Groundbreaking Oriental Orthodox Women’s Conference a Tremendous Success


Paramus, NJ – On Saturday, October 6, 2024 a historic and groundbreaking conference was convened at the Mor Aphrem Center of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern United States. The Empowering Orthodox Women Conference was organized by St. Gabriel’s Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church of Orange, New Jersey, under the direction of His Eminence Archbishop Petros of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Archdiocese of New York & Its Surrounding Regions and hosted by His Eminence Mor Dionysios John Kawak of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern United States. Both Archbishop Petros and Archbishop Dionysios are active members of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCh). His Grace Bishop David, Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of New York & New England and President of SCOOCh, also extended his blessings and his enthusiastic support to the event.
 
The Empowering Orthodox Women Conference was convened with three goals in mind: Firstly, to raise funds for St. Gabriel’s Church in order to help the parish pay down its mortgage, secondly, to provide an opportunity for Oriental Orthodox Christians to gather together and form bonds of lasting sisterhood and friendship, and finally, to provide a forum in which women who serve in each of the Oriental Orthodox jurisdictions might come together and learn from one another’s experiences in service and thus serve Our Lord Jesus Christ, His people, and the One, Holy, Universal, and Apostolic Church which He established more effectively.
 
In service of this last goal, a slate of panelists representing each of the Oriental Orthodox Sister Churches was organized to share their experiences in service with one another and with the assembled faithful. Those speakers were:
-Tasoni Crystal Siniari (Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church Archdiocese of North America)
-Tasoni Marilyn Jacobs (St. Gabriel’s Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church)
-Dr Christine Agaibi (St. Anthony Coptic Orthodox Church)
-Dr Christine Altinis-Kiraz (Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of North America)
-Mrs Mano Jacob (Knanaya Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church)
-Dr Frehiwot Wuhib (Mahibere Kidusan & Bisrate Gebriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church)
-Mrs. Pam Mamourian (St. Sahag & St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church – who unfortunately was unable to attend)
-Dr. Quidest Sheriff of St. Gabriel’s Church served as the moderator of the panel.
 
Tasoni Crystal also delivered a powerful keynote speech which provided an overview of the ways in which women offered service to the Church from the time of Our Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry through the Apostolic and Patristic Eras. The presentation also covered ways in which women serve in each of the Oriental Orthodox jurisdictions in the present day.
 
In addition to the talks, participants were also treated to a homily by Deacon Wolde Youhanes of St. Gabriel’s Church, performances of traditional Ethiopian ecclesiastical music, a variety of activities designed to provide opportunities for fellowship, and a truly delicious buffet meal featuring Ethiopian and West Indian cuisine. SCOOCh Secretary Archdeacon Gebre Kristos Nicholas Siniari served as the Master of Ceremonies for the day’s events, which were covered and streamed online by CYC (Christian Youth Channel) and the Mahibere Kidusan.
 
At the end of the day, the Empowering Orthodox Women Conference achieved its goals, most especially as it pertained to providing a space for Orthodox women to come together, share their experiences, and encourage one another to share their gifts and talents with one another and with our Orthodox community at large for the benefit of the Church and in keeping with the commandments of Our Lord.
 
The Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches applauds and extends its blessings to the V. Rev. Melake Ganet Kesis Tesfa Eyesus, Rev. Lique Tiguhan Be’de Mariam, the faithful of Debre Ganet Kidus Gabriel, and the organizers of this blessed event and encourages other parishes to reach out to SCOOCh for guidance and assistance in creating similar opportunities for bringing our people together that they might live and practice the words of the Holy Scriptures: “Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians 2:2).