A collection of the archive

The Women of the Early Church

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Deacons, patrons, prophetesses, martyrs, desert mothers, empresses and slaves — every woman the sources name, from Mary of Bethany to Melania the Elder.

103 figures, AD 1 to 400

The names survive unevenly and often at second hand: a greeting at the end of a letter, a line in a martyr-act, a brother’s funeral oration. Where a woman is named only in relation to a man, the archive says so rather than inventing a biography for her.

Women referred to but not named — the widow of Nain, the women at the tomb — are not here, because the archive indexes named figures. A handful of unnamed but individually described women are the exception, and their entries say as much.

Who were the women of the early church?

  1. 1 Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist fl. c. 5 BC (death unrecorded) Of the daughters of Aaron · Kinswoman of Mary
  2. 2 Anna the Prophetess fl. c. AD 1, aged 84 (death unrecorded) Prophetess · Daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher
  3. 3 Saint Anne d. c. AD 12 (traditional) Mother of the Virgin Mary
  4. 4 The Sinful Woman (Luke 7) fl. c. AD 31 (unnamed; life unrecorded) Penitent of Galilee · Anointed Jesus in the Pharisee's house
  5. 5 Jairus fl. c. AD 31 (death unrecorded) Ruler of the synagogue · Father of the raised daughter
  6. 6 Martha of Bethany fl. c. AD 30–33 Mistress of the Bethany household · Confessed Christ before the tomb
  7. 7 Mary Magdalene fl. c. AD 30–33 (later life unrecorded) Disciple of Galilee · First witness of the Resurrection · ‘Apostle to…
  8. 8 Mary of Bethany fl. c. AD 30–33 Disciple · Sister of Martha and Lazarus · Anointed Jesus at Bethany
  9. 9 Sapphira d. c. 33 Member of the first Jerusalem community
  10. 10 Salome the Myrrh-bearer fl. c. AD 30–33 (death unrecorded) Disciple of Galilee · Witness of the crucifixion · Bearer of spices…
  11. 11 Mary, mother of James and Joses fl. c. AD 30–33 (death unrecorded) Disciple of Galilee · Witness of the crucifixion and the burial ·…
  12. 12 Mary of Clopas fl. c. AD 33 (death unrecorded) Kinswoman of the Virgin · Witness of the crucifixion
  13. 13 Susanna fl. c. AD 30 (death unrecorded) Benefactor of the ministry
  14. 14 Pontius Pilate's Wife (Procula) fl. AD 33 (death unrecorded) Roman noblewoman · Warned Pilate at the trial
  15. 15 Herodias c. 15 BC – after AD 39 (exiled to Gaul) Wife of Herod Antipas · Procured the death of the Baptist
  16. 16 Tabitha (Dorcas) d. after c. 36 (raised at Joppa) Disciple of Joppa · Benefactress
  17. 17 Mary, the Mother of Jesus d. c. 41–48 (traditions vary) Mother of the Lord
  18. 18 Mary, Mother of John Mark fl. c. 44 (death unrecorded) Householder of the Jerusalem church
  19. 19 Lydia of Thyatira fl. c. 50 (death unrecorded) Dealer in purple · First convert of Europe
  20. 20 Salome, daughter of Herodias c. AD 14 – c. AD 62 (dates uncertain) Herodian princess · Danced before Herod Antipas
  21. 21 Damaris of Athens fl. c. 50 (death unrecorded) Convert of the Areopagus address
  22. 22 Phoebe of Cenchreae fl. c. 57 (death unrecorded) Deacon of Cenchreae · Bearer of Romans
  23. 23 The Mother of Rufus fl. c. 57 (death unrecorded) Matron of the Roman church
  24. 24 Chloe of Corinth fl. c. 55 (death unrecorded) Householder · Paul’s informant at Corinth
  25. 25 Claudia of Rome fl. c. 66 (death unrecorded) Believer of the Roman church
