This year, we have heard from so many incredible Orthodox women - theologians, counselors, consultants, mothers, chaplains, students, information technologists, artists, and so much more. And we wondered: How can we both know what Orthodox women are doing across North America, and have an opportunity to put our support for each other in action?
In the past two weeks, we’ve introduced you to our 5-year strategic plan through the Leadership Training and Healing arms. This week, we’d like to share the third arm: Research! We will be documenting and making visible the unseen contributions of Orthodox women, particularly those in marginalized positions. We will be launching more Storytelling Initiatives that collect and share the lived experiences of women in the Orthodox Church, making their voices heard to foster empathy and understanding. We will create Database and Knowledge-Sharing Platforms so that we can disseminate best practices, resources, and research on how women contribute to the spiritual and communal life of the Church and the world.
We have had so many conversations this year, and we can tell you one thing for certain: Each of you is carrying a gift in your hands, a unique way you bear the icon of Christ within you. Axia wants to give you the opportunity to share them with each other and build up the body of Christ in our midst.
We are so close to reaching our end-of-year goal! We thank everyone who has already donated and written encouragement–and we have been especially moved by the clergy, hierarchs, and laymen who are supporting our future. Any amount, whatever the size, will go a long way in sustaining the work we do and help us through this critical period as we expand.
Sincerely,
Patricia, Amber, Jen, Rachel, Miho, and Tenbit
Axia Women Board
PS: Don’t forget - everyone who donates any amount by December 13 will receive an Axia-designed sticker featuring one of St. Gavrilia’s best-known quotes, and all donations of $50 (along with monthly donations) will enter you in the raffle for an original St. Gavrilia icon!