Thesis advisor: Francine Cardman / There is compelling reason to change the traditional practice of the Orthodox Church and begin taking active steps towards the inclusion of women in all the ministries of the church, including the sacramental priesthood. According to the French Orthodox theologian Élisabeth Behr-Sigel, initial responses to the issue contradict patristic views of the priesthood and undermine key aspects of Orthodox Christology, soteriology, and theology of icons. This dissertation extends the work of Behr-Sigel by carefully reading traditional texts, images, and liturgy in light of contemporary concerns. Five claims support women's participation in the priesthood. First, Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom present the priesthood as an eikon of the "new humanity" exemplified in Christ, in which we see embodied and enacted charisms, capabilities, functions, and virtues. Second, these charisms, capabilities, and virtues are evoked by multiple, contextual models and metaphors, none of which requires or prioritizes a male-bodied presider. Instead, as both a model and symbol, the presider serves as a dynamic eikon of the virtuous relationships that characterize the fuller humanity into which all are called via theosis. Third, iconic theology and practice consistently affirm the use of diverse media (included sexed persons) through which we see our "new humanity" embodied in unique persons who enact virtuous relationships. Denial of uniqueness and reduction to a particular quality or material is a form of blindness, a fixed rather than iconic "gaze." Fourth, the liturgy is an icon of the reign of God made visible through patterns of actions, that is ritual practices that teach participants how to relate in virtue to both God and neighbor. The liturgy is a primary locus for the `social construction' of virtuous persons-in-relation, and its practices either permit or prevent us from recognizing the unique irreducibility of our neighbor in both our ecclesial and human community. Fifth, the liturgical exclusion of women is a failure to love rooted in a gaze that fixates on sex rather than the unique and gifted human person before us. The church fails to enact its own eschatological hope when it reduces its members to a particular quality or capability. This failure is not, however, the last word. The church, through its theology and practice is that place where we become who we are. Therefore, it is called to recognize its participants as persons, to encourage their gifts, to receive their gifts, and as a community, offer those gifts for the life of the world. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Theology.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-134, 68-72).

Thesis advisor: Jane E. Regan / The Eastern Fathers through the centuries affirm that askesis—struggle and training in spiritual life—is integral to Christian growth, life, and maturity. It is a part of the Church’s basic mindset regarding growth in life in Christ. Within the US Orthodox Christian Education (OCE) field, however, no substantial treatment of this theme exists. The place of a discussion of askesis within OCE requires that one perceive how vitally and expansively the Orthodox Church understands this theme. Clearing lesser things from the heart, preparing room for divinity, learning to turn the eyes of the heart toward Christ, and to fix them on Him in all things are all vital to acquiring the Holy Spirit, whose fruit in us proclaims and brings about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christian witness presupposes fruit, while fruit is born of divine indwelling. Yet, as Gregory of Nyssa affirms, grace “does not naturally frequent souls which are fleeing from salvation.” We must engage. If spiritual maturity is important to the Church’s witness, then, so is developing maturity. In this way, askesis is integral to the mission of the Church. The Eastern Fathers understand this training in expansive ways. While askesis can indicate a subset of specific practices (vigils, fasting, chastity, etc.) in a larger sense it indicates active formation in spiritual life in general. Various Fathers affirm things as diverse as prayer, marriage, faith, childrearing, and patient endurance of suffering as opportunities for askesis. Since askesis is vital to Orthodox Christian life and faith, and given the gap in coverage, this study explores the theme, in three steps. First, after surveying recent OCE engagements with askesis, it considers in depth the spiritual anthropology and ascetical teaching of a relatively early figure, Gregory of Nyssa. Second, it explores three themes from the Byzantine period that display some of the Church’s broader, more settled sensibilities regarding askesis, namely, 1) the centrality of Jesus Christ in developing virtue and maturity; 2) the importance of the Church and Sacraments for spiritual growth; and 3) how material creation figures in spiritual life. Third, the study turns to the voices of more recent elders as they convey the Church’s expansive understanding of askesis. Again, three themes are developed: 1) how each and every aspect of human nature must be formed in Christ; 2) how, in God’s providence, the entire arena of life provides opportunities for Christian development; and 3) the ascetic character of an Orthodox Christian vision of education. This study is not a historical work of Christian spirituality, a history of the development of ascetical theology, or a comprehensive summary of its theme. Rather, it seeks to specify key elements of the developmental path to freedom in Christ proclaimed by the Orthodox faith, and to argue for their wisdom and fruitfulness. It aims to be a useful tool for those engaged in the task of forming the faithful. A final chapter summarizes implications in this regard. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry.

