The Antiochian Women is the organized sisterhood of women in our Archdiocese. It’s a network of parish chapters dedicated to fellowship, charitable work, spiritual education, and developing Christian leadership among Orthodox women.
Metropolitan Philip Saliba founded the organization in 1973. His vision was simple: give women a structured way to serve the Church, grow in the faith, and support their local parishes while connecting to something bigger than their own congregation. The official name is the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America, but most people just say “Antiochian Women” or “the Women’s group.”
How It Works
The structure mirrors how the Archdiocese itself is organized. Your parish has a local chapter. That’s where the actual work happens, fundraisers for the church building fund, meals for families with new babies, coffee hour after Liturgy, visits to shut-ins, you name it. Each chapter elects officers and decides what ministries make sense for their community.
Local chapters then connect into regional associations. We’re in the Southeast region here in Texas. Regions coordinate bigger projects, sponsor retreats, and elect representatives to the North American Board. That board meets at the Archdiocesan convention every two years and sets priorities for the whole organization.
It’s not complicated. Think of it like this: your chapter does the hands-on ministry, your region helps you connect with other parishes and share ideas, and the national board keeps everyone rowing in the same direction.
What They Actually Do
The work varies by parish, but there’s a common thread. Local chapters handle charitable outreach, collecting donations for Orthodox missions, supporting seminarians, helping families in crisis. They organize educational programs and bring in speakers. They coordinate hospitality for parish events. If there’s a funeral, the women often prepare the meal. If there’s a feast day celebration, they’re usually the ones making it happen.
At the regional and national level, the Antiochian Women take on bigger projects. Each year they adopt an Archdiocesan fundraising goal, maybe supporting a specific mission parish or funding a humanitarian relief effort. They organize retreats where women from different parishes can gather for worship, teaching, and fellowship. They publish materials to help local chapters start new ministries or improve existing ones.
The organization has standing committees that focus on different areas. The Religious Committee promotes spiritual programs tied to the liturgical calendar, Lenten retreats, talks on the saints, Bible studies. The Humanitarian Committee coordinates disaster relief and ongoing charitable work. The Project Committee manages that annual fundraising effort I mentioned.
Why It Matters
Here’s the thing. Orthodox parish life can feel overwhelming when you’re new. The services are long, the theology is deep, and sometimes you just need someone to explain why we’re venerating a particular icon this week or what you’re supposed to bring to the blessing of the waters. The Antiochian Women create space for those conversations.
They also give women a way to lead and serve that fits within Orthodox tradition. We don’t ordain women to the priesthood, that’s not how Christ established the Church. But women have always been essential to the Church’s life. Look at the myrrh-bearing women who were first to the tomb, or St. Photini who evangelized Samaria, or St. Nina who brought Georgia to the faith. The Antiochian Women carry on that tradition of service.
For parishes, the women’s chapter is often the backbone of practical ministry. They’re the ones who notice when someone’s missing from Liturgy and make the phone call. They remember birthdays, organize meals for the sick, and keep the parish kitchen running. That might sound mundane, but it’s how love gets lived out in real time.
If you’re a woman exploring Orthodoxy or recently chrismated, connecting with your parish’s Antiochian Women chapter is one of the best ways to find your place in the community. You’ll learn the faith, make friends who understand what you’re going through, and discover ways to serve that match your gifts. And if your parish doesn’t have an active chapter? Well, maybe you’re the one who’ll help start it.
