St. Paul Welcomes Bishop Praxedis from the Church of St. Praxedis in Rome
Brenda M. Johnson, M.A.
Recovering Women’s Leadership in Early Christianity
In the early church, women functioned as prophets, teachers, priests, presbyters, deacons, and founders of religious communities. This paper explores literary, ethnographic and art historical sources from the first to the sixth century that document women’s leadership throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond into Gaul, Ireland and Arabia. It discusses tomb inscriptions which attest to the gratitude felt by communities toward women leaders, hagiographies celebrating the contributions of outstanding women, and attempts by male theologians, popes and bishops to control women’s leadership. In addition, frescoes and mosaics that honor women’s participation in sacred rites are considered.