Early Christian Beliefs About Virgins and Nuns

Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Direct teaching

Philo and Agathopus the deacons salute you. I salute the company of virgins, and the order of widows;

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

and then of the women, the deaconesses, and the virgins, and the widows;

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

but let the virgins, and the widows, and the elder women, stand or sit before all the rest;

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark Supporting witness

Remember the orthodox bishops everywhere, the elders, deacons, sub-deacons, readers, singers, monks, virgins, widows, and laity.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Let us pray for the readers, singers, virgins, widows, and orphans.

Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Supporting witness

Watch over the virgins, as the precious treasures of Christ.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

These are the gnostic souls, which the Gospel compared to the consecrated virgins who wait for the Lord. For they are virgins because they keep themselves from what is evil. And because they wait in love for the Lord, and keep their light burning for the contemplation of things, they are wise souls. They say, "Lord, for a long time we have desired to receive You. We have lived according to what You commanded, and have broken none of Your commandments. Therefore we also claim the promises. And we pray for what is beneficial, since it is not necessary to ask You for what is best. And we will accept everything as good, even though the trials that come to us, which Your ordering brings to us for training our steadfastness, seem to be evil."

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

Hold fast, O virgins! Hold fast to what you have begun to be. Hold fast to what you will be. A great reward is waiting for you, a great repayment for virtue, the immense benefit of chastity. Do you want to know what harm the virtue of self-control avoids, and what good it has? God says to the woman, "I will greatly multiply your sorrows and your groanings; and in sorrow you shall bring forth children; and your desire shall be to your husband, and he shall rule over you." Genesis 3:16 You are free from this sentence. You do not fear the sorrows and groanings of women. You do not fear childbearing, nor is your husband lord over you. But your Lord and Head is Christ, after the likeness and in the place of the man. With men, your lot and condition are equal. It is the word of the Lord that says, "The children of this world marry and are given in marriage; but those who are counted worthy of that world, and of the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage. Neither can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels of God, being children of the resurrection." Luke 20:35-36 What we shall be, you have already begun to be. You already possess in this world the

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

20. For this reason, therefore, the Church often mourns over her virgins. This is why she groans over their shameful and detestable stories. This is why the flower of her virgins is put out, the honor and modesty of continence are damaged, and all its glory and dignity are profaned. In this way the enemy who lays siege works his way in by his tricks. In this way, through deceptive snares and secret paths, the devil creeps in. In this way, while virgins want to be adorned more carefully and to roam with greater freedom, they cease to be virgins, corrupted by a hidden disgrace. They become widows before they are married, adulteresses not against a husband, but against Christ. To the same degree that, as virgins, they had been destined for great rewards, they will suffer great punishments for the loss of their virginity.

Tertullian, On Exhortation to Chastity Supporting witness

...ny even among strangers. In short, monogamy is held in such high honor among the heathen that, when virgins are lawfully married, a woman who has never been married more than once is appointed as their brideswoman. And if you say this is for the sake of an omen, then of course it is for the sake of a good omen. Again, in some solemnities and official functions, single-husbandhood takes the precedence. At any rate, the wife of a Flamen must be married only once; this is the law for the Flamen himself as well. For the fact that the chief pontiff himself must not marry again is plainly a glory to monogamy. But when Satan copies God's sacraments, it is a challenge to us. No, rather, it is a cause for blushing if we are slow to show to God a continence that some offer to the devil, sometimes by lifelong virginity, sometimes by lifelong widowhood. We have heard of the virgins of Vesta, and of Juno's at the town of Achaia, and of Apollo's among the Delphians, and of Minerva's and Diana's in some places. We have heard too of continent men, and among them the priests of the famous Egyptian bull. We have heard also of women dedicated to the African Ceres, in whose honor they even spontane

Tertullian, On the Veiling of Virgins Supporting witness

so that hence also the community of the name between virgins and not-virgins may be established, while the self-same causes which necessitate the veil are found to exist in each case.

Tertullian, On the Veiling of Virgins Supporting witness

For is not continence withal superior to virginity, whether it be the continence of the widowed, or of those who, by consent, have already renounced the common disgrace (which matrimony involves)?

Tertullian, On the Veiling of Virgins Supporting witness

Is it virgins who (adorn or commend) the Church in the sight of God, or the Church which adorns or commends virgins?

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

But not even were those virgins who are celebrated able to preserve their chastity inviolate.

Justin Martyr, On the Resurrection, Fragments Supporting witness

but those even who are not barren abstain from sexual intercourse, some being virgins from the first, and others from a certain time.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness

For they are virgins, in respect of their abstaining from what is evil.

