[UN News] One of the main messages conveyed by women leaders, activists, young people and others gathered for a discussion on Wednesday in Cairo at the World Urban Forum was that: "a city safe for women is a city safe for all."

[VOA] Gaborone, Botswana -- Three out of 28 female candidates were elected to Botswana's National Assembly in last week's general election, as women's rights activists called on the new administration to increase female representation in the nation's politics.

[Daily Trust] Stakeholders have decried the low representation of women in economic leadership, lamenting that despite the high percentage of women in the country, they are underrepresented in economic leadership.

[The Conversation Africa] The current capitalist system has created two related crises: ecological decline and social injustice. It has led to environmental damage like climate change, which affects some people more than others.

[allAfrica] This election didn't make Kamala Harris America's first female president, but what her campaign achieved reaches far beyond the vote count. As the former president of Liberia and the first woman elected to lead an African nation, I know what it means to take on a challenge where the odds feel stacked against you.

[This Day] Abuja -- The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) have agreed to forge a closer partnership to enhance women's participation in the oil, gas, and mining industries.

[The Herald] This year's Heart Women's Soccer League winners could find themselves smiling all the way to the bank next year.

[This Day] Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko has congratulated Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Women Basketball Club for doing the nation proud at the ongoing Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA) Africa Women Basketball League zone 3 qualifiers in Monrovia, Liberia.

[Liberian Investigator] The FIBA Africa Zone 3 Women's Basketball League has concluded in Liberia, with Friends of Basketball Association (FBA) crowned as champions.

(Telecompaper) The Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF) in India has launched its first round of support...

Women are continuing to reshape the dynamics of property ownership. Tax reduction and favourable interest rates are among the perks they receive for their self-reliance

Nestled within the buffer zone of the Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve and the Karwar Territorial Forest Division, the Kunbi community hopes to find a new market for their climate-resilient tubers as indigenous ingredients in city chefs’ menus

The hampers will have handmade, homemade products made by the women entrepreneurs in Thiruvananthapuram

The timing on this one is pretty good. At a time when a barrage of overly macho yet lame middle-aged white manosphere “leaders” are bouncing off of the trampoline towards us, Hyundai is reminding us what an advanced democracy not overtaken by cancer is like. Well, maybe I’m going a ... [continued]

The post Hyundai Votes for Women, Diversity, and Inclusion appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Once every four years the world’s best women’s soccer players battle it out to honor their countries and chase the title of world champion. 

From June 2022 to June 2023, there was a 22% increase in the number of females aged 18-24 who visited a sports website or app, more than any other age and gender breakout¹. This is happening as women's sports are becoming more mainstream, with new leagues, more investment, and increased screen time. It's also a major trend to watch during the 2023 Women's FIFA World Cup.

Frederica speaks to ARFORA, an umbrella organization for various women's groups in the Romanian Diocese. In her lecture, Frederica celebrates the differences between men and women.

Frederica argues that women's ordination is not the main reason converts come to Orthodoxy.

Frederica argues that both men and women have a responsibility when it comes to impure thoughts in the male mind.

Fr. Thomas examines who the myrrh-bearing women were and clears up some misconceptions about Mary Magdalene in the process.

After his last episode, Fr. Thomas got a thoughtful letter from a listener challenging his remarks on female readers of the Apostolic writings in the Divine Liturgy. In this episode he reads the letter and answers the concerns raised.

Fr. John Whiteford reflects on the role of the Myrrhbearing women, and the true meaning of the words Christ is Risen.

Fr. John Whiteford reflects on the great love and faith the Myrrh-Bearing Women had for their Lord.

In celebration of Mother’s Day, join Michael as he explores the language of the Genesis creation stories and what they teach us about the value of women and the feminine and motherly nature of God. He then reflects on the Theotokos and how her life and Christ’s demonstrate the value of women established in Genesis, and how they restore women to the place God intended for them. This podcast is based on a Zoom class Michael gave to a Church community and also includes responses from the question and answer period of the class.

