This lecture will address a taboo topic rarely discussed in our public sphere — the position of women in the Orthodox Church, specifically the (im)possibility of introducing priesthood for women. Today, the Orthodox Church in Serbia holds significant influence in political, social, ethical, and cultural domains, especially among young people. However, the messages it conveys are often (un)ambiguously misogynistic, thereby fostering misunderstanding and mistrust between the sexes and encouraging an unexamined retraditionalization of society. Moreover, while women in other Christian denominations are already included in the clergy or there is at least awareness of such a need, Orthodox women in Serbia (and beyond) have yet to become conscious of this issue. The aim of the lecture is therefore to question the existing, theologically unfounded prohibition of women’s participation in liturgical service, both from a historical and a prospective standpoint, and to offer a possible enlightened reading of the Christian (Orthodox) faith.

Vukašin Milićević was born in 1982 in Belgrade. He holds a PhD in Theology and an M.A. in Byzantine History. Until 2024, he served as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, where he taught Christian Ethics. His current position is Research Associate in the field of Philosophy. His main areas of interest include the history of dogma (or Christian doctrine), the political history of Christianity, and the relationship between religion and politics in the contemporary context.

The event is co-organized by the Center for Queer Studies and the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory. Supported by the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Belgrade.