The institution of deaconesses in the tradition of the Armenian Apostolic Church
https://doi.org/10.15829/2686-973X-2022-101
Abstract
The article presents the main points on the history of the institution of deaconesses in the Armenian Apostolic Church. While the testimonies to the Armenian deaconesses date back to the 10th century, the analysis of these fragmentary passages raises various problems of textual and content-related character. The institution of deaconesses reached its peak in the 19th century, being associated with monastic circles. In the 20th century, with the disappearance of a small number of Armenian women’s convents, the institution declined, although today there are some local efforts to re-establish diaconal service of women in the parish life.
About the Author
G. S. Kazaryan
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Greece
Greece
Gevorg S. Kazaryan — Doctor of Theology, teacher of Ancient Armenian Language (Grabar) in the Oriental Christianity Research Laboratory at the Faculty of Theology.
Athens
References
1. Ayvazean 1933 — Ayvazean, A. Y. (1933). A Deaconess in Seoleoz, Hay Hosnak, 5-6, May-June, 82. (In Armenian)
2. Mayr Mashtoc 2012 — (2012). The Great Euchologion, V. 1, book 1. Ed. G. Ter-Vardanyan. Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. (In Armenian)
3. Grigor Kamaxeci 1915 — (1915). The Chronicle of Vardapet Grigor Kamaxeci or Daranaghci. Ed. vardapet Mesrop Nshanyan. Jerusalem, publ. of Apostolic See of St. James. (In Armenian)
4. Dеrenik 1954 — Derenik, Bishop (1954). A journey to Holy Etchmiadzin. Hаsk, 1, January, 9-23. (In Armenian)
5. Мashtoc 1958 — (1958). Euchologion of Ordination to Clergymen, Deacons, Priests, as well as Blessing of Hieromonks and Giving the Staff of Small and Higher Authority to Vardapets. Antelias, publ. of the Armenian Catholicosate of Great Country Cilicia. (In Armenian)
6. Мхиtar Gosh 1880 — (1880). The Armenian Book of Law of Mxitar Gosh. A Jurisprudential Study With Notes of Vardapet Vahan Bastameanc. Vagharshapat, publ. of Holy Etchmiadzin. (In Armenian)
7. Мхиtar Gosh 1954 — (1954). The Armenian Book of Law of Mxitar Gosh. Transl. from the Ancient Armenian of A. Papovyan. Yerevan, publ. of AS of ArmSSR. (In Russ.)
8. Мхиtar Gosh 1975 — (1975). Book of Law. Combined critical text, preface and commentaries of X. Torosyan. Yerevan, publ. of AS of ArmSSR. (In Armenian)
9. Nerses Lambronaci 1847 — (1847). St. Nerses Lambronatsi, Bishop of Tarsus. Mystagogy of the Ecclesiastical Rites and Interpretation of the Sacrament of the Liturgy. Venice, publ. of St. Lazarus. (In Armenian)
10. Smbat 1958 — (1958). Smbat Sparapet. The Book of Law. Text, transl. from the Ancient Armenian, preface and commentaries of A. G. Galstyan. Yerevan, publ. “Haypethrat”. (In Armenian and Russ.)
11. Smbat 1971 — (1971). The Book of Law of Smbat Sparapet (Gundstabl), 1265. Transl. from the Ancient Armenian, preface and commentaries of A. G. Sukiasyan, ed. prof. A. B. Abramyan. Yerevan, publ. of Yerevan University. (In Russ.)
12. Step’annos Orbelyan 1860 — Stephanos Orbelyan, Metropolitan of Syunik’ (1860). The History of the Province Sisakan. Vol. 1, Paris. (In Armenian)
13. Zheltov 2006 — Zheltov, M. (2006). Deaconess. Orthodox Encyclopedia. V. 14, 580-587. (In Russ.)
14. К. 1944 — К. (1944). The Monastery of St. Catherine in New Jugha. Sion, Oct.-Nov.-Dec., 192-199. (In Armenian)
15. К. 1945 — К. (1945). The Monastery of St. Catherine in New Jugha. Sion, Jan.-Febr/ 23-27. (In Armenian)
16. Кekelidze 1908 — Kekelidze Cornelius, Archpriest. (1908). The Liturgical Georgian Monuments in the Domestic Book Repositories and Their Scientific Significance. Tiflis. (In Russ.)
