Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
November 20, 2004

CONFERENCE ON THE ROLE OF THE CHURCHES IN RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL AND INTER-NATIONAL COOPERATION ON THE ROAD TO EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
PRESENTATION ON THE ROLE AND POSITION OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH

CONFERENCE ON THE ROLE OF THE CHURCHES IN RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL AND INTER-NATIONAL COOPERATION ON THE ROAD TO EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

On Monday, November 22, 2004, the work of the Conference on the Role of the Churches in Religious, Cultural and International Cooperation on the Road to European Integration will begin festively with the participation of folklore societies in the Orthodox church of the Ascension of Our Lord and the Franciscan monastery in Subotica at 4:30 p.m. and will continue in the Town Hall at 5:15 p.m. The Conference will be opened by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle and Roman Catholic Archbishop Stanislav Hocevar of Belgrade, Subotica mayor Geza Kucera, several Protestant bishops, and the highest state officials and representatives of the European Union and the United Nations in our country. Bishop Irinej of Backa and Roman Catholic Bishop Ivan Penzes of Subotica will give introductory remarks defining the theme of the conference. The opening ceremony will include the premiere showing of the film “Mir svoj vam dajem” (My Peace I Give to You) produced by the Diocese of Backa and the Bishopric of Subotica, the organizers of the Conference. Ambassadors and high representatives of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the state and local government, and other eminent figures, will also attend the opening ceremony.

The conference will continue its work in Becej with a plenary session and working sessions involving the participation of approximately one hundred professors, clergy, diplomats, artists and experts in religious, cultural and inter-national cooperation issues, and European integration.

The conference can be followed on the Internet at www.spc.yu/mir

PRESENTATION ON THE ROLE AND POSITION
OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH

The role and position of women in the Church was the topic of the presentation given on Thursday, November 18, in the small auditorium of Kolarceva Zaduzbina in Belgrade. Vladeta Jerotic, a professor at the Orthodox Theological Faculty of Belgrade University gave the introductory remarks and, citing the Holy Scripture, emphasized that woman is the helper and friend of man, and that this role is primary in the life of every woman. Citing examples from the history of various cultures and peoples, Professor Jerotic emphasized that woman is frequently experienced as a second-class being from which man derives benefit – woman is the one who works, bears children and serves for physical pleasure, and if she does not meet expectations she is humiliated and replaced with another. In psychology there are claims even today that antagonism exists between the sexes and that men envy women the gift of bearing and nursing children. Professor Jerotic said that the relationship between men and women is a great secret that cannot be deciphered and that it is best to accept the fact the differentiation of the sexes determined by God.

Bishop Porfirije of Jegar said that the role of women in the Church is one of the most important themes of modern man and that the position of women today, with rare exceptions, remains subordinated and difficult. The cause of this problem lies with the fist Christians who in their lives did not follow the authentic Gospel, seeing women as slaves and very rarely as helpers. In the patriarchal family women are not equals, which is not good because as a result what the Church and the Holy Scripture offers cannot be realized. Citing the Old Testament, Bishop Porfirije emphasized that the Slavic translation states that God created “male and female persons” (coveka i covecicu) – man from the dust of the earth, and woman from the rib of man, which confirms that they are of one and the same nature and the creation of woman from man’s rib signifies that she stands next to him and by him as his friend and equal. Man and woman should complement their various functions and this gives true meaning to their lives. Bishop Porfirije emphasizes that Christ in the New Testament addressed both men and women with equal love, and that the equality of the sexes is best addressed by the Apostle Paul - there is neither male nor female – thus ending the antagonism between the sexes and introducing equality. Christ Himself says that He will judge us by our deeds and our name, not by our gender. Unfortunately, we Christians today to not adhere to these words but we must make the effort, we must pray and hope that our prayers will be fulfilled because that is the path of joy and fullness, emphasized Bishop Porfirije at the end of his lecture.

Mother Fotina also spoke of the woman as “female person”, the companion of man whose charisma lies in service and self-sacrificing love. Eve introduced sin into the world, the Theotokos bore Christ who triumphed over sin and thus became the model for all women. Mother Fotina cited examples of female saints and brave women throughout history, saying that women of today should learn virtues from their example. She advised that the true path is acquiring true faith, bearing, raising and educating children in the true virtues of Christ and His Church. Women should be and remain modest and not succumb to the temptations of the modern world, for by losing her modesty a woman loses a blessing, said Mother Fotina.

Psychologist and psychoanalyst Aleksandra Jankovic spoke about women who seek God in the modern world. Today women are educated, self-aware, emancipated and materially secure; consequently, a frequently asked question is whether they even need men if they are in a position to raise children by themselves. However, modern psychology believes that a child needs two parents, which means that man and women complement each other both in parenthood and in the sanctity of the family. Obedience is basic to the Church and women should accept the God-given model of the Theotokos given to her, who is a model of obedience and love, emphasized psychologist Aleksandra Jankovic. All the speakers agreed that feminism is an artificial and unnatural creation that humiliates, not elevates, woman and subjects her to injustice just like her subservient role in the patriarchal family.

[Serbian Translation Services]