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Therasia of Nola

January 01, 1970

Therasia (fl. 381 - 408–10) was a Christian aristocrat from Spain.[1] Through her marriage to Paulinus of Nola, she encouraged his conversion to Christianity and was influential in the early church, co-writing epistles and co-patron of the cult of St Felix with her husband.[2] She was St Augustine's first female correspondent and was praised by him for her holiness. Augustine gave Therasia and Paulinus the gift of a loaf of bread, potentially for use in the Eucharist.

Early life edit

Therasia was born in Spain in the fourth century AD. She married Paulinus at a time soon after 381 AD, when he had moved to Gaul.[3] Therasia was a wealthy and devout Christian of "irreproachable character",[4] whose faith had a profound effect on her husband. By 389, Paulinus had also converted to Christianity and the couple moved to Spain.

Therasia was living with her husband in Spain between 389 and 394.[5][6] They owned property together and it was her wealth that supported much of their life together.[7] Shortly after the move to Spain, their only child, a son called Celsus, died aged 8 days old.[8] The death of their son appears to have made them embrace a more ascetic and spiritual life and by 395 they had retreated to Paulinus' estates at Nola.[9] It has been suggested that from this point on Therasia and Paulinus' marriage became platonic and they focused on a 'marriage of friendship'.[10] Jerome of Stridon encouraged them in this self-denial through his correspondence with them.[4]

Religious life edit

Religious men in the late antique period wrote letters (epistles) to each other forming a fertile social network of debate. Women, such as Therasia were also part of that network of discussion, and also included: Melania the Elder, Paulina, Amanda and Galla.[9] Educated women had huge influence in the expansion of the Christian church, particularly in encouraging husbands to convert.[11]

Many ascetic communities were managed by "husband-and-wife" or "spiritual brother/sister" partnerships in the Late Antique period.[12] It was here in Nola that Paulinus and Therasia wrote letters to other theologians together, founded a monastery and both became patrons of the cult of St Felix.[13]

 
Cimitile tomb of Felix of Nola

Augustine praised the holiness of Therasia: "in te uno resalutamus" which translates as "in return, we salute her in you alone", meaning that although Therasia's holiness is praised - it is praised in terms of Paulinus' holiness.[14]

Gifts were an important exchange between Christians. Therasia jointly gave the gift of a piece of the relic of the True Cross to Sulpicius to give thanks for the churches he had built. The relic had been given to Therasia and Paulinus by Melania the Elder.[4] Augustine of Hippo gave the gift of a loaf of bread for eucharist to Therasia and Paulinus as a "token of unity" between them.[15]

Literary life edit

Therasia was co-author with her husband of several letters, including 'Epistles' 3–4, 6–7, 24, 26, 39–40, 43–5.[7] She also corresponded with other religious figures alongside her husband, including being Augustine of Hippo's first female correspondent. Letters between them include: Epistula 24 to Alypius, Epistula 25 to Augustine, Epistula 30 to Augustine, received Epistula 31 from Augustine, Epistula 32 to Romanianus, Epistula 42 from Augustine, Epistula 45 from Augustine and Alypius, Epistula 80 from Augustine, Epistula 94 to Augustine, Epistula 95 from Augustine. She is also mentioned in Jerome's letters 58.2.6 and 118.5.[7]

Death edit

Therasia died between 408 and 10.[4] After her death, Paulinus was ordained as Bishop of Nola.[16] After his death they were interred in a double-tomb in the church of St Felix.[17]

