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''Episcopa Theodora'' is the Greek inscription on a 9th-century Christian
''Episcopa Theodora'' is the Greek inscription on a 9th-century Christian mosaic
A mosaic is a pattern or image made of small regular or irregular pieces of colored stone, glass or ceramic, held in place by plaster/mortar, and covering a surface. Mosaics are often used as floor and wall decoration, and were particularly pop ...
in the Chapel of Bishop Zeno of Verona located within the Church of Saint Praxedis the Martyress in Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus ( legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
.
The honorific title refers to the Lady Theodora, the historical mother of Pope Paschal I
Pope Paschal I ( la, Paschalis I; died 824) was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 25 January 817 to his death in 824.
Paschal was a member of an aristocratic Roman family. Before his election to the papacy, he was abbot of St ...
, who built the chapel for her while she was still alive, as indicated by the square halo of the mosaic
A mosaic is a pattern or image made of small regular or irregular pieces of colored stone, glass or ceramic, held in place by plaster/mortar, and covering a surface. Mosaics are often used as floor and wall decoration, and were particularly pop ...
. Theodora was widely known to be a devout Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι� ...
in the early Church
Church may refer to:
Religion
* Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities
* Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination
* Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship
* Chri ...
, and was notable for her acts of piety
Piety is a virtue which may include religious devotion or spirituality. A common element in most conceptions of piety is a duty of respect. In a religious context piety may be expressed through pious activities or devotions, which may vary among ...
and sanctity
Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...
.
Theodora as bishop
The lettering "EPISCOPA" has been interpreted by some to mean "bishop" and therefore that Theodora was a bishop. SomeCatholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
theologians and Roman art scholars take issue with this argument by pointing out that feminizations of clerical titles have traditionally been associated with the wives and widows of early Christian clergy since the Apostolic Age
Christianity in the 1st century covers the formative history of Christianity from the start of the ministry of Jesus (–29 AD) to the death of the last of the Twelve Apostles () and is thus also known as the Apostolic Age. Early Christianity ...
.
Since married bishops were more common in late antiquity
Late antiquity is the time of transition from classical antiquity to the Middle Ages, generally spanning the 3rd–7th century in Europe and adjacent areas bordering the Mediterranean Basin. The popularization of this periodization in English h ...
and the early middle ages than in later centuries ( priestly celibacy was only enforced in the Catholic Church after the Great Schism of 1054), the title ''Episcopa'' may refer to the wife or widow of a bishop, as well as the mother of any bishop, such as that of Pope Paschal I
Pope Paschal I ( la, Paschalis I; died 824) was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 25 January 817 to his death in 824.
Paschal was a member of an aristocratic Roman family. Before his election to the papacy, he was abbot of St ...
. Therefore, the title ''Episcopa'' is said to have been used for the Lady Theodora for her esteemed position as the mother of the Pope as well as her own piety; a holy woman who practiced great austerity and religiosity, and not as an ordained bishop.
Epigraphy
An extant dedicatory marble inscription in the basilica identifies Theodora as the mother of Pope Paschal. The dedication, which includes the description of the transfer of the relics of Saint Zeno after whom the chapel containing the image is named, has the following inscription:See also
* ''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, s ...
''
* ''Presbytera
''Presbytera'' ( el, πρεσβυτέρα, pronounced ''presvytéra'') is a Greek title of honor that is used to refer to a priest
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a m ...
''
References
{{reflist Mosaics Ordination of women in Christianity Ordination of women and the Catholic Church Christian iconography 9th-century Italian women