Early Christianity and Women's History
Early Christianity and Women's History Gospel women, early saints, the teachings about women by the early church fathers, and the status of women in early Christian communities.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Profile of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, popular saint in medieval Christianity.
Profile of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, popular saint in medieval Christianity.
Melania the Elder
She associated with heretics, so she was largely ignored by history even though she was not herself condemned. Melania the Elder (grandmother of Melania the Younger) founded monasteries and traveled from Spain to Rome to Egypt to Jerusalem, in contact with such leaders as Jerome and Paula and Augustine of Hippo.
She associated with heretics, so she was largely ignored by history even though she was not herself condemned. Melania the Elder (grandmother of Melania the Younger) founded monasteries and traveled from Spain to Rome to Egypt to Jerusalem, in contact with such leaders as Jerome and Paula and Augustine of Hippo.
Melania the Younger
Better known than her saintly grandmother, she talked her husband into celibacy after their second child died. They gave their immense fortune to found monasteries and do other good works, and left Rome ahead of the Visigoth invasions, going on pilgrimage to and settling in Jerusalem.
Better known than her saintly grandmother, she talked her husband into celibacy after their second child died. They gave their immense fortune to found monasteries and do other good works, and left Rome ahead of the Visigoth invasions, going on pilgrimage to and settling in Jerusalem.
Women in Early Christianity
The 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica included a surprisingly feminist entry on the history of women. This entry describes then-current understanding of laws and customs relating to women, including divorce and marriage law, in early Christianity.
The 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica included a surprisingly feminist entry on the history of women. This entry describes then-current understanding of laws and customs relating to women, including divorce and marriage law, in early Christianity.
About Elaine Pagels
A profile of writer, feminist, and Biblical scholar Elaine Pagels.
A profile of writer, feminist, and Biblical scholar Elaine Pagels.
Egeria
Translations of some fragments of her writing, known second-hand. Background information and bibliography, too.
Translations of some fragments of her writing, known second-hand. Background information and bibliography, too.
Egyptian and Syrian Asceticism in Late Antiquity
Jeffrey Conrad looks for roots of early Christian piety in the 4th-5th century Roman Empire, contrasting Egyptian and Syrian practice.
Jeffrey Conrad looks for roots of early Christian piety in the 4th-5th century Roman Empire, contrasting Egyptian and Syrian practice.
Eudocia
Writing of St. Cyprian of Antioch or her own poetry, this Christian Greek woman wrote during the Roman Empire in the fifth century.
Writing of St. Cyprian of Antioch or her own poetry, this Christian Greek woman wrote during the Roman Empire in the fifth century.
Gospel of Mary Magdalene
Gnostic Christians revered Mary Magdalene as a disciple of Jesus. In this excerpt from their gospel, Mary tells the other disciples of Jesus' words to her in a vision.
Gnostic Christians revered Mary Magdalene as a disciple of Jesus. In this excerpt from their gospel, Mary tells the other disciples of Jesus' words to her in a vision.
Helena, Egeria, and Paula: Women Pilgrims
Women went on religious journeys to many of the important sites of early Christianity. Birgitta, Margery and Julian are also mentioned.
Women went on religious journeys to many of the important sites of early Christianity. Birgitta, Margery and Julian are also mentioned.
Misreadings of Ancient Church Writings on Women
A rebuttal of common interpretations of early Christian writings by men about women, translating and interpreting these common quotes more positively.
A rebuttal of common interpretations of early Christian writings by men about women, translating and interpreting these common quotes more positively.
Perpetua
Background and bibliography on this Roman Christian convert.
Background and bibliography on this Roman Christian convert.
Perpetua and Felicitas
An excerpt from the Diary of Perpetua, an apocryphal book describing her martyrdom (about 202 CE).
An excerpt from the Diary of Perpetua, an apocryphal book describing her martyrdom (about 202 CE).
Proba
A Roman woman who converted to Christianity. Poems in translation, background information, and bibliography.
A Roman woman who converted to Christianity. Poems in translation, background information, and bibliography.
Sacred Bonding: Mothers and Daughters
Pictures of mother-daughter relationships from early Christianity (Syria), focusing on saints like Sophia and Euphemia.
Pictures of mother-daughter relationships from early Christianity (Syria), focusing on saints like Sophia and Euphemia.
Thecla
Excerpts from a translation of the apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thecla. Thecla, with the Apostles, took up missionary work in the first generation of Christianity.
Excerpts from a translation of the apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thecla. Thecla, with the Apostles, took up missionary work in the first generation of Christianity.
Women in Ancient Christianity: New Discoveries
Supplementing the PBS documentary From Jesus to Christ, these pages detail controversial recent evidence about women's role in the early Christian church.
Supplementing the PBS documentary From Jesus to Christ, these pages detail controversial recent evidence about women's role in the early Christian church.