as his first priority to marry an Ortho-dox Christian, irrespective of his/her nationality, because being baptised in Christ Jesus one becomes holy and must share in holiness his love to his spouse.

According to the Holy Canons of our Holy Orthodox Church an Orthodox Christian should not marry a non Orthodox, neither Jew, nor Muslim. If the one is an Orthodox and the other comes from another christian denomination, then the Orthodox should, through good example of life and faith, convert his/her beloved one to Orthodoxy respecting their free choice.

Having the same religion makes things more easier, rather than to have the family divided into pieces.; The Holy Canos of the Orthodox Church order that:; "The members of the Church shall not indiscriminately marry their children to heretics" (10th Canon of the Synod of Laodicea).; "It is not lawful to make marriages with all sorts of heretics, nor to give our sons and daughters to them; but rather to take of them, if they promise to become Orthodox Christians" (31st Canon of the Synod of Laodicea).; "The Holy Synod has decreed that it shall not be lawful for any of them to take a wife who is heterodox. But those who have already bgotten children of such a marriage, if they have already had their children baptised among the heretics, must bring them into the communion of the Orthodox Catholic Church; but if they have not had them baptised, they must not hereafter baptise them among heretics, nor give them in marrige to a heretic, or a Jew, or a heathen, unless the person marrying the Orthodox child shall promise to come over to the Orthodox Faith" (14th Canon of the Synod of Chalcedon).

(1 Tim. 2:13-15; Col. 3:18-21; 4:15; 1 Corinth. 7:1-16, 25-29, 32-34, 36-40; 1 Peter 3:1-7).

Q. What is the purpose of Monasteries if we have to spread our religion around to the people?

: The Monasteries are place where men and women dedicate their whole lives for Christ' name sake. They live a very strict christian life under obediance. The monks and sisters lead a viteous life in the Lord avoiding the sins of the world and worldly pleasures. The monk separartes himself not from man but from the sinful way of life of man, in order to assist man in his spiritual needs, guiding him to Christ through an example of good way of life.

To spread around the world our Orthodox Faith is the duty of all. But we must never jugde those who dedicate their lives to Christ and separate themselves from the world. It is not a easy task.

Q. Are the Saints overglorified by man? Should we treat the Saints like normal people? Should we glorify them?

: The Saints of our Holy Orthodox Church are not overglorified. They are glorified by God Himself within the Body of His Church, because they glorified Him in their personal life. The existance of the Saints in the Orthodox Church proves, that only within the Church man can achieve his sanctification and salvation. Man becomes the living temple of God, and the Holy Trinity comes and abides within man' soul. Anyone who refuses to accept the Saints is actually renounces man' salvation. The Saints is the living proof that man can become holy as God is Holy. The Saints are holy by the Grace of God and not by nature.

The Orthodox Church does not worship the Saints, but honours them as being Christ's friends, who proved through their life their love to Christ. When we kiss their relics or holy icons, we do not worship them, because we worship only the Holy Trinity, but in this way we express our inner respect and love to those fellow christians who prove to be true disciples of Christ. If anyone does honour Christ's friends, he does not honour Christ Himself and shall face the anger of God for insulting His Saints.

Throughout the Gospel christ emphasies the importance of the being holy, but it is not this the purpose of man's existance when becoming a member of the Church. Why then even question about the Saints? Only heretics refuse to accept the Saints, because they are in error and in false teachings. Be aware and do not accept their false teachings.

Yes! The Saints were simple people, but God glorifies them in His Church. And who are we to question God's decisions? If should honour one another, why question the honour given to the Saints?

If the non Orthodox denominations are in falsehood concerning the way they interpretate Holy Scriptures and Holy Tradition, why should any Orthodox give any attetion to their blasphemous and ungodly teachings?

Q. It is right for us to give promises to God in thanks (Tamata) in return for what He gives?.

: First to bring gifts to the Incarnated Word of God the Father, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, were the three .wise men. "And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh" (Matth. 2:11), as this was prophesied by the Prophet Isaiah, "All from Saba shall come bearing gold, and shall bring frakincense, and they shall publish the salvation of the Lord" (Isaiah 60:6).

The three wise men were the first worshipers of Jesus Christ of the New Testament, who offered Him gifts (=tamata).

Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the Gospel of St. Matthew teaches us, without renouncing to accept gifts, that it is important for you to offer something to God, first reconcile yourself with your fellow man, for love is above than material gifts. He says, "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift" (Matth. 5:23-24).

When our Lord cured the leper He said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them" (Matth. 8:4. See also Mark 1:44; Luke 5:14;).

In the Book of Leviticus God gives instructions to Moses of what the people should offer when cleansed from lepresy (Lev. 14:1- 32).

One could dedicate property or earnings as a gift to God (Matth. 7:11). 'Corban' was a gift offered to God to prevent its use by one's parents, but continue to be used for oneself.

