Community Guidelines

Thank you for stopping by! Axia is a network by, for, and about Orthodox women across jurisdictions, dedicated to raising up our gifts together in the service of Christ and the wellbeing of the whole Church. This space is all about fostering a community of fellow pilgrims who value truth-telling with love, gentleness, and support.

In the words of St. Gavrilia, “A Christian must have reverence for the mystery of existence in everyone and everything.” The internet is full of spaces where harshness, rudeness, and dehumanization thrive—this community is meant to be a small but meaningful harbor of kindness, respect, and thoughtful dialogue.

A few guiding principles for engaging here:

🌿 Feel free to...

• Share disagreements or alternative perspectives with kindness and an openness to dialogue.

• Accept that others may see things differently (including us!) and engage in peaceable discussion.

• Be a wise steward of your own vulnerability—this is a public space.

• Remember that the Orthodox world is a small one;  you might recognize someone.  Please hold sensitive information in confidence.

• Listen before assuming or responding. Be curious about other points of view, even when you disagree. Asking a question of clarification is just as important as making a statement.

• Respect people’s boundaries—including your own. (For example, if someone declines to answer a question, please honor that.)

• Let us know privately if it seems like someone has not respected these guidelines.

• Speak from your own experience and not for others. 

🌿 Please…

• Avoid condemning other people, groups, demographic groups, or traditions. This includes stereotypes and over-generalizations. 

• Avoid sarcasm directed at others or their ideas—sarcasm can be fun in the right spirit, but not as a way to tear others down.

• Avoid harassment, belittling, or commenting on people’s personal flaws and shortcomings.

Comments that don’t align with these values will be moderated or removed, not as a punishment, but as a way of tending to the health of this space.

Let’s make this a place of gracious conversation, where we can encourage and learn from one another with kindness.

We are indebted to Dr. Nicole Roccas and Fr. Steven Freeman for their earlier versions of these community guidelines!