THE MORAL CHARACTER OF WOMEN'S MINISTRY IN CHRISTIANITY

Christosova Anna Olegovna, Dorofeeva Tatiana Gennadievna

The article shows the peculiarities of the moral and social service of women in the New Testament era and in the history of Christianity. The article reveals the continuity between the Old Testament and the New Testament attitude of women to ministry. Service in the religious sense is present in the form of loyalty to one's people and traditional morality, sacrifice, social service. Each of the women of the New Testament has a specific ministry. Service in the Christian Church is understood in two ways: service as a Covenant to serve each other in love and faithfulness and purity; ministry in the church, at temples, which has developed into a special institution with a special hierarchy. A special place in the history of the Christian Church is occupied by the ministry of deaconesses and widows, to whom very strict moral requirements were imposed – their life should be so morally pure as not to arouse even suspicion. Discussions about the restoration of the rank of deaconesses are constantly being resumed, but the Orthodox Church sees no reason for this. In all periods of the history of the Church, there has been a social and martyrdom of Christian women. Women's ministry is characterized by complete dedication, compassion. The authors especially focus on the charitable activities of women.

Keywords:ministry, women's ministry, Christianity, deaconesses, widows, traditional morality, martyrdom, mercy