Our Woman of the Week is theologian Teva Regule, nominated for her work as president of the Orthodox Theological Society of America and the role she played in creating pilgrimage, among many other contributions to Orthodox life in the US. We asked her to tell you about herself:
"The Church has always been a part of my life. I was baptized as an infant and grew up in the Orthodox Church in America within the Romanian tradition. As a young girl and into my teenage years, I was very involved in numerous Church activities, especially the youth organization—the American Romanian Orthodox Youth (AROY). As young women, I served on the National Board of AROY for ten years, two as the National President. Although I was only the second woman to serve in that capacity, I was supported as a young woman in the Church working with young people, helping to draw them into a deeper relationship with Christ and His Church.
"Once I 'graduated' from active youth work, however, that all seemed to change. I didn’t seem to have a “place” in the ministry of the Church that best used my talents. I still sang in Church and participated in parish life, but I had questions—in particular, why, as a woman, I couldn’t do more? After spending a few years in what I like to call “the desert,” I (along with some other women of like mind) started the St. Nina Quarterly. Our mission was to explore the ministry of women in the Church and cultivate a deeper understanding of ministry in the lives of all Orthodox Christian women and men. It was a project that ran actively for about fifteen years. In addition to the printed journal, we sponsored a number of highly successful conferences that explored the gifts and ministry of women. It was because of this work that I was invited to be an Orthodox representative to a number of consultations on men and women in the church sponsored by the World Council of Churches. This opened up avenues for ministry that I never imagined for myself, but I was not quite sure I was fully prepared. So, although I had read a great deal of theology, I decided to study the faith more formally. I entered Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in mid-life and for the next 15.5 years my constant avocation was the study of theology and our ecclesial life. (For those who have always wanted to go to seminary and for whatever reason haven’t done so, I highly recommend the experience. You are never too old to do it!)
"I thoroughly enjoyed my classes at seminary, digging deeper into the faith. I was surprised by how much I knew just from my own study and from my liturgical experience, but also by how much I still needed to learn. I hadn’t realized it growing up, but my liturgical experience had provided a strong foundation in the faith. When I took my Dogmatics classes at seminary, I already knew the doctrine of the faith; it is embedded in our prayers and hymns, many of which I knew by heart. However, that did not mean that I still did not have questions—why we do (or don’t do) certain things in the service or how our liturgy has evolved over time. It wasn’t until I took an upper level seminar on the evolution of the Divine Liturgy with (now Professor emeritus of Liturgics) Rev. Dr. Alkiviadis Calivas that I finally found someone who could answer my questions, giving both the historical background as well as a pastoral perspective for today. I was on fire with the formative and transformative potential embedded in our liturgical expression, albeit often under layers of accretions. My final project in that class was to review the historical development of the liturgy and propose areas for renewal. As it turned out, my proposal aligned quite closely with the liturgical renewal efforts of the Monks and Nuns of New Skete. Years later, this would be the basis of my doctoral work. Studying liturgy as a non-ordained woman in the Orthodox Church can be difficult. Liturgy is so often perceived as the domain of the ordained or other male practitioners. For me it has been a double-edged ministry, but ultimately, has helped me to draw closer to God and neighbor." Axia!
We asked Woman of the Week, Teva Regule, about her relationship with monasteries. She was, after all, one of the movitivators behind the New Skete pilgrimage (and an example for anyone else who would like to create a pilgrimage place for their own community). You see her here with the abbess of the Nuns of New Skete, Sister Cecelia:
"I was exposed to monasticism at an early age. My father was the attorney for the Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ellwood City (PA), so we got to know the nuns quite well. I saw them as joyfully living out their lives and ministering to the community around them. Because of this experience, I understood that a healthy monasticism was an integral part of church life. One of them, in particular, had suggested that I join them, but my life went in a different direction. As an adult, I was introduced to the Monasteries of New Skete. I found their life and mission as an Orthodox Community rooted in the Tradition and yet open to a lived expression in the 20th-21st century American context to be attractive. As my visits grew more frequent, I found a community deeply engaged with a life in Christ through the Byzantine Tradition and with an openness to creatively explore it to deepen our relationship with God and neighbor. For me, it was life-giving.
"Over the course of many years, I often thought it would be wonderful for the community to be able to share aspects of their life and ministry with the wider Orthodox (and non-Orthodox) world. Of course, many people already visit the monastery to get a dog or purchase a cheesecake—breeding German Shepherds and training them (and other dogs) and baking those tasty desserts are the ways that the monks and nuns, respectively, sustain themselves. However, there is so much more to their ministry—their liturgical expression, iconography, hymnography, opportunities for spiritual direction, and just everyday engaging conversation. My encounter with the monks and nuns had been transformative and I wanted to share this experience with others. It was with this in mind (and after a bit of cajoling ;-)) that the annual New Skete Pilgrimage was born. The Pilgrimage is usually held on the Saturday after Transfiguration and is a day of worship and prayer, showcasing the various ministries of the communities and engaging with others who have made the trek to upstate New York. Members of the Chapel community and other volunteers, of which I continue to be one, help to coordinate the many logistics of the day. In addition, I organize a group from our parish that comes to lend many sets of helping hands. For us, it is not only a great way to experience the life of the monastery, but, over the years, has turned out to be a great community building effort for our group. I highly recommend it for your parish as well.
"In addition to my many visits to the monastery and my dissertation research focusing on their liturgical life, I continue to draw closer to the community as a Companion of New Skete. The Companions of New Skete is a fellowship of lay people who seek to be formally connected with the monastery in order to deepen their spiritual lives. We incorporate monastic values that help us live out the call of the Gospel in a lay setting while at the same time helping to support New Skete in its mission. In some ways, the experience of monasticism in my youth has now come full circle."
As always, we asked our Woman of the Week, Teva Regule, about her morning routine:
"During the academic year, I generally work long hours on the weekdays—juggling teaching and my “day-job” at MIT. (At present, I teach theology at Boston College and am also the IT administrator for the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering at MIT.) One of the first things I do in the morning is review my email (to see what I might have to address more immediately). After a quick shower, I then do a 5-7 minute set of stretches and exercises. This is something I have done for as long as I can remember, but find that my body needs it more as I get older ;-) I usually have cereal for breakfast, pack my lunch (and dinner), dress, get my things ready, and get in the car. (I usually drive as, during the semester, I am traveling between institutions.) Once in the car, I generally listen to NPR for the news and often use my commute time to SING! At times, I have also used that time for my alone time, talking to God, but prayer is usually an evening, before bed thing for me. This might seem odd, but in what I sometimes refer to as my “former” life, I studied voice quite seriously. I received my Masters in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory and spent a number of years after that singing with a regional opera company, teaching voice, and, for a time, doing some opera directing. As time went on, the demands of life took precedence over my musical ambitions and I could no longer dedicate the time necessary to perform at this level. Today (pre-quarantine), most of my singing is in church on Sunday. However, I still use my commute time in the mornings to warm up my voice and sing a few tunes. We all have been given gifts from God that we are called to nurture. Singing every day still reminds me to be thankful for the gifts that God has given me."
Thank you, Teva!