Join Fr. Nick and Dr. Roxanne with special guest Melinda Johnson for a new episode of Healthy Minds Healthy Souls titled "Women of Faith." They'll talk about the recent book Seven Holy Women: Conversations with Saints and Friends, which was written by a group of Orthodox women writers.

From a retreat given in an historic Southern City featuring song snips from Johnny Rivers, William Warfield, and Paul Simon (just to name a few).

Just a few women, at first, raised their hands; later, all of them acknowledged their "sonship." If God's their Father, who's their Mother? Fr. Joseph speaks to gals and guys at St Nicholas Church, Shreveport, Louisiana.

A sermon on the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women reveals shocking news!

Is there a difference between men and women in regard to theosis? Short answer: No. Long answer: Every human being is unique. Gender is part of that uniqueness.

In the final episode before the summer break, Steve and Christian discuss DC’s hit summer blockbuster Wonder Woman. They discuss the nature of human beings, the power of compassion, and (as always) how secularism has taken hold of our notions of the transcendent. They close with their Top 5 Heroines.

Reunited at last, Christina and Emma bring their own perspective to Wonder Woman. They discuss the characteristics of heroism, how femininity and power are related, and the line between virtue and naïveté. They close with their Top 5 War Films.

The girls discuss the newest version of the classic story, Little Women. They take on topics such as death, the place and shape of gratitude in our lives, and the role of women in society. They close with their Top 5 Movies Based on Classic Novels.

The Myrrh-Bearers lived a life of service for the flourishing of the Church, much like the early Deacons, modeling the kind of life that all Christians are called to live.

As we continue to celebrate our Lord’s glorious resurrection on the third day and victory over Hades and the tomb, we have to admit that all too often we live as though death still reigned. We do so especially when we obsess about how weak, broken, and vulnerable we are, especially in light of the grave.

Fr. John explains how the Church cultivated a higher level of sexual dignity and explores how Christendom served to elevate women in Roman society.

Fr. John tells the story of when St. Macarius journeyed from the desert to the city to meet two laywomen who were superior to him in their spirituality.

When the women came to the tomb, they declare HE is not here. Where have they taken HIS body. Dr. Humphrey explores the significance of the wording by looking into the Old testament.

Remembering the apostles, we consider Jesus’ words from Matt 9:13 concerning God’s mercy, and the Resurrection hymns in the fourth tone, in the light of 1 Cor 1:26-31, Hosea 6:6-7, Genesis 3:1-5, and Wisdom 2:23-24.

Mat. Juliana Schmemann, the widow of Fr. Alexander Schmemann, former dean of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, delivers a speech via video titled "The Joy to Serve."

Dr. Kyriaki Karidoyanes Fitzgerald, an Orthodox theologian, pastoral counselor, and licensed psychologist, delivers a speech titled "Eve, Mary, and Us."

Dr. Mary Ford, Assistant Professor of New Testament at St. Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary, delivers a speech titled "Light from the Past on Vocations Today."

Dr. Stephen Muse speaks at the St. Vladimir’s Seminary 2011 Orthodox Education Day.

Orthodox author, speaker, and AFR podcast host Frederica Mathewes-Green delivers a speech titled "Confessions of a Freelance Writer: Discerning God's Will in an Unpredictable Vocation."

From June 17-19, 2011, St. Vladimir's Seminary hosted a conference titled "Women Disciples of the Lord." The conference lectures will be posted here in biweekly installments. First up is the keynote address delivered by the Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, Dean of St. Vladimir's Seminary. The title is "Male and Female He Created Them."

Listen to excerpts from this past Sunday's bulletin at St. John the Compassionate Mission, serving the most vulnerable in Toronto. "What was it in their hearts that moved the Myrrh-bearing women to do something against common sense?"

Fr. Apostolos shares about myrrh in the Old Testament, New Testament, and today. "We must become emblems of hope as we bear that sacred myrrh, that oil of healing to a broken world."

In the Afterfeast of the Dormition of the the Theotokos, we are mindful of the fact that it is a woman, the blessed ever-Virgin Mary, whom the Orthodox and indeed others venerate as the most honoured and significant of Christians.