The value of a gift offered to God does not derives from its validity in gold or silver, but from the spirit in which it is given. A gift that seeks recognition loses its spiritual value; a gift made from the heart gains immense value, as in the cases of the poor widow, who put into the treasury as her gift to God "two mites" (Luke 21:2). Christ said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had" (Luke 21:3-4).

A mite was a Jewish copper coin of the lowest value, like a penny.

In the Epistle to the Hebrews one can see that Paul destinqueshes between the sacrifices offered to God and the gifts. "For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins" (Heb. 5:1; 8:3-4; 9:9; 11:4).

To offer a gift to God is an act of respect and recognition of what God had done for us. It is in a way to say: "Thank You Lord for everything that You did for me". Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as the unique God-man, when He cured the ten lepers (Luke 17: 11-19) and only the Samaritan returned to give thanks to Him said: "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" (Luke 17:17-18).

Q. Is speaking in tongues importent?

: In the Gospel of St. Mark Christ said: "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover" (Mark 16:17-18).

On the Day of Pentecost, the Apostles "were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1-4). St. Peter spoke in one tongue, but at the same moment 18 different langues where heard from his lips (Acts 2:8-11).

Speaking with new tongues was a gift highly valued by the Corinthian Church (1 Corinth. 13:1, 14:2-28). For the Church Fathers this was the miraculous ability to speak foreign tongues in order to spread the gospel, as at Pentecost (Acts 2:6-11). Nine gifts are listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-10.

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal" (1 Corinth. 13:1).

"Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongueedifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tomgues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be konwn what is piped or played? For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a roreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful ... I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousands words in a tongue ... Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers, but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all" (1 Corinth. 14:1-14, 18-19, 22-24).

In the New Testament the gift of speaking in tongues is last on the list of the gifts (12:10, 28), temporary (13:8), primarily for the edification of the one who speaks (13:4), and difficult to understand (13:11, 14).

St. John Chrysostom concludes that tongues are "neither altogether useless, nor very profitable".

Tongues do not edify most Christians and fail to convert unbelievers (13:22), instead repelling them and suggesting that Christians are out of their mind (13:23).

Q. How does the Orthodox Church see woman?

: Woman is seen by the Orthodox Church as the being the greatest gift of God to man. When the first man was created and he realized that he was the only creature of his kind on earth, sadness fell upon him. "And Adam gave names to all the cattle and to all the birds of the sky, and to all the wild beasts of the field, but for Adam there was not found a help like to himself" (Gen. 2:20). God intervened in order to take away Adam's loneliness. "And the Lord God said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone, let us make for him a help suitable to him" (Gen. 2:18). "And God brought a trance upon Adam, and he slept, and he took one of his ribs, and filled up the flesh instead thereof. And God formed the rib which he took from Adam into a woman, and brought her to Adam. And Adam said, 'This now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of her husband" (Gen. 2:21-23).

God Himself presented woman to man (Gen. 2:22), showing that it is His Will for man to be with woman, for she was created for man to assist and help him, and together to achieve perfection, sanctification and finally salvation. These goals are achieved within marriage, a Sacrament which Adam gifted with the gift of prophecy forsaw and said, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh" (Gen 2:24).

Woman is seen as God's "image and likenes" (Gen. 1:26). She is not a different work of creation of God from that of Adam, but the same, "for she was taken out of her husband" (Gen. 2:23). Therefore God does not created a different soul for woman, but receives her soul from Adam as soon as God took a rib from his side. "And God made man, according to the image of God he made him, male and female he made them" (Gen. 1:27).; According to the teachings of the Old Testament:; "The apparel of a man shall not be on a woman, neither shall a man put on a woman's dress; for every one that does these things is an abomination to the Lord thy God" (Deut. 22:5).; "A gracious wife brings glory to her husband, but a woman hating righteousness is a theme of dishonour" (Prov. 11:16).; "A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to want a morsel. She sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets, calling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways; saying, Whoso is most senless of you. let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that want prudence, saying, Take and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft" (Prov. 9:13-17).; "Wise women build houses, but a foolish one digs hers down with her hands" (Prov. 14:1).; "Who shall find a virtuous woman? For such a one is more valuable than precious stones. The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils. For she employs all her living for her husband's good. Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands. She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood. And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and appointed tasks to her maidens. She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants a possession. She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work. And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night. She reaches forth her arms to needful works, and applies her hands to the spindle. And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor ... She opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue. She puts on strenght and honour; and rejoices in the last days. The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness. But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law. And her kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her ... Charms are false, and woman's beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear of the Lord. Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates" (Prov. 31:10-20, 24-28, 30-31).; "Will a woman forget her child, so as not to have compassion upon the offspring of her womb?" (Is. 49:15).

In the New Testament our Lord and Saviour teaches us to have high rspect to woman, and that men should not to see her as an instrument of pleasure. "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery'. But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matth. 5:27-28).

