The Deaconesses of the Armenian Church

by Abel Manoukian

Book cover: The Deaconesses of the Armenian Church

Extent: 192 pages

Publisher: Aschendorff Verlag

Subjects: Religious Studies

Series: Studia Oecumenica Friburgensia

Series volume number: 113

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(August 2024)

ISBN: 9783402122761

Price: $50.00

In stock

In the early Church, female disciples, prophetesses, virgins, widows, and deaconesses played an active role in the life of early Christian communities and contributed significantly to the spread of Christianity. Unlike other apostolic Churches, the Armenian Apostolic Church has maintained the unique tradition from the early Christian Church and preserved it to this day. Although women are not permitted to be ordained as priests, they may serve at the holy altar and proclaim the Word of God in the Church as ordained deaconesses alongside deacons, priests, and bishops. This volume explores the role of the deaconess within the tradition of the Armenian Apostolic Church, tracing its historical development through various stages.


In the early Church, female disciples, prophetesses, virgins, widows, and deaconesses played an active role in the life of early Christian communities and contributed significantly to the spread of Christianity. Unlike other apostolic Churches, the Armenian Apostolic Church has maintained the unique tradition from the early Christian Church and preserved it to this day. Although women are not permitted to be ordained as priests, they may serve at the holy altar and proclaim the Word of God in the Church as ordained deaconesses alongside deacons, priests, and bishops. This volume explores the role of the deaconess within the tradition of the Armenian Apostolic Church, tracing its historical development through various stages.

  • By (author) Abel Manoukian