SPSA Church Giving (opens in a new tab)

Part IV: Dogma and Ritual Questions · 49

Why Women are not Permitted to Enter the Sanctuary

Faith Q&A › Many Years with People's Questions › Part IV

The question

Why aren't women permitted to enter the sanctuary? What difference is there between men and women in this respect?

The answer

Basically, the only people allowed to enter the sanctuary are those who serve at the altar, and by them we mean the men of the priesthood and the deacons and no-one else.

Those who are not priests or deacons are not permitted to go into the area around the altar and it makes no difference whether they are men or women.

In some ancient churches, we have seen that they have an aperture in the veil of the sanctuary through which the believers receive the holy mysteries while they stand well outside the sanctuary area.

The reason that the sanctuary is raised up from floor level by three steps is because it is a symbol of the three degrees of priesthood by which those who minister at the altar ascend to the sanctuary.

Since women in the Coptic Church are not part of the clergy, they are not allowed to enter the sanctuary.

Thus there is no difference between men and women. One and the same rule applies to them both about their not being allowed to enter the sanctuary.

[ 50 ]

Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III of Blessed Memory

Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III of Blessed Memory, Many Years with People's Questions, Part IV: Dogma and Ritual Questions. Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate. Translated by Mrs. Glynis Younan, London. Revised by Mrs. Wedad Abbas. First edition, August 1992. Revised COEPA 1997. ISBN 977-5319-0-2-1.