Role of Bishops in Early Church Conversation with Roman Catholic Theologian and Archaelogist: St. Brigit of Kildare- Bishop and Abbess

Bishop Theodora and St. Praxedis (bishops depicted in mosaic in St. Praxedis Church in Rome)


St. Brigit of Kildare ( 450 AD, bishop and abbess, feast Feb. 1st)

This week Dorothy Irvin, distinguished Roman Catholic Theologian and Archaeologist and I had a conversation on the role of bishops in the early church.


1 Before Constantine, Christians met for worship in the homes.

2. The bishop's home was a gathering place for worship, meal sharing, distribution of goods to the indigent. There were multiple house churches in Rome. Hence, bishops originated in the house churches.

3. In mosaic above in St. Praxedis Church in Rome you see depictions of two women bishops, who lived 600 years apart, St. Praxedis and Theodora.

4. The church of St. Prisca and Pudentiana were early house churches.

5. After 325 A.D., when Christianity became legal, the pagan temples were turned into churches, worship moved from the homes to public buildings.

6. The bishop became a government official/ a magistrate. The diocese was a civil division like a county and the bishop had a territory to administer.

7. The Vatican still assigns cardinals as titular heads to what were formerly house churches in Rome.

I find this interesting as Roman Catholic Womenpriests elect bishops. Some of us originate in contemporary house churches!



St. Brigit of Kildare from Praying with Celtic Holy Women
by Bridget Mary Meehan and Regina Madonna Oliver

Today, Feb. 1st is the feast day of St. Brigit of Kildare, (born 450AD) who according to the Irish Life of Brigit was ordained a bishop.


Filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, Bishop Mel, St. Patrick's nephew, read the form of ordaining a bishop over Brigit. While she was being consecrated a brillant fiery flame ascended from her head. Mac Caille, Mel's assistant complained that a bishop's rank was bestowed on a woman. (some things never seem to change, do they?)


Bishop Mel argued: "But I do not have any power in this matter. That dignity has been given by God to Brigit beyond every other woman. Only this virgin in the whole of Ireland will hold the episcopal ordination." Bishop Mel seemed to say that only the abbesses of Kildare could be ordained bishops. Brigit's successors would have high level authority in the Irish church. Indeed other Irish bishops customarily sat at the feet of Brigit's successors until the Synod of Kells ended this tradition in 1159.