The Powerful Imperial Women of the Early Church

It is often believed that male emperors and patriarchs were the ones that shaped and advanced the early church in the Roman empire, but this is not the total story. An often un- known or overlooked fact is that ten powerful Christian women were very influential in the early church.

They were:

Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great
Aelia Flaccilla, the first wife of Theodosius I
Galla Placidia, the daughter of Theodosius I
Aelia Eudoxia, the wife of Arcadius
Aelia Eudocia, the wife of Theodosius II
Pulcheria, the daughter of Arcadius and Aelia Eudoxia
Theodora, the wife of Justinian
Eudokia, the wife of Constantine V
Irene, the wife of Leo IV
Theodora, the wife of Theophilus.