On 23 August of this year, pastor emerita Vaira Bitēna marks the 45th anniversary of her ordination.
Vaira Bitēna was one of the first three women to be ordained as assistant pastors on 23 August 1975. Together with Vaira Bitēna, Helēna Valpētere (25.12.1911.–[1987] †) and Berta Stroža (25.11.1914.–14.10.2005. †) were also ordained at that time.
On 14 December 1978, Vaira completed her studies at the Theological Seminary* and on 17 July 1979 she was consecrated to the rank of pastor, receiving the cross of office at the New St. Gertrude’s Church.
Vaira Bitēna completed her theological courses on 14 December 1978, although she had already been sent into service at the beginning of 1973 – to the St. Catherine’s congregation in Viļķene. Almost a year later, in January 1974, while still a theology student, Vaira Bitēna had to take on service in the Pāle congregation; then a third congregation was entrusted to her responsibility – the Lēdurga congregation, where she began serving on 13 October 1974. On 23 August 1975, Vaira Bitēna was ordained as an assistant pastor and acquired all rights of service. A fourth congregation was added to the assistant pastor’s responsibility on 6 November 1977 – this was the Skulte congregation. A year later came the fifth congregation – the Pēterupe congregation in Saulkrasti.
On 17 July 1979, assistant pastor Vaira Bitēna, who already had five congregations under her spiritual oversight, was finally consecrated to the office of pastor, receiving the cross of office.
Serving five congregations at the same time was by no means easy, because a pastor’s responsibility is not limited only to preaching on Sundays or visiting the sick. In all the churches it was necessary to oversee repair works and to take part in them personally, which required an extraordinary amount of energy and time. Because of this workload, Pastor Bitēna developed health problems, and, on her doctor’s advice, she decided to devote all her time to working in a single congregation, gradually handing over the other four congregations to the oversight of other servants.
Later, the Church leadership asked Pastor Vaira Bitēna to get involved in and lead the restoration of the Turaida congregation. The congregation was restored on 26 December 1991, and it was hard work; nonetheless, Pastor Vaira Bitēna stayed on to care for the Turaida congregation, in whose love and care she was able to serve. Vaira Bitēna served the Saulkrasti congregation for 25 years, despite the various difficulties she had to experience.
A challenge for the pastor also came from Bishop G. Dimants, who asked Pastor Bitēna to serve the St. John’s congregation in Sala. Since the congregation accepted a woman pastor, Vaira Bitēna began serving there as well, in her seventh congregation, from 12 September 2010. Pastor Bitēna describes her great responsibility briefly and succinctly: “May God help me!”
Pastor Vaira Bitēna served the St. John’s congregation in Sala from 12 September 2010 until 18 November 2012. After that she entered emeritus status.
Today, 23 August, Pastor Vaira Bitēna celebrates her 45th ordination anniversary.
On her anniversary day she will serve in the worship service of the St. John’s congregation in Sala together with bishop emeritus Pāvils Brūvers and the Sala congregation’s pastor Aivars Gusevs.
The Latvian Lutheran Women Theologians’ Association warmly greets Pastor Vaira Bitēna on her 45th ordination anniversary!
Pastor Vaira Bitēna (in the photograph, in the first row from the left) was one of the founders of the Latvian Lutheran Women Theologians’ Association.