Kobiety, których (prawie) nie ma
The Women Who (Nearly) Aren’t There

The Paradox of the Feminine Noun “Priestess”

Author(s): Aleksandra Herman
Subject(s): Gender Studies, Sociology
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: feminine forms of nouns; priestess; priesthood of women; Mariavite Catholic Church; position of women in Christian churches
Summary/Abstract: The article addresses the issue of the priesthood of women in Christian churches, including the Catholic churches. The widespread rejection of women from priestly functions and the special status associated with them is justified by the institutions both theologically and historically. There is, however, the Mariavite Catholic Church established in Poland, which has ordained women priests and bishops since 1929 and which has constructed its own alternative theology and liturgy. The description of the establishment and functioning of the church was based on a critical analysis of available studies and documents, with particular emphasis on the issue of priestesses who used to serve in it, while the summary of the current situation was formulated on the basis of data obtained during field research conducted by the author in 2020. Insights into the priesthood of women contained in the article are additionally grounded in a broader reflection on feminine forms of nouns (nomina feminativa) in Polish and their designations, as well as in data concerning general public opinion on the priesthood of women.

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