Man should defend their beloved women, when they preform good deeds, as Christ did, when His disciples became indignant as they saw "a woman coming with a alabaster flask of very costly grangrant oil, and poured i on His head as He sat at the table" (Matth. 26:7). "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me" (Matth. 26:10).

Besides the Holy Apostles Christ had also "many women from Galilee, ministering to Him ... among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons" (Matth. 27: 55, 56). "And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities - Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance" (Luke 8:1-3). "Mary the mother James, and Salome" (Mark 16:1).

Christ appears first to the women and afterwards to His Apostles (Matth. 28:9-10; Mark 16:1, 9; Luke 24:1-9; John 20:2, 11-18).

In the first Christian Community women played a importance role within the Church as Mary Magdalene, Priscilla (Acts 18:2, 26; 1 Corinth. 16:19), Damaris (Acts 17:34), Lydia (Acts 16:14), Claudia (2 Tim. 4:21), the four virgin daughters of the deacon Philip the evangelist "who prophesied" (Acts 21:8-9), Tabitha or Dorcas (Acts 9:36).

St. Paul teaches us the following: "He who is unmarried cares the things of the Lord - how he may please the Lord. Bur he who is married cares about the things of the world - how he may please his wife. There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world - how she may please her husband" (1 Corinth. 7:32-34).

Concerning marriage St. Paul teaches us saying: "It is good fr a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband" (1 Corinth. 7:1-3). In marriage husband and wife are equal in all, for "the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does" (1 Corinth. 7:4). The Orthodox couple must not deprive themselves from one another. "Do not deprive one another except with conset for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control" (1 Corinth. 7:5).

In Ephesians chapter 5, St. Paul urges: "wives submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Saviout of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let thw wives be to their own husbnads in everything" (Ephes. 5:22-24). Submition to their husband is required, when he follows God's Command-ments. If for example the husband is acting contrary to God's Will and Commandments, then the wife must stand up for what is right in the eyes of the Lord, otherwise if she remains silent concerning matters of morality and virtuous way of life, then she partakes also in the sins of her husband.

In Orthodox Christian Marriage there is one who acts as head, who leads. Wives are called to submit to their husbands, not as inferiors, but as equals. For there is a hierarchy in life, for man was created first, then woman. Man was not created for woman, but woman for man. But again this shows the importance of woman in man's life, that he should not be without her.

The woman's role is to assist man to obtain perfection, sanctification and salva-tion. Besides all these, the goals of the union of man and woman in marriage are: to help one another; to comfort one another; to assist in practising christian virtues; to participate in one another's happiness or suffering; to cultivate the virtues of prudence and wisdom; to fulfil the sexual needs of one another with a virtuous mind; and finally the procreation of children. All these aims should be practiced with pure and unconditional love and perfect respect to one another.

Q. Why are there no woman priests in the Orthodox Church?

: The Orthodox Church practices what She has received from Christ our Lord and Saviour. According to Holy Scriptures man was created frist then woman as "a help suitable for him" (Gen. 2:18). "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" (1 Corinth. 11:3). The role of the woman is to assist man for his salvation. "For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man" (1 Corinth. 11:8). It is not propure for her to lead, nor to teach in public. According to St. Paul, woman is forbiden to speak in the Church, and if she has anything to ask she must ask at home her husband. "Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church" (1 Corinth. 14:34-35).

If Christ our God wished for woman to be priests, then His own Mother, the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary should not only have been apointed as priest, but even higher than that, as the first Bishop of Jerusalem. But Christ did not wish neither gave any instruction to His beloved Mother, nor to any of the other holy women, as Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Clopas, Mary the mother of James and Jose, the mother of the sons of Zabedee (John 19:25; Matth. 27:56) to become priests. They all served the Church with humbleness and offered hard work for the spreading of our Christian Faith to the known world. This is why we have women Saints, which were honoured to be called Equal to the Apostles.

If women are not ordained priest, this does not mean that their role in the Church is of a minor importance. On the contrary. Their role is very important, because they have alot to offer. They must learn to be humble and not to question God, eitherwise they just show that they are overruled by pride as Lucifer.

"Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression" (1 Tim. 2:12). "For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands" (1 Peter 3:5).

Who are we, today, to change what we have received from the Apostles? But again, this is why we are Orthodox and the others have went astray from the truth, because they changed, we did not and we will never change. This is Orthodoxy and upon these Holy Apostolic Tradition we shall follow to the Second Comming of Christ.

Let us not be fooled by the times of our days. The world is drifting away from the original teachings of Christ, but not the Orthodox Church. As members of this Holy Body, let us remain faithful to Holy Scriptures and Holy Apostolic tradition. Cann't you see that the other denominations who allowed women to become priests have regrated their wrong doings? Why then even come up with this question? Are we not with the truth? Have you ever seen a women priest within our Church in the 2,000 years of Her History? Are we, because of modern ways of thinking, know better than God Himself?

For best viewing use MS Internet Explorer 3.x

Copyright © Baroutsos Brothers, 1997 - 1998