Traditionally, the Romanian Orthodox Church honours Christian women on the “Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women.” During a patronal feast of the Romanian community in Türkiye, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew suggested that July could also be designated as a “Month of Holy Women.”
“We could call July the Month of Holy Women, whose lives show us how much Christian women can achieve when their hearts are filled with warmth, living faith in Christ, and love for their neighbour,” said Patriarch Bartholomew.
July draws attention with its extensive list of holy women mentioned in the Orthodox calendar. Among them are Saint Mary Magdalene, Saint Veronica, Great Martyr Marina, Saint Anne, the mother of the Theotokos*, and Saint Paraskevi of Rome, the protectress of the Romanian community in Turkey.
This abundance of female saints provides a unique opportunity for all women to reflect on the lives of those who transcended human frailty and acquired Christian virtues. Holy women are examples of faith, courage, and devotion, serving as spiritual models for today’s women.
A month dedicated to holy women can be seen as an opportunity for the entire ecclesiastical community to highlight appreciation for women.
“The vocation of Christian women today is to witness the faith in Christ crucified and risen, to give and protect life, to promote merciful love towards neighbours, and to bring peace and communion through their presence and work in the Church and society,” emphasized His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania.
(originally published on WCC website July 2024)
*As a title for the Virgin Mary, Theotokos was recognized by the Orthodox Church at Third Ecumenical Council held at Ephesus in 431. It had already been in use for some time in the devotional and liturgical life of the Church.