Deaconess Questions

[Veridicus]

I have read of various references to rites of ordination for deaconesses in ancient texts such as the Didascalia and Barberini Manuscript....rites which includes the laying on of hands by bishops. What truth, if any, is there in these claims?

[Thy Geekdom Come]

I find it typical of the radical feminist movements that so often insist on female ordination that they have found a basis for their claims in two dubious works of obscure origin. The Didascalia, from a brief search, seems to be akin to a poorly compiled early code of canon law. The Barberini manuscript also seems to be of unclear beginnings.

As for the Didascalia, I see a mention of laying on of hands here: [url="http://www.piney.com/DocAposConstitu3.html"]http://www.piney.com/DocAposConstitu3.html[/url], but we have to be clear about the laying on of hands. It could be anything from a blessing to an ordination to Holy Orders. Ordination strictly means that someone has been chosen and put to a certain task, and doesn't necessarily imply Holy Orders (acolytes are "ordained" in a sense but do not receive Holy Orders). Unfortunately, theologians were not clear on the precise distinctions among the sacraments for several centuries. In fact, some Early Church Fathers included the washing of the feet. The prayer listed for the bishop doesn't seem to indicate any language particularly indicative of Holy Orders. What is more likely can be derived from what we know of deaconesses: there were women called by the title of deaconess, but this word in Greek only means "assistant." Now deacons in the early Church did a lot of social justice work and other ministry work directly with the people, sometimes involving things particular to one sex or the other, and so there were female "deaconesses" who were "assistants" but did not receive Holy Orders as male deacons did. They would assist with feminine tasks, but aren't really what we could call today "female deacons."

As for the Barberini manuscript, I can't find a copy online, but I'm guessing it's along the same lines. If you can find a link to an online copy, I'd be happy to take a look.

Anyway, the point is that on top of what I've already said, these texts don't seem to be authoritative in any sense.

God bless,

Micah