What Ancient Italian Churches Tell Us About Women in Ministry

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Photography by Radha Vyas

In the Basilica Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, 22 woman martyrs, ranked just below the apostles, are led by the Magi toward Mary and the newborn Christ. Each is identified by name and honored for giving her life to Jesus. Ravenna — 6th century

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Photography by Radha Vyas

A mosaic in the Chapel of Bishop Zeno of Verona depicts the Lamb of God and below that, four women. They are, from right to left, second-century saint Praxedis, Mary, Praxedis’s sister Pudentiana, and one living person indicated by a square halo. She is named Theodora, believed to be the mother of Pope Paschal I, and above her head is the Greek word episcopa, the feminine form of bishop. Some have argued this was an honorary title only. The feminine ending of her name has also been obscured. Rome — 9th century

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Photography by Radha Vyas

The apse of the central dome in the Lateran Baptistery places Mary between the apostle Paul to her left and the apostle Peter to her right, with Jesus above all. In this mosaic, Mary can be seen with her arms in the orans pose, “lifting up holy hands” (1 Tim. 2:8). ROME — 4th century