Doctor Luke talks to Aemilia Metella

The Journalist who tells women’s stories Luke was a doctor and travelling companion of Paul. At the start of the gospel which bears his name, he says he carefully investigated everything before writing the account of Jesus’s life up to the resurrection. Luke is gathering information to write the sequel to his gospel, the ActsContinue reading “Doctor Luke talks to Aemilia Metella”

Aemilia Metella Interviews Mary of Jerusalem

The woman who refused to flinch in the face of danger The woman put down the scroll she was reading and stood as I entered. “Aemilia, welcome, please sit.” Rhoda, Mary’s servant, placed a silver tray with a jug of wine and two cups on a small table and, with a nod, left the room.Continue reading “Aemilia Metella Interviews Mary of Jerusalem”

The Historical and Biblical Background to Advance from Antioch

In the past two posts, I have looked into the Biblical and historical background of my novels. In January I looked at Leaving Bethany and last month, Return to Caesarea. Now it is the turn of the final book in the Leaving Bethany Trilogy, Advance from Antioch.   The story picks up one year afterContinue reading “The Historical and Biblical Background to Advance from Antioch”

The Historical and Biblical Background to Return to Caesarea

Last month I launched a blog series on the Biblical and historical basis of my novels starting with Leaving Bethany. My focus now shifts to the second novel, Return to Caesarea. It is a story where my protagonist, Martha of Bethany fights against potential murderers and her own prejudices. It is five years after theContinue reading “The Historical and Biblical Background to Return to Caesarea”

Celebrating Women Pioneers of the Early Church

Women Poets and Writers As a writer, I was fascinated to discover that women were writing their thoughts, hopes and ideas way back in antiquity, and women writers are not a new thing. I want to round off this series of women pioneers of the Early Church with a look at three women writers toContinue reading “Celebrating Women Pioneers of the Early Church”

Celebrating Women Pioneers of the Early Church

The Desert Mothers The conversion of Emperor Constantine in 312 AD elevated Christianity to a state religion and brought an end to three centuries of state persecution. The church moved from the margins of society into the centre. It was at this time when Christians began to feel at home in the world that someContinue reading “Celebrating Women Pioneers of the Early Church”

Celebrating Women Pioneers of the Early Church

Women Evangelists and Apostles Welcome to the fourth in our series celebrating the women pioneers of the Early Church. Catch up with the first three here: Women Martyrs Women Theologians and Bible translators Women Church Leaders We read in the New Testament of the twelve apostles, the twelve men who were Jesus’ closest disciples. LaterContinue reading “Celebrating Women Pioneers of the Early Church”

Celebrating Women Pioneers of the Early Church

Women Church Leaders Welcome to the third of the series celebrating women pioneers of the Early Church. Part 1 Women Martyrs Part 2 Women Theologians and Bible Translators When we read about church leadership roles in the New Testament, it can be difficult to understand what they refer to without the following 2,000 years ofContinue reading “Celebrating Women Pioneers of the Early Church”

Celebrating Women Pioneers of the Early Church

Women Theologians and Bible Translators My last blog told the story of five women martyrs of the first three centuries of the Christian Church. In this post, I explained how I bought a book on 2,000 years of church history and only 7.8% of the people mentioned in the book were women, and I wonderedContinue reading “Celebrating Women Pioneers of the Early Church”

Celebrating Women Pioneers of the Early Church

Women Martyrs I recently bought a book “The Story of Christianity 2,000 Years of Faith”, published in 2000 by Dorling Kindersley to celebrate the millennium. I found it languishing on a shelf in a charity shop and thought it might be interesting. Opening it I was struck by how few women were mentioned in itsContinue reading “Celebrating Women Pioneers of the Early Church”