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Who we are

ARMENIA AND SYRIA

Sources: Monumenta Asiae Minoris Antiqua, vol. I - VIII, Manchester 1928 - 1962; Ute E. Eisen, Amsträgerinnen im fruhen Christentum, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 1996; Kyriaki Karidoyanes Fitzgerald, Women Deacons in the Orthodox Church, Holy Cross Orthodox Press, Brookline 1998; John Wijngaards, Women Deacons in the Early Church. Historical Texts and Contemporary Debates, Crossroad, New York 2002; Kevin Madigan and Caroloyn Osiek, Ordained Women in the Early Church: A Documentary History, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 2005.

PERSIA

Seven women deacon martyrs

City or Province	Persia
Date	Early 5th century AD
Details from biographies	seven women deacon martyrs
Feast Day in liturgical calendar	May 16

ARMENIA

Sabinia

Literary source

1. John Chrysostom, Letter 13 (& Letter 6 to Olympias)

2. Palladius, Lausiac History 41

Date

404-407AD

Place of Deacon

Armenia

Sample text/quote
from source

1. “My lady Sabinia, the deacon (diakonos) arrived the same day that we did, worn out and overwhelmed with fatigue, for she is of an age when it is difficult even to move.”

2. “I encountered at Antioch a distinguished woman who conversed with God, the deaconess (diakonissa) Sabinia, aunt of John bishop of Constantinople.”

SYRIA

St Platonida

City or Province	Syria
Date	4th Century AD
Details from biographies	St. Platonida St. Platonida was at first a deacon, but afterwards withdrew into the Nisibis Desert, where she organized a women’s monastery. The Rule of her monastery was known for its strictness. The sisters partook of food only once a day. When they were not praying, they spent their time in monastic labors and various obediences. St. Platonida was for all the sisters a living example of strict monastic asceticism, meekness, and love for neighbor. Having reached a great old age, St. Platonida died peacefully in the year 308.
Feast Day in liturgical calendar	April 6

Elladis

Source	sarcophagus inscription from Umm Qeis, Jordan
Greek text
Translation	"deaconess Elladis."

Publia

Literary source	Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Eccliastical History 3.14
Date	428 AD
Place of Deacon	Antioch in Syria
Sample text/quote from source	Title of the Chapter: “About Artemois the official, and Publia the deacon, and her godly boldness (parresia).”

Anastasia

Literary source	Severus of Antioch, Letters 69, 70, 71, 72
Date	518 AD
Place of Deacon	Antioch in Syria (?)
Sample text/quote from source	All four letters are addressed: “To Anastasia the deaconess.”

Jannia

Literary source	Severus of Antioch, Letter 7.2
Date	488-512 AD
Place of Deacon	Antioch in Syria (?)
Sample text/quote from source	“To Jannia, deaconess and monastic superior.”

Valeriana

Literary source	Severus of Antioch, Letter 7.1
Date	488-512 AD
Place of Deacon	Antioch in Syria (?)
Sample text/quote from source	“To Valeriana, deaconess and monastic superior.”

Eugenia

Literary source	Severus of Antioch, Letter 110
Date	518 AD
Place of Deacon	Antioch in Syria (?)
Sample text/quote from source	“To Eugenia, deaconess and monastic superior.”

Casiana

Literary source	Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Sirm. Letter 17
Date	423-451 AD
Place of Deacon	Unknown
Sample text/quote from source	“To Casiana, deacon.”

St Poplia

City or Province	Antioch
Date	4th century AD
Details from biographies	St. Poplia ‘Confessor of the Faith’ Poplia lived during the fourth century in Antioch. She was married and gave birth to a son who became a priest. After her husband died, she herself was ordained into the diaconate. She was a gifted leader of women and the local church. During persecution she was tortured for her Christian belief.
Feast Day in liturgical calendar	October 9

Romana

Literary source	The Life of St. Pelagia, the Harlot
Date	5^th century AD
Place of Deacon	Antioch in Syria
Sample text/quote from source	“And her sponsor (pater spiritualis) was the holy lady Romana, first of the deaconesses, who took her and went to the place for catechumens.”

Zaortha

Source	inscription from Zebed, north-central Syria.
Date	Probably 4th century
Greek translitter-ation of Syriac	ΖΑΩΡΤΑ ΖΑΜΑΣΤΑ
Translation	"Zaortha deaconess."

Zoe

Source	two mosaic inscriptions from a church, from Rihab, Transjordan
Date	594 AD
Greek text
Translation	"For the salvation of Zoe, deac[on] . ." and " . . . Of Zoe deac[on] . . ."

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