Holy Women and Holy Men In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. God is one.Amen. We celebrate today the lives of seven holy women and two holy men. Each of these followers of Christ expressed their faith in Him through their prayers and actions. It is good for us to pause and consider their lives and how those lives might guide us in the challenges we face today. Many women named Mary were among the followers of Jesus Christ. There is some dispute among Biblical scholars as to who was “Mary, the mother of James;” but this is generally agreed to be the Virgin Mary, The Theotokos, who was the step-mother of Joseph’s son, James. Certainly, along with many other women, she was present with Jesus Christ throughout His ministry on earth and at His Crucifixion (Matthew 27.55; Mark 15.40-41; Luke 23.49; John 19.25-27). A note in The Orthodox Study Bible points out that “the women disciples remain faithful while the men flee and hide. [Then] it is the women who bring the message of the Resurrection to the men” [p. 1356, citing Mark 16.9-11 and Luke 24.9-11]. Yet the men do not believe them (Mark 16.11; Luke 24.11). Perhaps that tendency of men not to believe women who are seeking to guide them to Christ is still present at times today. The sisters of Lazarus, Mary and Martha, were deeply devoted to Jesus Christ. It was Mary, who had taken expensive perfume and anointed the feet of the Saviour when He arrived in Jerusalem for the Jewish Passover celebration (John 12.1). Martha was always working hard to serve all of those who came to be with Jesus; and she also had great faith in the Saviour. She said to Him, after Lazarus had died, before her brother was raised from the dead, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11.21). Together, Mary and Martha, have come to stand together for serving Christ through both prayer and action. We too can learn to live with the same aspiration—the same determination—to serve Christ through both prayer and action. All four of the gospels of Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke and John mention Mary Magdalene as an important follower of Jesus Christ. We know little about her life except that Mary Magdalene “had been healed of evil spirits and of infirmities” and that she often travelled with Jesus Christ and the apostles throughout Palestine (Luke 8.2). There is no Biblical evidence that this Mary from the town of Magdala was a great sinner. She was clearly a person of great integrity, with the courage to be a witness of the Crucifixion. Furthermore, when Jesus Christ was no longer dead, but not yet raised to heaven, Mary Magdalene was the first person to whom Christ revealed Himself (Mark 16.9; John 20.11-31). Several other women including Susanna, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, had also been “healed of evil spirits.” However, we know little about them or about Mary, the wife of Cleophas to whom Jesus Christ appeared on the Emmaus Road, except that they “provided for [Jesus Christ and His followers] out of their own possessions” (Luke 8.3). Another significant follower of Christ was Salome, the wife of Zebedee and the mother of the apostles James and John. Although we know far more about the apostles than the women who followed Christ, it is clear that Christ chose many of His 12 disciples (Matthew 10.1-4; Mark 3.13-19; Luke 6.12-16) from deeply religious Jewish families. Other members of these families supported their sons who had been chosen to follow Christ. This pattern of deeply committed Christians often emerging from holy families has not changed over the centuries. The two holy men that we remember today are Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea who took the body of Jesus Christ down from the cross and buried Him (John 19.38-41). By this action they publicly declared their belief in Christ, when many of His disciples fled in fear. Nicodemus also brought a valuable mixture of myrrh and aloes with which to anoint the body of Jesus Christ, just as one of the wise men had brought myrrh to the new-born Jesus Christ in the stable in Bethlehem (Matthew 2.11). The action of Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Jewish Council, the Sanhedrin, is especially impressive, because he had kept his faith in Christ a secret until this time, but now faith overcame fear. All four evangelists mention the importance of how Jesus Christ was buried (Matthew 27.57, Mark 15.43, Luke 23.51, John 19.38). As a note in The Orthodox Study Bible explains, “If the apostles had buried Christ, doubters would claim His body was simply hidden away. Joseph being both a council member and a good and just man refutes any possibility that the Lord’s body was deceptively hidden by the apostles” (p. 1414) [End quote]. Each of these holy women and holy men proclaimed Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, through their faith, their prayers and their actions. We too can follow them in their steps. And so, we ascribe as is justly due all might, majesty, dominion, power and praise to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, always now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Father Emmanuel Kahn