Dr. Kyriaki FitzGerald presented at the Deaconesses, Ordination of Women and Orthodox Theology International Conventional and Electronic Theological Seminar and Conference in Thessaloniki, Greece

February 9, 2015

SCV’s Co-founder and Executive Director, Dr. Kyriaki FitzGerald presented at the Deaconesses, Ordination of Women and Orthodox Theology International Conventional and Electronic Theological Seminar and Conference in Thessaloniki, Greece on January 22-24, 2015.  More information about this conference can be found by clicking here. 

This conference recommended restoration of the ordained deaconesses. With the Orthodox Church for more than a generation taking a concrete position on this issue as expressed by the famous 1988 Rhodes, Greece Conference document which affirms that “the apostolic order of deaconess should be revived,” many have come to the forefront of this important issue.  Many sections of Dr. Kyriaki FitzGerald’s paper which was delivered in Thessaloniki reflects what was previously included in Saint Catherine’s Vision June Conference, Divine Compassion and Women of the Church: Theological Perspectives.  Click here to view the full video presentation by Dr. Kyriaki FitzGerald.

In addition to presenting on this important topic, Dr. Kyriaki FitzGerald honored longtime mentor Emeritus Professor Evangelos Theodorou, now 94 years old, with a Laudatum.  It was he who 60 years ago opened the discussion within the Orthodox theological circles regarding the Ordination of Women with his dissertation on deaconesses.  Click here for the full Laudatum about Professor Theodorou by Dr. Kyriaki FitzGerald.