In Greek and Roman cult: female priests of two kinds, actual (lower status) and honorary
(higher status)
The role of the matrona in household religion: leader with her husband in household worship
Hostesses and presiders at meals in private houses, hospita
The meal iconography and its many interpretations: what is really going on there?
Visual and devotional transition in cult: from Isis to Mary
The sarcophagus women: real women or symbols?
The orans in her many incarnations
Christian Women Deacons and Presbyters
What does a deacon do? Phil 1:1, episkopoi and diakonoi; Rom 16:1-2 Phoebe diakonos;
1 Tim 3:8-13; Acts 6:1-6 (sort of)
Agency, representation, service
What do women deacons do? (diakonos, diakonissa, occasionally diakonē)
Assistance at baptism of women, instruction before and after
Pastoral work with women, visiting the sick, etc.
Supervision of women at worship
Chaperone on women’s pilgrimages
Liturgical leadership in monasteries, especially what became the Divine Office
And then there were women presbyters….
Numerous decrees of councils and opinions of bishops against them. Nevertheless:
Ammion, presbyter, 3d c. Phyrgia
Artemidora, presbyter, daughter of Mikkalos, 2-3 c. Egypt
Epikto presbyter, from Thera
Kalē, presbytis, 4-5 th c. Sicily
Leta presbytera, Tropea, Calabria
Martia, presbyteria, 4-5 c. Poitiers
Flavia Vitalia, 425 CE, Solin, Croatia
Guilia Runa, presbiterissa, Hippo, North Africa, after 431 CE