References edit

  1. ^ Knight, G R (2005). "Friendship & Erotics in the Late Antique verse-epistle". Rheinisches Museum für Philogie: 383. JSTOR 41234645.
  2. ^ Wieser, Veronika (2016). ""Like a safe tower on a steady rock". Widows, wives and mothers in the ascetic elites of Late Antiquity". Časopis Filozofskog Fakulteta, Sveučilište Jurja Dobrile U Puli. 14: 10.
  3. ^ Conybeare, Catherine. "The Expression of Christianity: themes from the letters of Nola" (PDF). Collections Canada. University of Toronto. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d "Paulinus, bishop of Nola". Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  5. ^ dates of letters between Paulinus and Ausonius, rhaetor of Bordeaux
  6. ^ Knight, G R (2005). "Friendship & Erotics in the Late Antique verse-epistle". Rheinisches Museum für Philogie: 364. JSTOR 41234645.
  7. ^ a b c Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. 1971. p. 909. ISBN 0521072336.
  8. ^ . Franciscan Media. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  9. ^ a b Conybeare, Catherine. "The Expression of Christianity: themes from the letters of Nola" (PDF). Collections Canada. University of Toronto. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  10. ^ Nauman, Jonathan. "Alternative Saints: Eucherius, Paulinus of Nola, and Henry Vaughan's Silex Scintillans". The Seventeenth Century. 26:2: 264–78.
  11. ^ Frend, W (1969). "Paulinus of Nola and the Last Century of the Western Empire". The Journal of Roman Studies. 59 (1/2): 5. doi:10.2307/299842. JSTOR 299842.
  12. ^ Wieser, Veronika. ""Like a safe tower on a steady rock". Widows, wives and mothers in the ascetic elites of Late Antiquit". HRCAK. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  13. ^ Conybeare, Catherine. "The Expression of Christianity: themes from the letters of Nola" (PDF). Collections Canada. University of Toronto. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  14. ^ Conybeare, Catherine. Paulinus Noster. Oxford University Press. p. 83.
  15. ^ Prusak, B (1980). "The Theology of the Local Church in Historical Development". Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of America: 293. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  16. ^ Frend, W (1969). "Paulinus of Nola and the Last Century of the Western Empire". The Journal of Roman Studies. 59 (1/2): 8. doi:10.2307/299842. JSTOR 299842.
  17. ^ Korol, Dieter (1989). "Architekturdarstellungen in der Aula uber dem Felixgrab in Cimitile/Nola". Publications de l'École Française de Rome: 1330. Retrieved 26 October 2019.

