The Ordination of Deaconess in the Orthodox Church

The Greek text of Canon 15 of the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) states:

Γυναῖκα μὴ προσλαμβάνεσθαι χειροτονίαν ἐπὶ διακόνισσαν ὑπὸ τὰς τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη, καὶ μόνον μετὰ προσεκτικῆς ἐξετάσεως· καὶ ἐὰν μετὰ τὸ χειροτονηθῆναι διὰ τινὸς χρόνου διακονήσῃ, ἀθετῆσα τὴν χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ γαμεῖσα γενέσθω ἀναθεματισμένη, καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὁ συναναγόμενος αὐτῇ.

A woman shall not receive the laying on of hands as a deaconess under forty years of age, and then only after searching examination; and after she has had hands laid on her and has  continued for a time to minister, she shall despise the grace of God and give herself in marriage, she shall be anathematized and the man united to her.

The Greek word χειροτονέω (here in the noun Accusative Case form χειροτονίαν) means “laying on of hands”. While this technically implies formal ordination, historical evidence shows that the role of deaconess is strictly pastoral and liturgical only among women assisting with female baptisms, visiting and ministering to sick women, teaching or charitable work.

Please also note that Canon 15 uses the term χειροτονία for the ordination of deaconess which indicates sacramental ordination. The term χειροθεσία (Cheirothesia = "imposition of hands") is used for minor, non-sacramental ordinations (Reader, Cantor, Acolyte, Subdeacon) in contrast to χειροτονία (Cheirotonia = "laying on of hands") for ordinations to deacon, deaconess, priest and bishop.

The role of deaconess is however distinct from male deacons, as both of their sacramental functions are clearly defined. Both need to be married before ordination unless they are monstic.