NPR logo NPR

Pilgrims Trace Women's Role in Early Church

Pilgrims in prayer at St. Praxedes church in Rome.

Female pilgrims from FutureChurch in prayer at St. Praxedes church in Rome.

Sylvia Poggioli, NPR

Inscriptions and images found on tombstones, frescoes and mosaics throughout the Mediterranean show that women held respected roles in the early Christian church that were identical to those held by men. They were apostles, priests, deacons and bishops.

But the Vatican's official view of church history presents women in a different light. Recently, a group of 31 American Catholic women, organized by the group FutureChurch, visited Rome to inspect the archeological evidence of female leadership.

Many who made the trip say they were inspired to become more active in their local church communities.

"We would just like to talk to our leaders," said Sister Christine Schenk, co-leader of the pilgrimage, "and tell them of our experience—how we can begin to re-institute that wonderful balanced leadership we had in the first three centuries of both women and men leading the communities."

A mosaic of women who became saints after risking their lives to collect the relics of martyrs.

A mosaic of women who became saints after risking their lives to collect the relics of martyrs, St. Praxedes church, Rome.

Sylvia Poggioli, NPR
Mosaic of Bishop Theodora with a square halo.

A mosaic in St. Praxedes church, Rome. Theodora is on the left with a square halo, indicating she was alive when the mosaic was made.

Sylvia Poggioli, NPR

Comments

 

Please keep your community civil. All comments must follow the NPR.org Community rules and terms of use, and will be moderated prior to posting. NPR reserves the right to use the comments we receive, in whole or in part, and to use the commenter's name and location, in any medium. See also the Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Community FAQ.

NPR logo NPR