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Presbytera
''Presbytera'' (, pronunciation: /prezviˈtera/) is a term used in Christian traditions, primarily within Eastern Orthodoxy, to denote the wife of a priest. Historically, the term, derived from the Greek ''presbyteros'' ("elder" or "priest"), held multiple meanings in early Christianity, including a female church officer, a cloister matron, an abbess, or a priest’s wife. Over time, its usage evolved, particularly from the medieval period onward, to primarily signify the spousal role in both Greek and Latin Christian contexts. In contemporary Orthodox churches, the presbytera is recognized as a respected figure within the parish, often contributing to her husband’s ministry through social, spiritual, and sometimes professional roles, though she holds no ordained office. Etymology The term ''presbytera'' (πρεσβυτέρα) or ''presbyterissa'' (πρεσβύτις) appears in early Christian writings with multiple meanings: it could denote: * a priest’s wife * a female ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
List Of Early Christian Women Presbyters
This list of early Christian women presbyters Christian female figures from the 1st–7th centuries CE. In the first two centuries, presbyters held fluid roles, including spiritual leadership and liturgical duties, with women participating widely. Archaeological evidence, such as Epitaph, epitaphs from Phrygia, Santorini, Thera, and Salona, and texts like the ''Testamentum Domini'' confirm women served as ''Presbytera, presbyterae'' (female elders) in mainstream churches. By the 4th century, institutional opposition arose, including bans by the Council of Laodicea, Synod of Laodicea (c. 363–364 CE) and Pope Gelasius I’s condemnation (494 CE) of women ministering at altars. Despite this, regional councils (e.g., Nîmes, 394 CE) and later inscriptions suggest women retained roles in Monasticism#Christianity, monastic and pastoral settings. Scholars debate whether titles like ''presbytera'' or ''sacerdota'' (priestess) denote sacramental authority or functional leadership, as mode ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Deacon
A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian denominations, such as the Catholic Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutheranism, Presbyterianism, Methodism, and Anglicanism, view the diaconate as an order of ministry. Permanent deacons (or distinctive deacons) are those who do not later transition to another form of ministry, in contrast to those continuing their formation who are then often called transitional deacons. Origin and development The word ''deacon'' is derived from the Greek word (), which is a standard ancient Greek word meaning "servant", "waiter", "minister", or "messenger". Recent research has highlighted the role of the deacon "as a co-operator" and "go-between," emphasizing their intermediary position in early Christian communities. It is generally assum ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Episcopa
' ''Episcopa'' is a feminine Latin form derived from the masculine "episcopus" (bishop), rooted in the Greek episkopos ("overseer/bishop"). Its historical usage is debated among scholars, with three main interpretations: bishop's wife, ordained female bishop, or overseeing role (e.g. abbess). Archaeological and historical records provide evidence of women titled "episcopa," fueling discussions about their roles. Etymology The term "episcopa" is contested. Some scholars propose it referred to bishops' wives,Methuen, C. (2005). ''Vidua—presbytera—episcopa: Women with oversight in the early church''. Theology, 108(843), 163–177. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040571X0510800302 others suggest it denoted women overseeing groups like virgins or widows, similar to an abbess, and a minority argue it indicated women ordained as bishops with active ecclesiastical roles. However, these views face challenges: specialized roles like abbess had distinct terms (e.g., "abbatissa"),Eisen, U. E. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Diakonissa
''Diakonissa'' is a Greek title of honor that is used to refer to a deacon's wife. It is derived from ''diakonos''—the Greek word for ''deacon'' (literally, "server"). There does not currently seem to be any standard English equivalent, so most English-speaking Orthodox Christians will use the title most common in the old country churches from which their local family or parish finds its origin. ''Diakonissa'' was also the term used in the ancient Church for the order of deaconess, a class of ordained women who saw to the care of women in the community. Other languages In Arabic, a deacon's wife is called ''Shamassy'' (derived from ''Shamas'', Arabic for "deacon"). Romanian uses a derivative from the Greek term, ''Diaconiţa'', as does Serbian, ''Đakonica''/''Ђаконица'' (pronounced ''jack-on-eet'-sa''). Other Slavic traditions generally use the same word for a deacon's wife that is used for a priest's wife: ''Matushka'' (Russian), ''Panimatushka'' (Ukrainian ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eastern Orthodoxy
Eastern Orthodoxy, otherwise known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity or Byzantine Christianity, is one of the three main Branches of Christianity, branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholic Church, Catholicism and Protestantism. Like the Pentarchy of the first millennium, the mainstream (or "Canon law of the Eastern Orthodox Church, canonical") Eastern Orthodox Church is Organization of the Eastern Orthodox Church, organised into autocephalous churches independent from each other. In the 21st century, the Organization of the Eastern Orthodox Church#Autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches, number of mainstream autocephalous churches is seventeen; there also exist Organization of the Eastern Orthodox Church#Unrecognised churches, autocephalous churches unrecognized by those mainstream ones. Autocephalous churches choose their own Primate (bishop), primate. Autocephalous churches can have Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, jurisdiction (authority) over other churches, som ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Montanism
Montanism (), known by its adherents as the New Revelation, was an History of Christianity#Early Christianity (c. 31/33–324), early Christian movement of the Christianity in the 2nd century, mid-to-late 2nd century, later referred to by the name of its founder, Montanus. Montanism held views about the basic tenets of Christian theology similar to those of the wider Christian Church, but it was labelled a Heresy in Christianity, heresy for its belief in new Prophets of Christianity, prophetic figures. The prophetic movement called for a reliance on the spontaneity of the Holy Spirit in Christianity, Holy Spirit and a more conservative personal ethic. Montanism originated in Phrygia, a province of Classical Anatolia, Anatolia, and flourished throughout the region, leading to the movement being referred to elsewhere as Cataphrygian (meaning it was "from Phrygia") or simply as Phrygian. They were sometimes also called Pepuzians after the town of Pepuza, which they regarded as the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Epiphanius Of Salamis
