Angelic Molen
Zimbabwean Eastern Orthodox deacon
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Angelic Molen is a Zimbabwean deacon from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa. She became the first woman to be ordained deacon of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Angelic Molen | |
|---|---|
| Church | Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 2024 (deacon) |
| Rank | Deacon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
Life
Molen comes from Harare, Zimbabwe.[1] She has been involved with the parish of St. Nektarios paris, near Harare, for many years, where she has worked in youth ministry, catechesis and with groups of mothers, which she created.[2][3] Molen studies geography and environmental sciences.[2][3]
On 2 May 2024, Molen was ordained the first female deacon of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa and the whole Eastern Orthodox Church by Metropolitan Seraphim (Iakovou) of the Holy Archdiocese of Zimbabwe and Angola.[1][4][3] The ceremony took place on Holy Thursday at the St. Nektarios parish.[1][4][3] On 11 May, the Patriarchate issued a press release following her ordination, stating that "the mission in Africa needs deaconesses, especially for the pastoral work and for the baptisms of adult women".[1] Metropolitan Seraphim stated that Molen will be responsible for the environmental initiatives of the country's parishes.[2]
Her ordination was seen as an attempt to revive the role of women deacons in the early Church.[1][4]