Women in the Eastern Church

This course will offer an overview of major themes that reflect an Eastern Christian understanding of women in the life of the Church, today. The focus of this course will rest primarily, but not exclusively, on the experience of the Eastern Orthodox churches. Selected theological, sp[ritual, liturgical, historical and pastoral sources will be studied in order to contribute to a multidimensional appreciation of this issue. The course will begin with an introduction to lhe Eastern Christian understanding of the call to holiness and communion (koinonia or sobornost) as the foundation for all relationships, divine and human. This foundation will serve as the essential "lens" through which to examine the experience, participation and service of women within the life of the Church.