ABSTRACT
Immediately following the Agapia Consultation the expectations of the women delegates may well have been enthusiastic and hopeful for the future. For the first time in the history of the Orthodox Church a group of women, notwithstanding disparities of culture, jurisdictions and communication difficulties, had cooperated to present a number of important recommendations from the Consultation to their church. The Agapia Consultation was the first opportunity given to most Orthodox women present, especially outside France and other parts of Western Europe, to meet, listen and subsequently read the work of Elisabeth Behr-Sigel. It was an opportunity provided by the Women’s Unit and more specifically the Protestant women in the ecumenical movement, who promoted her work and encouraged her presence and contributions at the various consultations and seminars in the following decades that were concerned with the participation and ministry of women in the Orthodox Church. Since 1976 Elisabeth Behr-Sigel has been considered as the precursor of contemporary Orthodox woman scholars, the one who raised awareness for Orthodox women. As an ecumenist she promoted the need for scholarship and understanding of the Orthodox faith and raised the imperative for change and awareness of the subservient and discriminatory practices against women in the Orthodox Church, while at the same time being sensitive to those faithful who see no need to question or to change.
