Women in the Early Church

Who were the women of the early church? What was their role in the formation of the faith? Why do we know so little about them? We recorded this documentary on location in Rome, Italy. The video tells the story of women in the first three centuries of Christianity. We tell stories about women like Perpetua, Helena, Thecla and others.

Their names and stories are famous… Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – Peter, Paul, James, disciples of Jesus and the writers of the New Testament. Later, Jerome, Augustine Augustine and others, took up the mantel of leadership. They were men of faith and courage. They helped spread Christianity across the empire. But what about the women of the early church? Who were they? What were their names? What role did they play in the formation of Christianity? Recent scholarship has begun to shed light on women in the early church, to illuminate their stories and recover details about their roles and contributions.

Far from being minor players, women in the early church had some significant roles to play. They served as teachers, scholars, evangelists, and leaders of house churches. Some founded monastic communities and others turned their own homes into hospices and orphanages. And a number of women made perhaps the most courageous witness of all, becoming martyrs for their faith in Jesus Christ. For evidence, one needs look no further than the historical record – even the New Testament itself.