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This present paper is a systematic approach to the anti-Ecumenist feedback received by various theological figures in Greece, regarding the convocation of the Holy and Great Council of Crete that took place in 2016.

This thesis is a comparative analysis of the doctrine of deification in sacramental worship as taught (and practiced) by the Eastern Orthodox and Latter-day Saint (Mormon) churches. The doctrine that man may become like God—known as deification, divinization, or theosis—is a central teaching in the Orthodox and Mormon traditions. Both faiths believe that man may become like God. However, because of doctrinal presuppositions and disagreements regarding the natures of God and man, Orthodox and Mormon teachings of deification do not mean the same thing. This thesis will outline several key distinctions between their respective doctrines. And yet, despite doctrinal disagreements, this thesis will also illustrate how Orthodoxy and Mormonism share several notable similarities regarding the function of sacramental worship in the process of theosis. Mormonism and Orthodoxy both believe that men and women may achieve theosis only as they interact with God. Through the combined initiatives of the Father, his son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, humankind may receive the attributes of divinity and participate in the process of deification. The means whereby humanity may interact with God are through sacramental participation. This thesis will illustrate how institutional rituals and personal worship practices foster man's divine interaction and ultimate deification. Furthermore, Orthodox and Mormon rituals are deeply rooted in the doctrine of deification—each ritual contributing to man's divine transformation. As such, those rituals reflect numerous thematic variations and emphatic differences of their respective traditions. This should not discourage the reader from comparing Orthodox sacraments with Mormon sacraments; rather, as one studies the similarities and differences in the Orthodox and Mormon sacraments, he or she will begin to see how deification is so intricately woven into the worship practices of these two faiths.

In this investigation key elements of the mysticism of Elizabeth of the Trinity (1880-1906) are compared and contrasted with the mysticism of the Eastern Orthodox Church, and as a result, the true nature of the relationship between their respective mysticism is elucidated. Key doctrines which exhibit a remarkable consonance are: the trinitarian foundation of their mysticism, the indwelling of the Trinity in the human soul, asceticism, desert spirituality, sacrificial love, liturgical spirituality, scriptural spirituality, deification and the doxological nature of their mysticism. Elements of divergence exist within the following: election and predestination, apophatic versus cataphatic mysticism, the Roman Catholic dogma of the immaculate conception of the virgin Mary, and the mode of God's presence in the human soul. Elizabeth's relevance for today is also considered, namely, her ecclesial mission which she now continues in heaven: to intercede for people seeking union with God and to draw people to interior recollection. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th.

In this investigation key elements of the mysticism of Elizabeth of the Trinity (1880-1906) are compared and contrasted with the mysticism of the Eastern Orthodox Church, and as a result, the true nature of the relationship between their respective mysticism is elucidated. Key doctrines which exhibit a remarkable consonance are: the trinitarian foundation of their mysticism, the indwelling of the Trinity in the human soul, asceticism, desert spirituality, sacrificial love, liturgical spirituality, scriptural spirituality, deification and the doxological nature of their mysticism. Elements of divergence exist within the following: election and predestination, apophatic versus cataphatic mysticism, the Roman Catholic dogma of the immaculate conception of the virgin Mary, and the mode of God's presence in the human soul. Elizabeth's relevance for today is also considered, namely, her ecclesial mission which she now continues in heaven: to intercede for people seeking union with God and to draw people to interior recollection. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th.

The thesis is especially focused on the Egyptian monasticism during its supremely period in the 4th a 5th century. As it appears from the title of the thesis it deals about the its beginnings of the monastic movement in Egypt, the end point represents the personality Shenoute the Great that stands at the intersection of the Orthodoxy and Coptic Christianity, meanwhile, in the Coptic Orthodox Church he is the most venerated saint, outside its his names is connected with the authoritarianism. In the thesis the attention is focused to predecessors of the monastic ideal in Egypt, both in within the Ancient Greek philosophy, in Judaism and in the Christian tradition, specifically in the Alexandrian school. In the addition, the thesis deals about early Christian monastic literature, famous monastic centres this period in Egypt and female monastic communities, about which do not exist much information. Main part of the thesis is the chapter about individual monastic leaders, concretely about saints Paul of Thebes, Anthony the Great, Amoun, Pachomius, Macarius of Egypt and Mary of Egypt and about Shenoute the Great, who is revered as saint in Coptic Orthodox Church only. In the various subheads is treatise about each of saints, there are mentioned their disciples, if they had some. I am aware of the...