I think this is such a great idea - thank you for this post! To answer your questions:
I do have a few older Orthodox women in my life who I dearly love (my godmother and my son's godmother, to name a few), but since we have just moved to a new state, I am no longer able to see them every week! So I am trying to stay connected with them (something I am very bad at) while also hoping to form strong bonds at our new home parish. My godmother specifically has 3 adult children who have all remained very involved in the Church, even throughout college. I have gained a lot of parenting wisdom and encouragement from her. Since I was not raised in the Orthodox faith, I am the only Orthodox person in my family and cannot really connect with my mom about my faith.
I am still pretty young, both in years and in the faith - my husband and I were chrismated on Holy Saturday 2022, so it has only been about 2 years! Having a mentee is something that is far down the road for me.
As far as Orthodox influencers go, I have been enjoying a podcast called "All These Things," which is hosted by an Orthodox mom. I appreciate her balanced, realistic approach to Orthodox motherhood - I don't feel shamed by her content, but I also don't feel like she is being too permissive, if that makes any sense. I am currently reading a Psalter devotional called "Songs of Praise" by Sylvia Leontaritis, and it has been lovely so far!
I am so excited to meet you, Abilene! Thank you for commenting!
Congratulations on your move! How is your church community in your new town, and how are you settling in? We also moved about two months ago, but it was just across town.
Also, welcome to Orthodoxy!!!!!!
I have also been enjoying Hannah's work here on Substack and you make me want to check out her podcast, too! Songs of Praise is lovely! I worked through it a couple years ago and would like to buy it and do it again :)
Thank you so much and I look forward to following your posts as well!
Thank you for this, Catie. I'm looking forward to your further posts.
My Godmother has been a good mentor, as well as a few other women in the parish. What they help me with mostly is laying aside the inner critic - not of myself, but of others. One in particular is very humble and serves almost without anyone noticing; I need that healthy self-denying example. I really don't have a "mentee" - probably because I'm still pretty young in the Church - 15 years on Pentecost :)
Outside the parish, not so much. Most Orthodox women on line are too gender-essentialist for my comfort - not as bad as "Orthobros", but not dealing with the differences (and similarities as humans) between men and women in a way that is satisfying to my soul. It's like a very important inner itch that very, very rarely ever gets scratched. I find this to be so not only with "tradwife" types but also those advocating for women's ordination. There's no sense of iconicity that informs either view. Interestingly, theologically it has almost always been the writings of men who have helped me the most - currently Fr John Behr. (And he answers email from complete strangers!) I am drawn to those who take a whole-cloth cosmic view of things and draw my thinking from the particulars to the Big Picture.
Thank you so much, Dana! I would also love to see more Orthodox people online talking with more nuance about masculinity and femininity from the Orthodox perspective. I think there is a great need for this.
Hope you are doing well! We stayed home from church this weekend because we got the virus going around, but we’re all better now! We plan to visit my parents’ cabin in the mountains this weekend so we should see you at church God willing in two weekends!
I think this is such a great idea - thank you for this post! To answer your questions:
I do have a few older Orthodox women in my life who I dearly love (my godmother and my son's godmother, to name a few), but since we have just moved to a new state, I am no longer able to see them every week! So I am trying to stay connected with them (something I am very bad at) while also hoping to form strong bonds at our new home parish. My godmother specifically has 3 adult children who have all remained very involved in the Church, even throughout college. I have gained a lot of parenting wisdom and encouragement from her. Since I was not raised in the Orthodox faith, I am the only Orthodox person in my family and cannot really connect with my mom about my faith.
I am still pretty young, both in years and in the faith - my husband and I were chrismated on Holy Saturday 2022, so it has only been about 2 years! Having a mentee is something that is far down the road for me.
As far as Orthodox influencers go, I have been enjoying a podcast called "All These Things," which is hosted by an Orthodox mom. I appreciate her balanced, realistic approach to Orthodox motherhood - I don't feel shamed by her content, but I also don't feel like she is being too permissive, if that makes any sense. I am currently reading a Psalter devotional called "Songs of Praise" by Sylvia Leontaritis, and it has been lovely so far!
Looking forward to more posts from you!
I am so excited to meet you, Abilene! Thank you for commenting!
Congratulations on your move! How is your church community in your new town, and how are you settling in? We also moved about two months ago, but it was just across town.
Also, welcome to Orthodoxy!!!!!!
I have also been enjoying Hannah's work here on Substack and you make me want to check out her podcast, too! Songs of Praise is lovely! I worked through it a couple years ago and would like to buy it and do it again :)
Thank you so much and I look forward to following your posts as well!
Thank you for this, Catie. I'm looking forward to your further posts.
My Godmother has been a good mentor, as well as a few other women in the parish. What they help me with mostly is laying aside the inner critic - not of myself, but of others. One in particular is very humble and serves almost without anyone noticing; I need that healthy self-denying example. I really don't have a "mentee" - probably because I'm still pretty young in the Church - 15 years on Pentecost :)
Outside the parish, not so much. Most Orthodox women on line are too gender-essentialist for my comfort - not as bad as "Orthobros", but not dealing with the differences (and similarities as humans) between men and women in a way that is satisfying to my soul. It's like a very important inner itch that very, very rarely ever gets scratched. I find this to be so not only with "tradwife" types but also those advocating for women's ordination. There's no sense of iconicity that informs either view. Interestingly, theologically it has almost always been the writings of men who have helped me the most - currently Fr John Behr. (And he answers email from complete strangers!) I am drawn to those who take a whole-cloth cosmic view of things and draw my thinking from the particulars to the Big Picture.
Do get all the rest you need!
Dana
Thank you so much, Dana! I would also love to see more Orthodox people online talking with more nuance about masculinity and femininity from the Orthodox perspective. I think there is a great need for this.
Hope you are doing well! We stayed home from church this weekend because we got the virus going around, but we’re all better now! We plan to visit my parents’ cabin in the mountains this weekend so we should see you at church God willing in two weekends!
A wonderful series idea, Catie - looking forward to it.
Thank you so much, Haley! I am so glad to hear that!