Canon XI. “Presbytides, as they are called, or female
presidents, are not to be appointed in the Church.”
Ancient Epitome of Canon XI. ‘Widows called presidents
shall not be appointed in churches.’ The presidents,
‘presbytides’, are probably widows put in charge of other women. So
Balsamon: “In old days certain venerable women (presbytides) sat in Catholic churches, and took care that
the other women kept good and modest order. But from their habit of using
improperly that which was proper, either through their arrogancy or through
their base self-seeking, scandal arose. Therefore the Fathers prohibited the
existence in the Church thereafter of any more such women as are called
presbytides or presidents.”
Canon XLIV “Women are not permitted to enter the
sanctuary”.
