List of Christian women of the early church

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Christian women in the patristic age appear in later works of art.

This is a list of Christian women in the patristic age who contributed to the development of the early Christian churches and communities. The list is roughly in chronological order of year when they lived or died. The patristic era is considered to have started at the end of the 1st century and to have ended towards the close of the 7th century.[1]

The description column uses the historical, literary or archeological evidence (such as letters, inscriptions, texts and funerary art) to summarise women's contribution to the early church and their legacy. The position, titles, status or "also known as" are listed in the first column under the woman's name. Some were referred to during their life as deacons, presbyters, ministers, martyrs, Empress or Augusta. Later they may have been called church patrons, teachers, leaders, church mothers, Desert Mothers, martyrs or saints.[2][3]

There is a link in the woman's name to her Wikipedia page or one mentioning her. Readers can go to the linked page to read more life details and about any churches who may venerate her.

Christian women of the patristic age
Name, also known as Year(s) lived Image Location Description and legacy
Two slave women deacons

Ministers, deaconesses, maid-servants

Pliny's letter c 112
Bithynia The governor, Pliny the Younger, wrote a letter to Emperor Trajan; one of the earliest documents showing persecution of the church by Roman authorities. Pliny wrote he had ordered the torture of two slave women called "ministers" or "deacons" to find out about Christian beliefs and practices. Their legacy was that they revealed the early church met together to sing hymns, vowed to live moral lives and practised a spiritual equality between men and women, slave-owners and slaves that was counter-cultural to the patriarchal and socially stratified Roman society. [4][5][6][7][8][2][9]
Blandina

Maid of Lyon, Martyr of Lyon, saint, virgin

d 177[10]
Lyon Blandina was a Christian slave girl, one of the martyrs of Lyon, who was tortured, exposed to wild animals, tied to a stake in the arena and finally killed for her faith. She encouraged and strengthened a fellow martyr, the teenage boy Ponticus.[11] For the onlookers, Blandina was inspirational and persuasive, modelling endurance, Christ-likeness and personal spiritual power in withstanding powerful authorities [12] even though she was a young woman and a slave with no social or legal status.[13][14][10]
Cecilia 177[15]
Rome Cecilia is a relatively well known Roman martyr and there are variations in the records about her.[16] She was a noble lady of Rome who, with her husband Valerian, his brother Tiburtius, and a Roman soldier named Maximus were killed for being Christians.[17] One account of Cecilia's death says that after being struck three times on the neck with a sword, she survived for three days.[16]
Perpetua

Saint

203[18]
Carthage Perpetua was arrested with Saint Felicitas, Saturnius, Revocatus, and Secundulus. Perpetua and her companions are examples of those who would not deny being a Christian despite being placed in gladitorial/animal shows.[19] While in prison, she gave birth to a son and put him into the care of others.[18]
Felicitas

Saint

203[18]
Perpetua and Felicitas in the arena gored by a bull
 Carthage Felicitas was arrested along with Saint Perpetua and others and placed in gladiatorial/animal shows. She did not deny being a Christian.[19] She was pregnant when she was arrested. In jail, she gave birth at eight months to a girl who was given to 'sisters' to raise.[20]
Lucy 304[21]
Syracuse, Sicily Lucy worked with the poor and those confined to their homes by bringing them food. She is also thought to have done the same for those Christians hiding in the catacombs.[22][19]
Agnes of Rome 304[23]
Rome Twelve year old Agnes was from a noble family and engaged to the son of a city official. She informed him that her fiancé was Jesus Christ. She was subsequently stripped and stabbed through the throat 'like a lamb'. "[H]er long curls enveloped her like a dense cloak, and an angel brought her a light robe that shone through the whole house."[19]
Paula of Rome

