Christian Women

in the

Patristic World

Their Influence, Authority, and Legacy in the Second through Fifth Centuries

Lynn H. Cohick

and Amy Brown Hughes

a division of Baker Publishing Group

Grand Rapids, Michigan

© 2017 by Lynn H. Cohick and Amy Brown Hughes

Published by Baker Academic

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakeracademic.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Cohick, Lynn H., author. | Hughes, Amy Brown, author.

Title: Christian women in the patristic world : their influence, authority, and legacy in the second through fifth centuries / Lynn H. Cohick and Amy Brown Hughes.

Description: Grand Rapids, MI : Baker Academic, 2017. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017018733 | ISBN 9780801039553 (pbk. : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Women in Christianity—History—Early church, ca. 30–600.

Classification: LCC BR195.W6 C625 2017 | DDC 270.1082—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017018733

Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

To Scott and Sally Harríson,

parents of Lynn H. Cohick

To Yvonne Brown,

grandmother of Amy Brown Hughes,

memory eternal!

Contents

List of Illustrations

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Introduction

1. Thecla: Christian Female Protomartyr and Virgin of the Church

2. Perpetua and Felicitas: Mothers and Martyrs

3. Christian Women in Catacomb Art

4. From Pagan to Christian, Martyr to Ascetic

5. Helena Augusta, “Mother of the Empire”

6. Egeria’s Itinerary and Christian Pilgrimage

7. Macrina the Ascetic Entrepreneur and the “Unlearned” Wisdom of Monica

8. Paula, Marcella, and the Melanias: Ascetics, Scholars, and Compatriots in Controversy

9. Aelia Pulcheria, “Protectress of the Empire,” and Empress Eudocia, a Theological Poet

Conclusion: Responsibly Remembering

Bibliography

Index of Ancient Sources

Index of Subjects

Illustrations

Time Line of Major Persons and Events

1.1 St. Thecla listening to Paul

1.2 Thecla stands triumphant next to lions

1.3 Thecla’s initial encounter with Paul

1.4 St. Thecla monastery

2.1 Death of Perpetua, Felicitas, and other martyrs

2.2 Mosaic of Perpetua

2.3 Mosaic of Felicitas

3.1 Fractio Panis

3.2 Catacomb of Callixtus

3.3 Woman in orans pose

3.4 Banquet in the Catacomb of Marcellinus and Peter

3.5 St. Agnes in the orans pose

5.1 Coin depicting Helena Augusta

5.2 Helena Augusta’s discovery of the True Cross

5.3 The True Cross raises a man from the dead

6.1 Map: The Roman Empire ...