Among the Famous Women in Scripture and History
Women have excelled in every field….
In wisdom, we see Abigail as a wonderful example. She was able to give the Prophet David a lesson, so that he said to her: “Blessed are you, and blessed is your understanding, and blessed is the Lord who sent you this day to meet me” (Num 32:25).
In leadership, we have the example of Deborah….
She was a judge of the people. When Barak, the commander of the army, was called to go out to war, he asked her to go with him, and said to her: “If you go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go” (Judg. 4:8). So she went with him, and God delivered Sisera into her hand…
In courage, we see Saint Demiana…
Who was more courageous than her father Mark, the governor of El-Borollos. She poured her courage into his heart, until she led him to martyrdom after his previous denial of Christ.
In faithfulness, we see the Myrrh-bearing Women before us….
They followed Christ to the Cross and stood with Him.
And they went to the tomb early with the rest of the women, at a time when the disciples were afraid and had shut themselves in the upper room!
In giving, we see many women…
They gave their homes so that they might become churches, such as Mary, the mother of Saint Mark the Apostle, whose house became the first church in Christianity (Acts 12:12), and Prisca (Rom. 16:4, 5), and Lydia, the seller of purple.
In monasticism and asceticism, we find saints such as:
Mother Sarah, Saint Melania, Saint Hilaria, Saint Marina who disguised themselves as men, Saint Pelagia and Saint Demiana, as well as Mary of Egypt the Ascetic, and Saint Anastasia the Ascetic.
In worship, we see Anna the prophetess as an example.
She spent 84 years “did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day” (Luke 2:37).
In endurance, we see remarkable examples….
Such as Saint Rebekah, Mother Dolagy, Saint Demiana, and the rest of the female martyrs.
In holiness in general, we see the Virgin Mary, who gathered a great number of virtues, and no man reached her spiritual level, and she was worthy to become the Mother of God.
A Process of Organization and Registration Is Needed
A process of registration and organization is needed that includes all the capabilities within the sphere of women, including:
1- Secretaries and servants of Sunday School education.
2- Coptic women’s associations, their presidents, members, and workers.
3- Women working in social service, whether in churches or associations.
4- Women working in the service of orphanages and shelters.
5- Consecrated girls in all forms of consecration.
6- Girls serving in university families.
7- Girls and women supervising nurseries and homes for expatriate women.
8- Girls and women supervising exhibitions, workshops, and all women’s handicraft activities.
9- Members of women’s committees in churches.
10- Women who work with the priests in visitation and women’s meetings.
11- Women who have artistic talents, such as drawing, music, photography, and composing.
12- Graduates and students of the Clerical College.
13- Girls and women who have translation abilities and knowledge of languages.
14- Girls and women who have academic abilities in writing, authorship, and journalism.
15- Women who have experience in youth leadership and educational work.
16- Women with particular professions, such as medicine, engineering, pharmacy, accounting, teaching, etc.
17- Those who have experience in organization, administration, and secretarial work.
18- Women who have reached high positions in government departments and public offices.
19- Those who work in university teaching faculties.
20- Those who have leadership talents….
All these types of women workers within the sphere of women, if their names, addresses, and occupations can be registered, so that they may be called upon at any time and their work organized, will all be transformed into organized working capabilities. They can become acquainted with one another and cooperate in one work for the service of the Church and for the Kingdom of God.
When will this organization and registration begin?
An Association
Women serve in many fields within the ecclesiastical sphere, but there is no association that brings them together or organizes their service in any of these fields…
For example, there are thousands of women serving in Sunday School education without an association.. each one of them is within her own sphere, and perhaps the servants do not know one another.
There are also many women working in social service, caring for the poor, and in nurseries, without an association as well.
Why is there no association for women in every field, and why is there no general association? And why do women not meet together to organize themselves and their work, or even to become acquainted and exchange experiences..?
Why do women wait until men invite them to meet, and then they meet, or become upset because the invitation did not reach them?
And why do women wait until men organize their ranks? If this does not happen, do they remain without a general system, without unity, without an association, without general committees, without agreement in opinion?
Under what circumstances can we begin organizing the ranks of women in service and thought, and then leave them to complete the journey?
Women’s organization in our Church does not exist. Or, women’s work among us needs organization..
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