Ashley Purpura is our Woman of the Week, nominated for her work as a theologian and Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Purdue University. In the words of her nominator, she "is (imho) one of the most exciting 'younger' Orthodox scholars and theologians. In addition to her work in more 'mainstream' Byzantine theology (her first book was on notions of hierarchy in Byzantine tradition, including Ps-Dionysius the Areopagite, Maximus the Confessor, Niketas Stethatos, and Nicholas Cabasilas), she does excellent work on women, gender, and sexuality. She serves on the Advisory Board for 'New Directions in Orthodox Christian Thought and Practice', convened by the Oslo Coalition for Freedom of Religion or Belief (Norway); and co-chairs the 'Eastern Orthodox Studies' unit for the American Academy of Religion." You see her her speaking at a conference, and teaching a class at Purdue. We asked her to tell you how she became a theologian:
"Growing up, I was an avid reader, and during the summers as a teen I would read from my mother’s shelves that were thankfully packed with religious books. I was struck with the lives and deaths of saints that I read about, and often befuddled by trying to read theology well beyond my level. I think my mother’s books and the daily Christian witness of her life sparked my interest in theology and the study of Orthodoxy. I recall visiting two monasteries a few hours from where we lived, and finding great joy in the stillness and hospitality that they offered. I began chanting and singing in the choir at the different parishes we attended (we moved several times), and tried to attend Vespers and Orthros regularly. The liturgical rhythm of services and the words of the hymns to this day inform the type of work I do.
"I went to college at Florida State and started a major in international affairs. At one point I realized that my favorite classes and nearly all my electives were religious studies courses, so I decided to double major in religion. In my second year, at coffee hour I met my future husband and it was only a few months later that he proposed after the midnight Paschal service in the middle of the church. As graduation approached, I was sure I was not done learning about religion and decided to go to Harvard Divinity for a masters. It was a wonderful experience of learning in the classroom, attending various churches in the Boston area, and sometimes sitting in on a class or the chapel at Holy Cross. The focus of my degree was on the history of Christianity, which I continued with a Ph.D. at Fordham in NYC. By the time I was at Fordham, my husband was finishing his studies in another state and we were constantly travelling back and forth to visit with each other. Towards the end of my degree I had our first son, and I completed my dissertation at a distance. Almost two years later I had my second son, and my husband and I got jobs as professors at Purdue. Even though I was trained in the study of Christianity and I focused on patristics, theology, and Orthodox tradition in my research, I ended up teaching courses in on other topics in religion because that was what was needed in my department. However, I have found it incredibly fulfilling to teach students about a variety of religious traditions and expressions, and I have learned a lot along the way. I’ve been a professor of religious studies for about 8 years, and now also have twin daughters."
Axia!
Our Woman of the Week is Ashley Purpura, nominated for her work as a theologian and professor of religion. You see her here with her first book (her third will be released on July 5), and an icon exhibit for which she put together from a permanent collection of Orthodox icons in Purdue’s galleries and featured panels with explanations and related texts from saints lives and hymns. We asked her to tell you about her research:
"My research is mostly about drawing on Orthodox theology and tradition to address contemporary issues. Recently, I’ve been working on how the Church can better address questions of gender equality—particularly for women. On the one hand, Orthodox tradition commemorates prominently the Theotokos, there are numerous bold and unconventional female saints, women have regular church attendance, and I imagine most of us can think of examples where women have had more influence in the life of the church than even the priest. As much as the icons, saints, teachings, and theology of Orthodoxy affirm the spiritual equality of women, there sometimes seems to be some sort of lingering inequality in how women experience the church.
"Issues of history, culture, and socialization influence how we understand what it means to be a good Orthodox woman, but certain problematic values appear embedded into the liturgical context. Sometimes women’s bodies are referred to as having impurity through association with blood, stories about saints sometimes talk about women’s sexuality in problematic ways, and some hymns reinforce the notion that women are “weak” or that a “womanly nature” is to be put off in the pursuit of holiness. Not to mention, the fact that the explanations women receive for why they cannot be ordained to the diaconate or the priesthood, and what other ministries and spaces are available to them vary widely by parish. Much of the sacred tradition reflects historical periods where privileging male voices, leadership, and contributions was normal—but we can acknowledge this historical influence and still affirm that we should seek out more ways to hear from women in the tradition moving forward. Orthodox theology requires us to affirm the equality not just of women’s spiritual potential, but also the fullness of their humanity. If Jesus receives his humanity from Mary, then it must be the case that Mary’s humanity is complete and not in some way diminished because of her sex or gender."
As always we asked our Woman of the Week, Ashley Purpura, about her morning routine. You see her here leading a Lenten retreat at Holy Trinity in Indianapolis:
"My morning routine is filled with the energy of the new day (not always mine!) and a big cup of tea. It may seem silly, but ever since I had my first child, I made a routine of saying my morning prayers in the shower to guarantee that the day didn’t start without prayer. Next, I head downstairs into a flurry of getting things and everyone ready to go in just under an hour. Our familiar routine still feels rushed in a way that it always seems a daily miracle that everyone finally makes it out the door with everything they need.
"But these mornings are filled helping my family start their days, and making sure they know God is with them and that they are loved. As I get ready to head to work, I give everyone a hug and make the sign the cross over them saying my usual send-off: “I love you, God bless you, make it a great day!” On the drive to work, I sing loudly along with an “Awesome Women Chant” playlist and eat my breakfast on-the-go. As I walk from the parking garage to my office, I try to say the Jesus prayer with each step. And then, I am ready to work."
Thank you, Ashley!
