Anastasia Zaimi is a pastor in Greece who has been greatly impacted by Langham Scholar Myrto Theocharous. Four years into working at First Greek Evangelical Church of Athens, Anastasia is one of just two women working full-time in the Greek evangelical church.
Anastasia wasn’t the first woman in her family to study at bible college. Her mum had attended the Greek Bible College for three years, before going on to be a key volunteer in her family’s church. But working full-time in ministry never seemed like a real possibility for Anastasia’s mother. And without the example of a Christian woman leading and teaching, it may not have felt like a possibility for Anastasia either. But the example of Myrto Theocharous, a female Professor in Old Testament Studies and a Langham Scholar, has reshaped Anastasia’s journey.
A Lived Example
“If I hadn’t seen Myrto, I wouldn’t think that I would be able to do something in the church, in general. She gave me the example that not everyone will come here and teach, but you can use your voice as a theologian.”
Myrto Theocharous was the first evangelical woman in Greece to gain a Theological PhD. She graduated from Cambridge University in 2011, and the support of the Langham Scholars Program made this possible. Like all Langham Scholars, Myrto received a scholarship to pursue her PhD and was given practical support and guidance through her time studying. She has now returned to Greece to teach theology and train future pastors and leaders – pastors like Anastasia.
Anastasia describes how despite these achievements, Myrto’s humility meant she always pointed students towards the cross and what Christ has done for them. “Myrto is a very humble person. I mean, she has a PhD in one of the most well-known and famous universities, and she’s here with me at the Greek Bible College taking care of me and teaching me! She always showed Christ to us. She never wanted to show herself.”
A Cultural and Language Connection
Anastasia felt that as a Christian person living in Greece, it was a worthwhile investment to spend a year studying at the Greek Bible College. She ended up studying for three years, however, which was an experience she describes as ‘life changing.’
Her connections to the setting and language of the New Testament meant that this was a very special experience for Anastasia. “It was a whole new world for me to see how I can read the same Bible that I was reading before going there, but in new eyes and in a new way and in my language, in a language that I could understand, the New Testament at least.”
The knowledge that she learnt was transformative, but so was living in community with faculty, staff, professors and other students. Before going to bible college, Anastasia had trained in archaeology. She was convinced she would never work in ministry. But through her years at college, she felt God shaping her character in a new way and pointing her journey in a new direction.
Setting New Norms
Anastasia’s work now focuses on pastoral ministry, where she works with teenagers, youth and women in her church. Myrto has remained someone Anastasia can go to for advice, often offering another perspective or saying something Anastasia needed to hear, alongside a kind word. Having a woman who understands and listens has been a huge encouragement.
Anastasia explained that while it is not as hard as it might be in some other countries, it is far from easy to be a woman working in full-time ministry in Greece. Anastasia often feels the need to prove herself, that she isn’t just a secretary who does the coffee or photocopies, but rather a theologically trained fellow worker for the gospel, with an important perspective to share. And Myrto’s example of teaching and leading as a woman was one that Anastasia was grateful to have encountered. It has given her hope and perseverance as she works to change the culture in Greek evangelical churches and strives to open doors for more women ministry workers.
“I hope that some girls also see me and think that, okay, maybe women can do more things in the church, not just bringing coffee and making cookies, or doing Sunday School. These are great things and should be done, but the problem is that women are limited to those places.”
Through Langham’s Scholars Program, Myrto Theocharous was able to undertake her PhD and return as a professor to Greece. Through her impact, Anastasia Zaimi has braved new ground in working as a female pastor in the Greek evangelical church. And through her example, many more young women may come to know Jesus, and come to lead and teach in his church for the good of his Gospel mission.