Saint, Desert Mother, wealthy widow

Lived 347-404[3]
Rome and Bethlehem Paula of Rome was a widowed Roman noblewoman, disciple and friend of Jerome, who became an ascetic bible scholar and abbess. At Bethlehem, she established a double monastery and hostel for pilgrims. Paula memorised scripture, sang the psalms,[24] was fluent in Greek and Hebrew and acted as patron, financing Jerome's translation of the bible into Latin, now known as the Latin Vulgate bible.[25][3][26] Jerome dedicated many of his commentaries and books to her.[26]
Macrina the Younger 379[27]
Cappadocia Macrina was intelligent and educated. After her fiancé died suddenly when she was twelve, she vowed not to marry. She took care of her family and supported them after her father died. She was influential in the education of the Bishop of Sebaste and St. Gregory, her brothers. She also established a religious community and became its head.[27][28]
Catherine of Alexandria early 4th century[29][30]
Alexandria Catherine of Alexandria was a saint who was martyred in the early 4th century by Maxentius. She was both a princess and a noted scholar, who became a Christian around the age of 14, converted hundreds of people to Christianity, and was martyred around the age of 18. More than 1,100 years following her martyrdom, Saint Joan of Arc identified Catherine as one of the saints who appeared to her and counselled her.[31]
Helena

Empress, Augusta, Helena of Constantinople

est. lived 248-326/27[3]
Trier and Rome[32] Helena was the Empress of the Roman Empire (consort of the future Roman Emperor Constantius Chlorus who reigned 293–306) and mother of Emperor Constantine the Great. Constantine proclaimed her Helena "Augusta", a title of imperial influence. She made a pilgrimage to Palestine and the eastern provinces where she supervised the building of churches on his behalf and supported Christians to freely practise their religion.[3][32]
Monica 387[33]
Alexandria Monica had great influence over the development of her son Saint Augustine's faith. It was her prayerful life that influenced the conversion of Augustine. Augustine writes about her extensively in his book Confessions.[34][33] Augustine and his friends would gather for discussions on philosophy and he would ask Monica to join in the discussions.[35] She also was known for her charitable works.[36]
Fritigil

Queen Fritigil of the Marcomanni

c397, mid 4th century
Marcomanni, Austria, Czech Republic Fritigil corresponded with Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, converted to Christianity, persuaded her husband (presumed king) to convert and to make peace with the Romans, travelled to Milan to meet Ambrose but he died before she reached him. Little else is known about her but that she exercised political and spiritual authority and led her people into Christianity.[citation needed]
Aelia Pulcheria

