Sophia Scriptura

Deaconesses

The office of deaconess: its duties and ordination. Part of Church office.

Passages that substantially address this topic, in date order.

  • Didascalia 2.26 (Latin)Anonymous · first half of the third century · Old Testament sacrifices and tithes correspond to the church's prayers and offerings, which are brought through the bishop; bishop, deacon, deaconess, presbyters, and widows are honored as types of God, Christ, the Spirit, the apostles, and the altar.
  • Didascalia 3.12Anonymous · first half of the third century
  • Commentary on 1 Timothy 3:11Ambrosiaster · ca. 366–384 · The women Paul addresses must be blameless like the clergy; the Montanists wrongly use the verse to ordain deaconesses, against Paul’s command of women’s silence.
  • Letter 51.2Jerome · ca. 370–419 · Epiphanius defends his ordination by the practice of the Cypriot bishops and denies having promised John not to ordain anyone.
  • Apostolic Constitutions 2.26.6Anonymous · ca. 380 · The deaconess, a figure of the Spirit, acts under the deacon, and women approach the clergy through her.
  • Apostolic Constitutions 3.16.1Anonymous · ca. 380 · The bishop appoints deacons, and a deaconess for ministry to women where a man cannot go.
  • Apostolic Constitutions 6.17.4Anonymous · ca. 380 · A deaconess must be a virgin or a once-married widow.
  • Apostolic Constitutions 8.19.1Anonymous · ca. 380 · Bartholomew gives the rite for a deaconess.
  • Apostolic Constitutions 8.19.2Anonymous · ca. 380 · The bishop lays hands on the deaconess.
  • Apostolic Constitutions 8.20.1Anonymous · ca. 380 · God, who filled prophetesses with the Spirit and had women keep the sanctuary gates, is invoked for the deaconess.
  • Apostolic Constitutions 8.20.2Anonymous · ca. 380 · God is asked to give the deaconess the Holy Spirit for her work.
  • Apostolic Constitutions 8.28.6Anonymous · ca. 380 · The deaconess keeps the doors and assists at the baptism of women.
  • Pilgrimage (Itinerarium) 23.3Egeria · ca. 381-395 · She meets her friend the deaconess Marthana.
  • Canon 26Anonymous · 441 · Deaconesses are no longer to be ordained; existing ones receive the blessing with the laity.
  • Canon 15Anonymous · 451 · Women deacons must be at least forty and carefully examined, and one who later marries is anathematized with her husband.