January 01, 1970
therasia, nola, therasia, christian, aristocrat, from, spain, through, marriage, paulinus, nola, encouraged, conversion, christianity, influential, early, church, writing, epistles, patron, cult, felix, with, husband, augustine, first, female, correspondent, p. Therasia fl 381 408 10 was a Christian aristocrat from Spain 1 Through her marriage to Paulinus of Nola she encouraged his conversion to Christianity and was influential in the early church co writing epistles and co patron of the cult of St Felix with her husband 2 She was St Augustine s first female correspondent and was praised by him for her holiness Augustine gave Therasia and Paulinus the gift of a loaf of bread potentially for use in the Eucharist Contents 1 Early life 2 Religious life 3 Literary life 4 Death 5 ReferencesEarly life editTherasia was born in Spain in the fourth century AD She married Paulinus at a time soon after 381 AD when he had moved to Gaul 3 Therasia was a wealthy and devout Christian of irreproachable character 4 whose faith had a profound effect on her husband By 389 Paulinus had also converted to Christianity and the couple moved to Spain Therasia was living with her husband in Spain between 389 and 394 5 6 They owned property together and it was her wealth that supported much of their life together 7 Shortly after the move to Spain their only child a son called Celsus died aged 8 days old 8 The death of their son appears to have made them embrace a more ascetic and spiritual life and by 395 they had retreated to Paulinus estates at Nola 9 It has been suggested that from this point on Therasia and Paulinus marriage became platonic and they focused on a marriage of friendship 10 Jerome of Stridon encouraged them in this self denial through his correspondence with them 4 Religious life editReligious men in the late antique period wrote letters epistles to each other forming a fertile social network of debate Women such as Therasia were also part of that network of discussion and also included Melania the Elder Paulina Amanda and Galla 9 Educated women had huge influence in the expansion of the Christian church particularly in encouraging husbands to convert 11 Many ascetic communities were managed by husband and wife or spiritual brother sister partnerships in the Late Antique period 12 It was here in Nola that Paulinus and Therasia wrote letters to other theologians together founded a monastery and both became patrons of the cult of St Felix 13 nbsp Cimitile tomb of Felix of Nola Augustine praised the holiness of Therasia in te uno resalutamus which translates as in return we salute her in you alone meaning that although Therasia s holiness is praised it is praised in terms of Paulinus holiness 14 Gifts were an important exchange between Christians Therasia jointly gave the gift of a piece of the relic of the True Cross to Sulpicius to give thanks for the churches he had built The relic had been given to Therasia and Paulinus by Melania the Elder 4 Augustine of Hippo gave the gift of a loaf of bread for eucharist to Therasia and Paulinus as a token of unity between them 15 Literary life editTherasia was co author with her husband of several letters including Epistles 3 4 6 7 24 26 39 40 43 5 7 She also corresponded with other religious figures alongside her husband including being Augustine of Hippo s first female correspondent Letters between them include Epistula 24 to Alypius Epistula 25 to Augustine Epistula 30 to Augustine received Epistula 31 from Augustine Epistula 32 to Romanianus Epistula 42 from Augustine Epistula 45 from Augustine and Alypius Epistula 80 from Augustine Epistula 94 to Augustine Epistula 95 from Augustine She is also mentioned in Jerome s letters 58 2 6 and 118 5 7 Death editTherasia died between 408 and 10 4 After her death Paulinus was ordained as Bishop of Nola 16 After his death they were interred in a double tomb in the church of St Felix 17 References edit Knight G R 2005 Friendship amp Erotics in the Late Antique verse epistle Rheinisches Museum fur Philogie 383 JSTOR 41234645 Wieser Veronika 2016 Like a safe tower on a steady rock Widows wives and mothers in the ascetic elites of Late Antiquity Casopis Filozofskog Fakulteta Sveuciliste Jurja Dobrile U Puli 14 10 Conybeare Catherine The Expression of Christianity themes from the letters of Nola PDF Collections Canada University of Toronto Retrieved 22 October 2019 a b c d Paulinus bishop of Nola Christian Classics Ethereal Library Retrieved 23 October 2019 dates of letters between Paulinus and Ausonius rhaetor of Bordeaux Knight G R 2005 Friendship amp Erotics in the Late Antique verse epistle Rheinisches Museum fur Philogie 364 JSTOR 41234645 a b c Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire 2nd ed Cambridge University Press 1971 p 909 ISBN 0521072336 Paulinus of Nola Franciscan Media Archived from the original on 22 October 2019 Retrieved 22 October 2019 a b Conybeare Catherine The Expression of Christianity themes from the letters of Nola PDF Collections Canada University of Toronto Retrieved 22 October 2019 Nauman Jonathan Alternative Saints Eucherius Paulinus of Nola and Henry Vaughan s Silex Scintillans The Seventeenth Century 26 2 264 78 Frend W 1969 Paulinus of Nola and the Last Century of the Western Empire The Journal of Roman Studies 59 1 2 5 doi 10 2307 299842 JSTOR 299842 Wieser Veronika Like a safe tower on a steady rock Widows wives and mothers in the ascetic elites of Late Antiquit HRCAK Retrieved 24 October 2019 Conybeare Catherine The Expression of Christianity themes from the letters of Nola PDF Collections Canada University of Toronto Retrieved 22 October 2019 Conybeare Catherine Paulinus Noster Oxford University Press p 83 Prusak B 1980 The Theology of the Local Church in Historical Development Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of America 293 Retrieved 26 October 2019 Frend W 1969 Paulinus of Nola and the Last Century of the Western Empire The Journal of Roman Studies 59 1 2 8 doi 10 2307 299842 JSTOR 299842 Korol Dieter 1989 Architekturdarstellungen in der Aula uber dem Felixgrab in Cimitile Nola Publications de l Ecole Francaise de Rome 1330 Retrieved 26 October 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Therasia of Nola amp oldid 1181104807, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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