Agreed. The presentation of the stole may be a remnant of the ordination of deacons among Carthusian nuns, but the mere presentation of the stole does not a deacon make. Reading the gospel is a diaconal role in East and West; and reading the Epistle is a sub-diaconal role.

In the modern literature on the subject, it is the epiclesis prayer invoking the Spirit while the bishop extends his hands over the head that is seen as the core of the ordination service in the West. In the East, there is an additional hallmark of major orders ordination--the hands + epiclesis prayer takes place within the sanctuary, behind the iconostasis.

In general terms, there are two kinds of historical evidence for the female deacons: 1) evidence of ordination rituals indicative of major orders, and 2) evidence of the ministry of women referenced as deacons.

Experts against female deacons point to the different male/female ministries; experts in favour point to the equivalence of the male/female ordination.