Includes bibliographical references (p261-277) and indexes

Contents:

Thecla: Christian female protomartyr and Virgin of the church

Perpetua and Felicitas: mothers and martyrs

Christian women in Catacomb art

From Pagan to Christian, martyr to ascetic

Helena Augusta, "Mother of the empire"

Egeria's itinerary and Christian pilgrimage

Macrina the Ascetic entrepreneur and the "unlearned" wisdom of Monica

Paula, Marcella, and the Melanias: ascetics, scholars, and compatriots in controversy

Aelia Pulcheria, "Protectress of the empire," and the Empress Eudocia, a theological poet

From facing wild beasts in the arena to governing the Roman Empire, Christian women as preachers and philosophers, martyrs and empresses, virgins and mothers-- influenced the shape of the church in its formative countries. This book provides in a single volume a nearly complete compendium of extant evidence about Christian women in the second through fifth centuries. It highlights the social and theological contributions they made to shaping early Christian beliefs and practices, integrating their influence into the history of the patristic church and showing how their achievements can be edifying for contemporary Christians