17. Mekertchyan 2013 — Mekertchyan, H. (2013). Colophons of Armenian Manuscripts on Nunneries and Celibate Women. Etchmiadzin, II 89-101. (In Armenian)
18. Mekertchyan 2013б — Mekertchyan, H. (2013). Service and Role of Deaconesses in the Armenian Church. Etchmiadzin, Х, 39-51. (In Armenian)
19. Тer-Hovnanyanc 1881 — Тer-Hovnanyanc, H. (1881). The History of New Jugha which is in Aspahan. V. 2, New Jugha, publ. of St. Savior’s Monastery. (In Armenian)
20. Kharatian 2007 — Kharatian, H. (2007). The History of St. Stephen Nunnery of Tbilisi and Abbess and Princess Hripsime Tahiriants (Historical Research). Etchmiadzin, V, 87-91. (In Armenian)
21. Hacuni 1923 — Hacuni, V. (1923). The Women’s Monasteries in Armenia. Bazmavep, III, March, 72-78. (In Armenian)
22. Xucean 1914 — (1914). The History of Women’s Monastery of St. Stephen in Tiflis (With Illustrations). Complited by Priest Xoren Xucean (In Armenian), Tiflis.
23. Оghlugean 1991 — Оglugean Abel, Hieromonk (1991). The Deakonesses of the Armenian Church. New York. (In Armenian)
24. Pe’yliqtcean 1933 — Pe’yliqtcean, М. (1933). The Deakonesses in the Armenian Women’s Monasteries. Hay Hosnak, 5-6, MayJune, 79-82. (In Armenian)
25. Srvandztyanc 1982 — Srvandztyanc, Garegin (1982). Works. V. 2. Yerevan, publ. of AS of ArmSSR. (In Armenian)
26. Т’аndean 1902 — Т’аndean, S. (1902). About the Armenians of Poland. Аrаrаt, III-IV, March-Apr., 282-292. (In Armenian)
27. Arat 2000 — Arat, K. M. (2000). The Deaconess in the Armenian Church. Voices of Armenian Women: Papers presented at the 1997 international conference of the Armenian International Women’s Association (eds. B. J. Merguerian and J. Renjilian-Burgy). Belmont, MA, Armenian International Women’s Association, 81-118.
28. Bartikian 2007 — Bartikian, H. (2007). Byzantine Cletorology in the Codex of the Armenian Jurist Mkhithar Goš (†1213). H. M. Bartikian, Armeno-Byzantine; Relations of the Armenian Nation with the Medieval Hellenism (Historical Contributions), ed: A. G. K. Savvidis, Publ. A. Stamoulis, Athens. (In Greek)
29. Ervine 2007 — Ervine, R. R. (2007). The Armenian Church’s Women Deacons. St. Nerses Theological Review (New Rochelle) 12, 17-56.
30. Oghlukian 1994 — Oghlukian, A. (1994). The Deaconess in the Armenian Church: A Brief Survey. New Rochelle, NY, St. Nerses Armenian Seminary, 1994.
31. Theodώroy 1954 — Theodώroy, Ε. Δ. (1954) The Ordination or Laying on of Hands of Deaconess. Athens. (In Greek)
32. Theodώroy Θεοδώρου 2012 — Theodώroy, Ε. (2012). Deakoness. Great Orthodox Christian Encyclopedia. V. 6, 145-149. (In Greek)
33. Vassiliadis 2017 — (2017). Deaconesses, the Ordination of Women and Orthodox Theology. Ed. by P. Vassiliadis, N. Papageorgiou and E. Kasselouri-Hatzivassiliadi, Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Review
For citations:
Kazaryan G.S. The institution of deaconesses in the tradition of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Russian Journal of Church History. 2022;3(2):5-23. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.15829/2686-973X-2022-101
Views:
2446
Email this article 