Dear Editors of the St. Nina Quarterly,

I feel as if a new day has dawned. Your publication is such a new and exciting and much needed concept: bringing Orthodox women together so that we could all pursue the “discovery and cultivation of [our] gifts for the nurturance of the entire Body of Christ.” Having the opportunity to read pieces written by and for faithful, committed, thinking, searching Orthodox women gives me new hope and much needed strength and support in my own life as an Orthodox woman.

Lent—forty days, come and gone—used to seem like forever—can’t believe its almost here—visions of a nice juicy steak—how decadent, trivial—ok, a big week at work ahead—teaching—class—rehearsals—Holy Week services—big breath—don’t panic—it will all get done—don’t think too far ahead—take one day at a time—

Frank Schaeffer, a former evangelical Protestant who recently became Orthodox, in the December 1993 issue of the Orthodox Observer accused those who do not believe Christ's gender to have relevance of being "iconoclastic," that is, of refusing to recognize the reality of His male sexuality. He said that

[b]y ordaining women, "liberal" Protestants are in effect saying, "Christ did not come in the flesh, his maleness does not matter, he is a mere symbol of something larger."

But to the Orthodox Christian, Christ's maleness does matter, just as Mary's femaleness matters.¹

The Myrrh-Bearers (or Ointment Bearers) were among the women disciples of Jesus, who were with him in Galilee and followed him to Jerusalem. They, unnamed, were present at his passion. With Joseph of Arimathea, they had the courage to bury the body of Christ. They prepared the balm and spices for the traditional anointing of the body. They rested on the Sabbath following the crucifixion and rose early the next day to tend to his body in death as they had ministered to him in life. Faithful, but not yet wholly believing, they approached the tomb. Mary Magdalene heard the joyful news. St. Mark says that the women were afraid and told no one what they had experienced. Saints Matthew and Luke, however, relate that the women went immediately to the eleven to share the wonder and the love.