concerned with the ordination of women in the Armenian Church. c.
1988 Fr. Vazken Movsesian
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On the Ordination of a Woman Acolyte
A few years ago, during a discussion session at an ACYO
Religious Retreat a question was asked concerning the role of women
in the Armenian Church. Little did I suspect at the time that a
wonderful growing experience would unfold for our congregation at
the St. Andrew Armenian Church in Cupertino, California.
In response to the question, scriptural and canonical
refrences to women in the Church were sited and the Armenian
deaconesses in Turkey, Iran and Georgia were remembered. It was at
that moment that a young college student named Seta Simonian asked
if she could join the deacon's training program at our parish. I
welcomed her.
She trained for eight months with other candidates, all men.
After completing the regular course of study, in December 1984 His
Eminence Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian, Primate of the Armenian
Church Western Diocese found her to be worthy and ordained her as
an acolyte of the Church. To our knowledge, Seta became the first
woman in America to receive the 4 minor orders of the Armenian
Church. Following her ordination Seta executed her duties along
with male counterparts at the Holy Altar.
As other young Armenian women, Seta had sang in the choir and
served in the ACYO. However, she wanted to express her love for
Christ and His Holy Church in a different manner.
From the very beginning of her training Seta understood that
it would be different for her. As her ordination neared we were
apprehensive. Would the people accept a woman at the altar? If
so, how? Especially considerring the complexion of our particular
parish (mostly foreign-born Armenians, who are somtimes thought to
be more "traditional"), what would their reaction be?
When we speak of women in the Armenian Church or any idea
which is uncommon for our Church we make two fundamental mistakes
in our thinking. First, even though we know better, we limit our
Church traditions to our immediate circumstances. That is to say,
if something or some expression does not exist in our church today,
such as women serving as deacons, then that it is not traditional.
The converse then becomes true: the admission of these ideas into
our church is going against tradition. Upon studying scripture,
Holy Traditions and Church history, it becomes evident that women
have always been active participants in the worship life of the
Church. Therefore, a church with women serving as acolytes and/or
deaconesses can only be considered "traditional". The second
mistake we make is that we do not give enough credit to our
Armenian faithful. Our true communicants are open to instruction.
So it was at our parish after the traditions were explained through
articles and sermons.
Seta was accepted from the first day of her ordination. The
people applauded and encouraged this young servant of God in her
Christian journey. Some even recalled deaconesses they had seen
oversees. Some relayed lost dreams they had of serving the Church.
In every case the comments were supportive. Along with the
compliments, Seta would also receive constructive crticism and
suggestions as did her male counterparts. It told us that the
congregation accepted her in her new role.
Seta's ordination was a special event not only in her life but
in the life of our entire community as well. We thank our Primate
Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian for giving our community this
opportunity to grow. It is a step toward one day realizing a woman
deacon. It is the Church who benefits, which means we all do.
Fr. Vazken Movsesian
Cupertino, California
c. 1988 Fr. Vazken Movsesian
