The exact meaning of the following canon is not clear.
‘Consecration’ could mean ‘made holy through ordination’ or
‘dedicated to continence’ which was a requirement for the
women’s diaconate.[1]
Canon 44. The woman deacon [‘η
διακονος] who has committed fornication
with a pagan [lit. ‘the Greek’] will be admitted to penance [= not
receive communion], and she will not be admitted back to the offering [= the
eucharist] until after seven years, and only provided that she has continued to
live a chaste life during that time. The pagan [‘the Greek’] who
after [accepting] faith, commits sacrilege [lit. ‘temple robbery’] a
second time, returns [like a dog] to his vomit. But as to us, we no longer
permit the body of a woman deacon [της
διακονου], since it has been
consecrated
[καθιερωμενον =
‘made holy’?], to remain in carnal usage. [2]
References
1. As referring to ordination: A.Kalsbach, Die altkirche
Einrichtung der Diakonissen bis zu ihrem Erlöschen, Freiberg 1926,
p.109, note I; as referring to consecration: Gryson, ministry,
pp51.2.
2. Letter to Amphilochius on the Canons, Lett. 199, can. 44;
R.I. Deffarari (ed.), Saint Basil. The Letters, vol.3, London 1930, p.
130.
