1. The Rise and Fall of Women in the Early Church

2. Gathered together young and old As Jesus Story is once again told A WOMAN gave birth to Christ I am told But she is not given much credit behold

3. But when t he time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman , ... - Galatians 4:4 Attributed to Jacopo Della Quercia around 1371-1438 Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi), The small Cowper Madonna, c. 1505 ,

4. And SHE gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. -Luke 2:7 Christmas - a reminder...

7. According to Brown, Leonardo da Vinci (1500’s) was a leader of the Priory of Sion and he passed on the “secret” role of Mary Magdalene in various art works. e.g., “The Last Supper” Milan John/Mary ?

10. Witness to Jesus' Death : Mary Magdalen at the Cross Matthias Gruenewald, Crucifixion from the Isenheim Altarpiece

11. Rembrandt, Risen Christ Appearing to Mary Magdalen Edward Burne-Jones, The Morning after the Resurrection

12. The Resurrection by Burne-Jones Jesus said unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my father, but Go to my bretheren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he spoke these things unto her. John 20, 17-18 Mary, Apostle to the Apostles

18. The 3rd Century Fresco in the catacomb of Santa Priscilla in Rome depicting an early Christian “communion”. It provides evidence that many participants were women.

24. The Diminishment of Women by Early Church Leaders The Diminishment of Women by Early Church Leaders

25. Tertullian 160-225. “ You are the devil’s gateway; you are the unsealer of that tree: you are the first deserter of the divine law.”

26. “ What is seen with the eyes of the creator is masculine, and not feminine, for God does not stoop to look upon what is feminine and of the flesh.” Origen (180-254)

27. “ Should you reflect about what is contained in beautiful eyes . . . You will see that bodily beauty is only a white-washed tomb, for inside it is full of filth”. John Chrysostom (374-407)

28. Bernini, Statue of St. Augustine Augustine of Hippo,354 - 430 “ Flesh stands for woman, because she was made out of a rib.” Augustine & Monica by Gozzoli

30. From that Time on Women were Eve or Mary Temptress or Saints EVE leaving the Garden of Eden as depicted by Masaccio (Active approx. 1401-1428)

31. Temptress

32. Temptation of St Anthony Bosch, Hieronymus, ca.1500 Altarpiece Women are seen as the bearers of temptation Temptress

33. Constantine and Helena

34. Our Lady of the Sign ( Bogomater’ znamenie ) (Iaroslavl, early 13 th century)

35. Bernini, Gianlorenzo Ecstasy of St. Teresa 1647-52 Marble height c. 11' 6" (3.5m) Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome