Episcopa Theodora

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Episcopa Theodora is the inscription on a 9th century mosaic in the St. Zeno Chapel of the Church of St. Praxedis in Rome. Historically, Theodora was the mother of Pope Paschal I, and he dedicated the chapel to her.

There is debate over what episcopa might mean in reference to this mosaic. Proponents of the ordination of women point out that, linguistically, episcopa is a Latin feminization of the Greek episkopos, the traditional and Biblical term for a bishop. They thus claim that the Theodora in the inscription is in fact Bishop Theodora, evidence of the ordination of women in the 9th century Christian Church.[1]

Critics of this argument point out, however, that feminizations of clerical titles have traditionally been associated with the wives of clergy. Presbytera and diakonissa are, for instance, used honorifically to this day to refer to the wives of presbyters and deacons in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Since the ancient Church had married bishops, the title episcopa often referred to the wife of a bishop. In the case of the 9th century Theodora, she was probably given the honorary title of episcopa because of her son's position as the Pope of Rome.[2]