  26. 26 Eunice fl. c. 50 (death unrecorded) Mother of Timothy
  27. 27 Prisca (Priscilla) d. later 1st c. (trad., Rome or Asia) Teacher · Host of house churches on three coasts
  28. 28 Apphia of Colossae d. c. 68 (trad., with Philemon) “Our sister” of the Colossian house church
  29. 29 Junia fl. c. 57 (in Christ before Paul) Kinswoman of Paul · “Of note among the apostles”
  30. 30 Drusilla c. AD 38 – c. AD 79 Wife of the procurator Felix · Herodian princess
  31. 31 Bernice c. AD 28 – after AD 79 Herodian princess · Present at Paul’s hearing before Agrippa II
  32. 32 Thecla of Iconium fl. c. AD 45–90 (trad.); her Acts c. 160 Virgin · Protomartyr among women (by tradition)
  33. 33 The Elect Lady addressed c. AD 90–100 Addressee of 2 John
  34. 34 Flavia Domitilla exiled AD 95; d. thereafter Imperial noblewoman · Confessor
  35. 35 The Four Daughters of Philip fl. c. 57 – c. 100 (deaths unrecorded) Virgin prophetesses of Caesarea
  36. 36 Marcellina the Carpocratian fl. c. AD 155–165 (death unrecorded) Carpocratian teacher at Rome
  37. 37 Charito d. c. 165 Martyr · Companion of Justin
  38. 38 Flora fl. c. 160 (death unrecorded) Roman Christian woman · Addressee of Ptolemy's letter
  39. 39 Biblis of Lyon d. 177 Confessor who recovered her faith · Martyr
  40. 40 Blandina of Lyon c. 162 – 177 Slave · Martyr of the church of Lyon
  41. 41 Maximilla d. c. 179 Prophetess of the New Prophecy
  42. 42 Donata of Scillium d. 17 July 180 Scillitan martyr
  43. 43 Generosa of Scillium d. 17 July 180 Scillitan martyr
  44. 44 Priscilla the Montanist fl. c. AD 165–180 (death unrecorded) Prophetess of the New Prophecy
  45. 45 Vestia of Scillium d. 17 July 180 Scillitan martyr
  46. 46 Herais of Alexandria d. c. AD 202 (burned) Catechumen · Martyr — 'baptized by fire'
  47. 47 Marcella of Alexandria d. c. AD 202 (martyr) Mother of Potamiaena · Martyr
  48. 48 Potamiaena of Alexandria d. c. 202 Virgin · Martyr of the Severan persecution
  49. 49 Felicity (Felicitas) d. 7 March 203 Slave · Martyr of Carthage
  50. 50 Pomponius the Deacon attested AD 203 (death unrecorded) Deacon of Carthage · Minister to the martyrs
  51. 51 Vibia Perpetua c. 182 – 203 Noblewoman · Diarist · Martyr of Carthage
  52. 52 Juliana fl. c. AD 215 (death unrecorded) Laywoman of Caesarea · Keeper of Symmachus’ books
  53. 53 Saint Cecilia d. c. AD 230 (martyr) Roman virgin-martyr · Patron of music
  54. 54 Akeptous fl. c. AD 230 Donor of the communion table at Kfar Othnay
  55. 55 Julia Mamaea d. AD 235 (killed with her son) Augusta · Mother of Severus Alexander
  56. 56 Apollonia of Alexandria d. 249 Aged deaconess · Martyr of Alexandria
  57. 57 Quinta of Alexandria d. 249 Martyr of Alexandria
  58. 58 Severa fl. AD 244–249 (death unrecorded) Empress · Wife of Philip the Arab
  59. 59 Ammonarium d. AD 250 (killed by the sword) Holy virgin · Martyr
  60. 60 Dionysia of Alexandria d. AD 250 (killed by the sword) Mother of many children · Martyr
  61. 61 Mercuria d. AD 250 (killed by the sword) Aged woman · Martyr
  62. 62 Sabina of Smyrna fl. 250 (confessed with Pionius) Confessor of Smyrna
  63. 63 Saint Agatha d. c. AD 251 (martyr) Sicilian virgin-martyr
  64. 64 Zenobia of Palmyra captured 272; d. c. 274+ Queen of Palmyra · Protector of Paul of Samosata
  65. 65 Candida the Roman d. late 3rd century (martyr under Bahram II) Roman captive · Wife of the king · Martyr
