The ordination of women

This article by Elisabeth Behr-Sigel examines the question of the ordination of women to the priesthood in contemporary Orthodox theology. Taking the form of a critical and reasoned study, it traces the evolution of Orthodox reflection from the first reactions of the 1960s to the inter-Orthodox consultation at Rhodes (1988). The author analyzes the main theological positions advanced against the ordination of women — arguments drawn from canonical tradition, theories on the femininity of the Holy Spirit, nuptial symbolism and the iconicity of the priest — and demonstrates their limitations. She proposes rethinking the problem in the light of Trinitarian theology, Christology and the patristic notion of the person. The contribution of the article lies in its demonstration that the Orthodox debate remains open, that the negative arguments are not theologically binding, and that serious ecumenical dialogue requires an authentic internalization of the question within Orthodoxy.