Epiphanius of Salamis (; – 403) was the bishop of Salamis, Cyprus, at the end of the Christianity in the 4th century, 4th century. He is considered a saint and a Church Father by the Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox, Catholic Churches, and some Presbyterians. He gained a reputation as a strong defender of orthodoxy. He is best known for composing the ''Panarion'', a compendium of eighty Heresy, heresies, which included also pagan religions and philosophical systems. There has been much controversy over how many of the quotations attributed to him by the Byzantine Iconoclasts were actually by him. Regardless of this, he was clearly strongly Aniconism in Christianity, against some contemporary uses of images in the church. Life Epiphanius was either born into a Romaniote Jews, Romaniote Christian family or became a Christians , Christian in his youth. Either way, he was a Romaniote Jew who was born in the small settlement of Besanduk, near Bayt Jibrin, Eleutheropolis ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Heresiology
In theology or the history of religion, heresiology is the study of heresy, and heresiographies are writings about the topic. Heresiographical works were common in both medieval Christianity and Islam. Heresiology developed as a part of the emerging definition of Christian orthodoxy. Church scholars studied and documented the teachings of various Christian sects in order to clearly distinguish between those they accepted as orthodox and those they rejected as heretical. Other Christian communions developed their own competing heresiological traditions as well. In Islam, heresiology surveyed both the various Muslim sects, and also other religions such as Christianity and Judaism. Some, like Abu Mansur al-Baghdadi and Ibn Hazm wrote polemical works, arguing the falseness of sects and religions other than their own. Others, like al-Shahrastani's '' Al-Milal wa al-Nihal'', took a more impartial approach closer to modern religious studies works. See also *Doxography Doxography (&nb ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tertullian
Tertullian (; ; 155 – 220 AD) was a prolific Early Christianity, early Christian author from Roman Carthage, Carthage in the Africa (Roman province), Roman province of Africa. He was the first Christian author to produce an extensive corpus of Latin literature, Latin Christian literature and was an early Christian apologetics, Christian apologist and a polemicist against Heresy in Christianity, heresy, including contemporary Christian Gnosticism. Tertullian was the first theologian to write in Latin, and so has been called "the father of Latin Christianity", as well as "History of Christian theology, the founder of Western theology". He is perhaps most famous for being the first writer in Latin known to use the term ''trinity'' (Latin: ''trinitas''). Tertullian originated new theological concepts and advanced the development of early Church doctrine. However, some of his teachings, such as the Subordinationism, subordination of God the Son, the Son and Holy Spirit in C ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Augustine Of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo ( , ; ; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430) was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Africa. His writings deeply influenced the development of Western philosophy and Western Christianity, and he is viewed as one of the most important Church Fathers of the Latin Church in the Patristic Period. His many important works include '' The City of God'', '' On Christian Doctrine'', and '' Confessions''. According to his contemporary, Jerome of Stridon, Augustine "established anew the ancient Faith". In his youth he was drawn to the Manichaean faith, and later to the Hellenistic philosophy of Neoplatonism. After his conversion to Christianity and baptism in 386, Augustine developed his own approach to philosophy and theology, accommodating a variety of methods and perspectives. Believing the grace of Christ was indispensable to human freedom, he helped formulate the doctrine of original sin and m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Council Of Laodicea
The Council of Laodicea was a regional Christian synod of approximately thirty clerics from Asia Minor which assembled about 363–364 in Laodicea, Phrygia Pacatiana. Historical context The council took place soon after the conclusion of the war between the Roman Empire and the Persian Empire, waged by Emperor Julian. Julian, the last Constantinian emperor, attempted a revival of paganism. After his death in battle on 26 June 363, officers of the army elected the Christian Jovian as his successor. Jovian, in a precarious position, far from supplies, ended the war with Persia unfavorably for Rome. He was soon succeeded by Valentinian I, who named his brother Valens as Emperor of the East. Major concerns The major concerns of the council involved regulating the conduct of church members. The council expressed its decrees in the form of written rules or canons. Among the sixty canons decreed, several aimed at: * Maintaining order among bishops, clerics and laypeople (canons ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Orthodoxy
Orthodoxy () is adherence to a purported "correct" or otherwise mainstream- or classically-accepted creed, especially in religion. Orthodoxy within Christianity refers to acceptance of the doctrines defined by various creeds and ecumenical councils in Late antiquity, antiquity, but different Churches accept different creeds and councils. Such differences of opinion have developed for numerous reasons, including language and cultural barriers. In the Christian world, Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy are sometimes referred to simply as ''"the Orthodox"'' or ''"Orthodoxy"''. In some English-speaking countries, Jews who adhere to all the contemporarily-applicable 613 commandments, commandments legislated in the Torah, Written and Oral Torah are often called Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox Jews. As this can include many Jews that may not necessarily identify with the term ''"Orthodox"'', such as many Conservative Judaism, Masorti Jews, Jewish religious movements, Jewish communi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
