The Cult of Saint Thecla: A Tradition of Women's Piety in Late Antiquity

Thecla, a disciple of the apostle Paul, was perhaps the most celebrated female saint and 'martyr' among Christians in late antiquity. In examining the practices of Thecla's devotees in Asia Minor and Egypt, Stephen Davis shows that Thecla's cult was closely linked with communities of women as a means of empowerment.