The image purportedly of a female bishop who spread the Gospel in the fifth century was recently restored after being unearthed in an Italian catacomb, shedding more light on the place of women in the early church.
The image shows a woman named Cerula with her hands raised in prayer as flaming gospel books float all around her, according to the Daily Mail. For researchers, the image is "incredibly significant" evidence that Jesus had more female followers than originally thought.
The discovery was to be highlighted in Channel 4's program called "Jesus' Female Disciples: The New Evidence," reports the Sunday Telegraph.
Experts explained that the female bishop had a red "chi-rho" symbol of Christ floating over her head, and the gospel books floating around her symolized that she was in a position of authority.
"Bishops, and bishops only, had open gospel books placed over their heads during their ordination ritual," said Dr. Ally Kateusz, an expert in early Christian art, according to The Telegraph. "The flames of the Holy Spirit would come out of the gospels and inspire the bishops in their preaching."
Dr. Luca Badini, from the Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research, said the restored art proves that Jesus' following was not only limited to the men.
"It was known that women bishops were preaching at that time but very little evidence exists of it," said Badini. "There are still some people who argue on the basis of tradition, stating that they can't allow women to minister because it's never been done before, but of course, that's not true."
Bible experts Helen Bond added that the image is proof that Jesus did not place more value on His male disciples. "Historic precedent that says Jesus did not choose women is clearly wrong," said Bond.
Rev Dr Ian Paul, a New Testament scholar and member of the Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, had a different view, however.
He told The Telegraph: "We find similar things from the third-century Catacombs of Priscilla in Rome—but there the female figure is also wearing a stole, the garb of priestly office. Cerula does not have this, so though clearly a person of influence, it seems to me unlikely that she is a priest or bishop, and we have no written evidence of women having such an office at this time."
