Leadership, Church History, Apologetics, Ecclesiology, History, Christianity, Theology, Christian, Religion 

Since the 17th century the history of deaconesses in the Church has been the subject of numerous monographs. What is most evident about the history of deaconesses, however, is how complex the whole subject is. In this exhaustive and thoroughly researched work, Martimort presents a very readable analysis that has become the standard study of the role of women deaconesses in the early Church. He presents in as complete and objective fashion as possible the history, who and what these deaconesses were and what their functions were. 

Contents:
Were there deaconesses in the church of the first two centuries? --
Deaconesses in the church of the East of the Roman Empire (third to seventh centuries) --
The Apostolic constitutions: meeting place of diverse traditions --
There were no deaconesses in Egypt or Ethiopia --
Deaconesses in the other churches of the Greek-speaking and Eastern regions of the Roman Empire (end of fourth to sixth centuries) : I. In teaching and legislation --
Deaconesses in the other churches of the Greek-speaking and Eastern regions of the Roman Empire (end of fourth to sixth centuries : II. In the life and practice of the church --
The liturgy for the ordination of deaconesses --
The disappearance of deaconesses and the memory of them that remained --
There were no deaconesses in the Latin Church during the first five centuries --
The uncertainties and the various forms of the introduction of deaconesses into the West (sixth to eleventh centuries) --
The disappearance of deaconesses and the memory of them that remained in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries --
Reappearance of deaconesses among women religious.