  66. 66 Gayanē d. c. AD 300/301 (martyr) Abbess of the virgin company · Martyr
  67. 67 Hripsimē d. c. AD 300/301 (martyr) Consecrated virgin · Martyr
  68. 68 Xosroviduxt fl. c. AD 300/301 (death unrecorded) Princess of Armenia · Sister of King Trdat
  69. 69 Engratia of Saragossa d. c. AD 303 (martyr) Virgin-martyr of Saragossa
  70. 70 Agnes of Rome d. c. 304 Virgin · Martyr of Rome
  71. 71 Anastasia of Sirmium d. c. AD 304 (martyr) Martyr · Ancient Roman titulus
  72. 72 Crispina of Thagara d. 5 December 304 Noblewoman · Martyr of Africa
  73. 73 Eulalia of Mérida d. AD 304 (martyr) Girl-martyr of Lusitania
  74. 74 Euphemia of Chalcedon d. c. AD 304 (martyr) Virgin-martyr of Chalcedon
  75. 75 Lucy of Syracuse d. c. 304 Virgin · Martyr of Sicily
  76. 76 Theodosia of Tyre d. AD 307–308 (martyr at Caesarea) Virgin martyr of Caesarea
  77. 77 Lucilla fl. c. AD 311–320 (death unrecorded) Wealthy laywoman of Carthage · Patroness of Majorinus
  78. 78 Helena Augusta c. 246 – c. 330 Empress-mother · Pilgrim · Finder of the True Cross (trad.)
  79. 79 Macrina the Elder c. 270 – c. 340 Confessor · Grandmother & teacher of the Cappadocians
  80. 80 Martha, daughter of Pusai d. c. AD 341 (martyr) Consecrated virgin · Martyr
  81. 81 Tarbo d. c. AD 342 (martyr) Consecrated virgin · Sister of Simeon bar Sabbae · Martyr
  82. 82 Queen Nana of Iberia d. mid-4th c. Queen of Iberia (Georgia) · First royal convert of the Caucasus
  83. 83 Amma Syncletica d. c. AD 350 Desert Mother of Alexandria · Teacher of the ascetic life
  84. 84 Petronilla venerated as a martyr at Rome by AD 356 Martyr venerated at Rome
  85. 85 Veneranda d. shortly after AD 356 Laywoman of Rome
  86. 86 Adelphia d. fourth century Clarissima femina of Syracuse
  87. 87 Gorgonia of Nazianzus c. 329 – c. 372 Matron · Sister of Gregory the Theologian
  88. 88 Amma Alexandra d. c. AD 373 Recluse of the tombs
  89. 89 Nonna of Nazianzus c. 300 – 374 Deaconess · Mother of Gregory the Theologian
  90. 90 Emmelia of Caesarea c. 300 – c. 375 Mother of the Cappadocians
  91. 91 Mavia queen; revolted c. AD 377–378; d. after 378 Queen of the Tanukhid Saracens · Ally, then patron, of the church
  92. 92 Macrina the Younger c. 327 – 379 Ascetic · “The Teacher” of the Cappadocians
  93. 93 Irene d. before AD 384 (a consecrated virgin, not a martyr) Consecrated virgin · Sister of Pope Damasus
  94. 94 Blaesilla d. AD 384 Roman widow · Disciple of Jerome
  95. 95 Egeria the pilgrim fl. AD 381–384 Pilgrim · Diarist of the holy places
  96. 96 Saint Lea d. AD 384 Roman widow · Head of a house of virgins
  97. 97 Aelia Flaccilla d. AD 386 Roman empress · Nicene patron of the poor
  98. 98 Monica of Thagaste c. 331 – 387 Mother of Augustine
  99. 99 Amma Piamoun d. c. AD 395 Virgin and prophetess of the Egyptian villages
  100. 100 Amma Talis d. c. AD 395 (eighty years in ascesis) Amma of Antinoë · Mother of sixty virgins
  101. 101 Marcellina d. c. AD 397 Consecrated virgin · Sister of Ambrose
  102. 102 Fabiola d. AD 399 Roman noblewoman · Founder of the first Christian hospital
  103. 103 Melania the Elder c. AD 341 – c. 410 (held at the timeline's ceiling) Roman patrician · Founder on the Mount of Olives

Every name links to its profile: the dates, the office, and every primary source that carries the name. 82 of these 103 have no Wikipedia article — for them this archive may be the fullest sourced record online.

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