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Are man and woman equal in Orthodox Faith?
Answer to Question 421
St. Paul speaks very clearly on the equality of the sexes, but defines that in marriage each have their role to play and these roles should not be mixed. The man is the head of the household but that does not mean the woman is subordinate to him. A wise woman will encourage her husband to be the head of the household and will not try and take on the position of authority herself.
Same member This is contradictory to what Russian Orthodox church believes and neo-traditionists. They believe that man should be put on a pedestal and woman should be subservient to man because Eve was created after Adam.
Reply We have to admit that man has always imposed his strength on the weaker sex and even today many men treat their wives like slaves. If we read carefully what St. Paul says on marriage we will see that he is very much against subordination. Also St. John Chrysostom says: “A servant, indeed, one will be able perhaps to bind down by fear; nay, not even for him, for he will soon leave you. But the partner of one's life, the mother of one's children, the foundation of one's every joy, one ought never to chain down by fear and threats, but with love and good temper. For what sort of union is that, where the wife trembles at her husband? And what sort of pleasure will the husband have if he dwells with his wife as with a slave? Yea, even though you suffer everything on her account, do not scold her; for neither did Christ do this to the Church.”
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