1. Women in Early Christianity

2. Women in Early Christianity
How do early Christian women compare/contrast with other women of antiquity?
Which women stood out in early Christian circles?

3. Women in Early Christianity
Women in Antiquity
Patriarchal world
Disappointment to parents
Confined to household
Had to obey husbands
Religious roles in Greece and Rome
Peplos Kore (ca. 530 BC)

4. Women in Early Christianity
Jesus and Women
Acknowledged dignity of women
Accepted female disciples
Female disciples present at crucifixion
Women were first witnesses of empty tomb
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

5. Women in Early Christianity
Paul and Women
Engaged women in theological discussion
First European convert was Lydia (Acts 16)
Numerous female colleagues (Romans 16)
Patriarchal restrictions too?
Paul Speaking with Lydia, Philippi

6. Women in Early Christianity
Paul and Women
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28)
Paul Speaking with Lydia, Philippi

7. Women in Early Christianity
Mary of Nazareth
Jewess betrothed to Joseph
Mother of Jesus
Presence during Jesus’ Ministry
Present in Jerusalem church

8. Women in Early Christianity
The Afterlife of Mary
Died at Ephesus? Jerusalem?
Protevangelium of James (ca. 150)
“Perpetual virginity”
Theotokos
Dormition and Assumption
Virgin and Child Enthroned (ca ),
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

9. Women in Early Christianity
House of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus

10. Women in Early Christianity
Prayer requests of the faithful, Ephesus

11. Women in Early Christianity

12. Women in Early Christianity
Mary Magdalene
From Magdala, Galilee
Cured of “demon possession” (Luke 8:2)
Disciple, supporter of Jesus
First to see risen Jesus (John 20)
“Apostle to the Apostles”

13. Women in Early Christianity
Multiple Mary Magdalene myths!

14. Women in Early Christianity

15. Women in Early Christianity
Questions?

16. Women in Early Christianity
Primary Roles of Christian Women
Widows
Virgins
Deaconesses

17. Women in Early Christianity
Martyrs and Virgin-martyrs

18. Women and Early Christianity
Agnes of Rome († ca. 304)
Adolescent virgin
Refused to marry pagan suitor
Varying stories of her martyrdom, ultimately beheaded

19. Women and Early Christianity
Sarcophagus of Agnes, Sant’Agnese fuori le Mura
Skull of Agnes, Sant’Agnese in Agone, Rome

20. Women in Early Christianity
Paula ( ) and Julia Eustochium ( )
Patricians
Jerome’s discipulae
To Bethlehem  monasteries, convents
Learned Hebrew, Bible
Both died before Jerome

21. Women in Early Christianity
Pulcheria Augusta ( )
Elder sister of Emperor Theodosius II
Proclaimed augusta (414)
Later the wife of Marcian

22. Women in Early Christianity
Pulcheria Augusta
Virgin
Brought “ascetic spirit” to court
Virginity respected by Marcian
Devoted to Mary
Generous to the Church
Opposed Church’s “enemies”

23. Women in Early Christianity
Questions?

24. Women in Early Christianity
How do early Christian women compare/contrast with other women of antiquity?
Which women stood out in early Christian circles?

25. Primary Source The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity
What kind of a source?
Who was the author? Does that strike you as unusual?
According to the author, what happened to her in North Africa?
Do we see her femininity, prejudices of the time, showing up in the account?

26. Primary Source “Life of Macrina” What kind of source?
Who was the author?
Who was Makrina, and what do we learn about her vision of the monastic life?
How did she impact Basil, her mother Emmelia?
What can we glean about her personality and intellect?