Why Women Do Not Enter the Sanctuary
Why Women Do Not Enter the Sanctuary
Question
Why is a woman not permitted to enter the sanctuary? What is the difference between her and a man in this matter?
Answer
The principle is that entry into the sanctuary is for the servants of the altar only, by whom we mean the clergy together with the deacons, and no one else.
And those who are neither priests nor deacons do not enter the altar area, whether men or women, without distinction.
Therefore, we see that in the ancient churches there was an opening in the veil of the sanctuary through which the believers received the Holy Mysteries while standing outside the sanctuary…
For this reason, the sanctuary is elevated three steps above the floor of the church, symbolizing the three ranks of the priesthood through which the servants of the altar reach this sanctuary.
And since the woman is not of the priesthood, therefore she does not enter the sanctuary.
So there is no distinction between man and woman, but rather there is one rule that applies to both concerning entry into the sanctuary.
Perhaps some may ask! There are men who are not deacons, and yet they enter the sanctuary and partake of Communion… what is the reason?
In reality, permission was granted only to the Orthodox king anointed with the holy chrism, on the basis that he is the Lord’s anointed.
As for the others who enter, perhaps they have another reason, namely:
Many men were ordained into one of the ranks of the diaconate service, even if they did not wear the garments of the deacons, and they entered the sanctuary in this capacity, wearing their ordinary clothes. Then men became accustomed to entering in imitation of these, and this is an error that the Church is trying to correct by preventing everyone from entering the sanctuary, even those ordained as Anagnostis, if they are not serving on the same day of their Communion…
There is also another error that we notice, required by the necessity of certain professional circumstances, such as some builders, engineers, and artists entering the sanctuary, though not during the time of service. Likewise, some photographers or radio and television personnel also enter the sanctuary…
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