Towards a creative restoration of the female diaconate?

This article by Élisabeth Behr-Sigel addresses the question of restoring the female diaconate in the Orthodox Church. It takes the form of a letter addressed to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, co-signed by several renowned Orthodox theologians and public figures. The main idea is that the restoration of the female diaconate, far from constituting a break with Tradition, is part of the historical and canonical continuity of the Church, as evidenced by patristic practices and the resolutions of several pan-Orthodox consultations since 1976. The theological contribution of this text lies in the distinction between archaeological reconstruction and the "creative revitalization" of the female diaconal ministry, adapted to contemporary realities, particularly women's access to theological studies and their growing responsibilities within ecclesial communities.