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“Old Church Women”: An Insight into the Less Understood and Their Contribution to the Life of the Orthodox Church

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  • Lavinia Țânculescu

    (Hyperion University of Bucharest, 030615 Bucharest, Romania
    National School of Political Studies and Public Administration, 012244 Bucharest, Romania)

Abstract

In this study, I aim to explore the role of old women in the life of the Christian Orthodox Church in the Romanian space. The analysis is based on empirical evidence (qualitative fieldwork and case studies) gathered between 2017 and 2019, and it mainly employs the framework of theory of tradition, and theories of attachment and of parent–infant relationship. I will show that old women going to church have a double role: To educate the community in keeping the religious tradition, and to initiate other members, especially the very young ones (blood-related or not), in the Romanian Orthodox faith. The paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages offered by both aforementioned roles, putting forth possible explanations for the tensions arising between generations. I conclude by underlining the crucial role that old women have in today’s struggle for survival of the Romanian Orthodox Church and in its spiritual identity.

Suggested Citation

  • Lavinia Țânculescu, 2019. "“Old Church Women”: An Insight into the Less Understood and Their Contribution to the Life of the Orthodox Church," Societies, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:9:y:2019:i:3:p:63-:d:263522
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joseph M. Stubbersfield & Lewis G. Dean & Sana Sheikh & Kevin N. Laland & Catharine P. Cross, 2019. "Social transmission favours the ‘morally good’ over the ‘merely arousing’," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Robert Joseph Taylor & Linda M. Chatters & James S. Jackson, 2007. "Religious and Spiritual Involvement Among Older African Americans, Caribbean Blacks, and Non-Hispanic Whites: Findings From the National Survey of American Life," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 62(4), pages 238-250.
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