Augusta

Lived 399-c453[3]
Solidus of Aelia Pulcheria
 Constantinople Pulcheria was daughter to Emperor Arcadius and Empress Eudoxia, and sister to Theodosius II for whom she acted as regent and guardian. Pulcheria committed herself to Christianity and virginity at a young age and ensured the future Emperor Theodosius II was tutored in the Christian faith. She built three churches in Constantinople, was friend to the archbishops/patriarchs of Constantinople and Pope Leo I and a patron to monastic communities. She was influential in both imperial and church politics and helped convene and guide the Council of Ephesus and the Council of Chalcedon.[37]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Glossary Definition: Patristic Era". PBS. Retrieved 2019-05-16.
  2. ^ a b Osiek, Carolyn; Madigan, Kevin, eds. (2005). Ordained women in the early church : a documentary history. Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-1-4214-0157-7. OCLC 794700384.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Cohick, Lynn H.; Hughes, Amy Brown (2017). Christian women in the patristic world : their influence, authority, and legacy in the second through fifth centuries. Grand Rapids, MI. ISBN 978-0-8010-3955-3. OCLC 961154751.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ Cohick, Lynn H. (2009). Women in the world of the earliest Christians : illuminating ancient ways of life. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic. ISBN 978-1-4412-0799-9. OCLC 727647610.
  5. ^ "On Pliny and the two female slaves - Centre for Public Christianity". www.publicchristianity.org. 2020-03-05. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  6. ^ Hall, Stuart George (1992). Doctrine and practice in the early church. Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans. ISBN 0-8028-0629-5. OCLC 25273636.
  7. ^ Pliny, Ep. X.96
  8. ^ Stevenson, James, ed. (2013). A New Eusebius : documents illustrating the history of the church to AD 337 (Rev. / by W.H.C. Frend ed.). Grand Rapids, Michigan. ISBN 978-0-8010-3971-3. OCLC 848067412.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. ^ "On Pliny and the two female slaves - Centre for Public Christianity". publicchristianity.org. 2020-03-05. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
  10. ^ a b "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. Blandina". newadvent.org. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  11. ^ "23 The Martyrs of Lyons and Vienne". A New Eusebius : documents illustrating the history of the church to AD 337. James Stevenson (Rev. / by W.H.C. Frend ed.). Grand Rapids, Michigan. 2013. ISBN 978-0-8010-3971-3. OCLC 848067412.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  12. ^ Goodine, Elizabeth A.; Mitchell, Matthew W. (2005). "The Persuasiveness of a Woman: The Mistranslation and Misinterpretation of Eusebius' Historia Ecclesiastica 5.1.41" (PDF). Journal of Early Christian Studies. 13 (1): 1–19. doi:10.1353/earl.2005.0007. ISSN 1086-3184.
  13. ^ Goodine, Elizabeth A. (2014). Standing at Lyon : an examination of the martyrdom of Blandina of Lyon. [Place of publication not identified]. ISBN 1-4632-0384-5. OCLC 884300187.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  14. ^ Cohick, Lynn H. (2017). Christian women in the patristic world : their influence, authority, and legacy in the second through fifth centuries. Amy Brown Hughes. Grand Rapids, MI. ISBN 978-0-8010-3955-3. OCLC 961154751.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  15. ^ "Cecilia". saintsresource.com. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
  16. ^ a b Foley O.F.M., Leonard. "Saint of the Day", (revised by Pat McCloskey O.F.M.), Franciscan Media ISBN 978-0-86716-887-7
  17. ^ Fuller, Osgood Eaton: Brave Men and Women. BiblioBazaar, LLC, 2008, page 272. ISBN 0-554-34122-0
  18. ^ a b c "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Sts. Felicitas and Perpetua". newadvent.org. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
  19. ^ a b c d Plassman, Thomas; Vann, Joseph. Lives of Saints with Excerpts From Their Writings. John J. Crawley and Co., Inc. pp. 11, 28, 29, 40, and 42.
  20. ^ "The Martyrdom Of Saints Perpetua And Felicitas | From Jesus To Christ". FRONTLINE. PBS. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  21. ^ "Saint Lucy". Franciscan Media. 2015-12-13. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
  22. ^ "About Saint Lucy". St. Lucy Catholic Parish. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  23. ^ "Who Was Saint Agnes?". The Church of Saint Agnes. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  24. ^ Jerome, Letter XLV. To Asella.
  25. ^ "Philip Schaff: NPNF2-06. Jerome: The Principal Works of St. Jerome - Christian Classics Ethereal Library". ccel.org. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  26. ^ a b Saint Jerome (2013). Cain, Andrew (ed.). Jerome's epitaph on Paula : a commentary on the Epitaphium Sanctae Paulae. Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-967260-8. OCLC 835969199.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  27. ^ a b "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. Macrina the Younger". newadvent.org. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  28. ^ "Macrina of Cappadocia, sister of holy hierarchs Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa, venerable | RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF ST.JOHN THE BAPTIST". stjohndc.org. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  29. ^ "St. Catherine of Alexandria | Egyptian martyr". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
  30. ^ "St. Catherine of Alexandria". nndb.com. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
  31. ^ Williard Trask, Joan of Arc: In Her Own Words (Turtle Point Press, 1996), 99
  32. ^ a b Drijvers, Jan Willem (1992). Helena Augusta : the mother of Constantine the Great and the legend of her finding of the true cross. Leiden: E.J. Brill. ISBN 90-04-09435-0. OCLC 23766374.
  33. ^ a b Coffman, Elesha. "Faith of Our Mothers". Christian History | Learn the History of Christianity & the Church. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
  34. ^ "St. Monica Catholic Church". stmonicaindy.org. Retrieved 2019-04-15.
  35. ^ "St. Monica". Midwest Augustinians. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  36. ^ "St. Monica". ewtn.com. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  37. ^ Cohick, Lynn H. (2017). Christian women in the patristic world : their influence, authority, and legacy in the second through fifth centuries. Amy Brown Hughes. Grand Rapids, MI. ISBN 978-0-8010-3955-3. OCLC 961154751.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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