Clergy Women

In early Christian art, you can identify members of the clergy or bishops by their attire. Clergy wore palliums around their waist, maniples draped across the left forearm, or were seen holding a codex of Scriptures.

In the Lateran Baptistery is a beautiful mosaic apse that features Mary centered below Jesus, with her arms raised, wearing white pallium around her waist, communicating that she was a bishop. At some point, an altar was built in front of that apse, blocking Mary (and her leadership) from the typical view of a worshipper. One would have to stand to the side or get behind the altar to see Mary. The obstructing altar has a painting of her holding baby Jesus, striped of spiritual authority, which was the more acceptable version of Mary and women.

Again, we see Mary wearing a pallium in Niccole e Giovanni’s Last Judgment piece displayed in the Vatican Museum. She is in the lower left corner in the same pose and wardrobe as the Lateran Baptistery, supported by female saints and servants.

Queen Mother Mary sits on the throne with young Jesus in the mosaic of the Procession of Martyrs in Ravenna. A maniple is draped on her left arm, communicating she is clergy or priest.

Lastly, we have Crispina holding a codex, as evidenced by the Chi Rho symbol on the book. Only leaders in the early Church would be depicted holding Scriptures.  Learn more about Crispina at the Visual Museum of Women in Christianity.