Tertullian, On Prayer Supporting witness

...do you lay bare before God what you cover before men? Will you be more modest in public than in the church? If your self-devotion is a grace of God, and you have received it, "why do you boast," he says, "as if you have not received it?" 1 Corinthians 4:7 Why, by your ostentation of yourself, do you judge others? Is it that, by your boasting, you invite others to good? No. Even you yourself run the risk of losing, if you boast, and you drive others into the same perils. What is assumed from love of boasting is easily destroyed. Be veiled, virgin, if you are a virgin, for you ought to blush. If you are a virgin, shrink from the gaze of many eyes. Let no one wonder at your face. Let no one perceive your falsehood. You do well in falsely assuming the married character, if you veil your head. No, you do not seem to assume it falsely, for you are wedded to Christ. To Him you have surrendered your body. Act as becomes your Husband's discipline. If He commands the brides of others to be veiled, then His own much more. But each individual man is not to think that the institution of his predecessor is to be overturned. Many surrender their own judgment, and its consistency, to the custom

Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness

..., or, if he did not endure them, he might break the word of Christ. So they said to Him, turning to celibacy as easier and more useful than marriage, even though marriage also seems useful, “If that is the case between a man and his wife, it is not useful to marry.” Matthew 19:10 To this the Savior replied, teaching us that complete chastity is a gift given by God. It is not merely the result of training, but is given by God through prayer. He said, “Not all men can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given.” Matthew 19:11 Then, since some make a clever but misleading attack on the words, “those to whom it is given,” as if people who wanted to remain pure in celibacy but were overcome by their desires had an excuse, we must say this: if we believe the Scriptures, why do we hold on to the words, “but only those to whom it is given,” yet no longer pay attention to this, “Ask, and it will be given to you,” Matthew 7:7 and to what is added to it, “For everyone who asks receives”? Matthew 7:8 For if those to whom it is given can receive this teaching about complete purity, then let the one who is willing ask, obeying and believing Him who said, “Ask, and it will be give

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

“And the tower,” I asked, “what does it mean?” “This tower,” he replied, “is the Church. And these virgins, who are they? They are holy spirits, and people cannot otherwise be found in the kingdom of God unless these have put their clothing on them. For if you receive the name only, and do not receive the clothing from them, they are of no benefit to you. For these virgins are the powers of the Son of God. If you bear His name but do not have His power, then you bear His name in vain. Those stones,” he continued, “which you saw rejected, bore His name, but did not put on the clothing of the virgins.” “Of what kind is their clothing, sir?” I asked. “Their very names,” he said, “are their clothing. Everyone who bears the name of the Son of God ought to bear the names of these also, for the Son Himself bears the names of these virgins. As many stones,” he continued, “as you saw come into the building of the tower through the hands of these virgins, and remain there, have been clothed with their strength. For this reason you see that the tower became one stone with the rock. In the same way, those who have believed in the Lord through His Son, and are clothed with these spirits, will b

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness

...wait for him until it gets late. If he does not arrive, I will go away into the house and come back early in the morning." They answered and said to me, "You were entrusted to us. You cannot go away from us." "Then where am I to stay?" I said. "You will sleep with us," they replied, "as a brother, and not as a husband. For you are our brother. And from now on we intend to stay with you, because we love you very much!" But I was ashamed to stay with them. And she who seemed to be the first among them began to kiss me. And the others, seeing her kiss me, also began to kiss me, and to lead me around the tower, and to play with me. I too became like a young man and began to play with them. Some of them formed a chorus, others danced, and others sang. And I, keeping silent, walked with them around the tower and was joyful with them. When it grew late, I wanted to go into the house. But they would not let me, and they kept me there. So I stayed with them during the night and slept beside the tower. The virgins spread their linen tunics on the ground and made me lie down in the middle of them. They did nothing at all except pray. And I prayed with them without ceasing, no less than the

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

Moreover, I sent these virgins to you so that they may live with you. For I saw that they were kind to you. Therefore, you will have them as helpers, so that you may be better able to keep his commands. For it is impossible to keep these commandments without these virgins. I also see that they stay with you willingly. But I will also instruct them not to leave your house at all. Only keep your house pure, because they will delight in living in a pure home. For they are pure, chaste, and hardworking, and they have great influence with the Lord. Therefore, if they find your house pure, they will remain with you. But if any defilement, even a little, comes upon it, they will immediately leave your house. For these virgins do not like any defilement at all. I said to him, "I hope, sir, that I will please them, so that they may always be willing to live in my house. And just as he to whom you entrusted me has no complaint against me, so they will have none either." He said to the Shepherd, "I see that the servant of God wishes to live and to keep these commandments, and that he will place these virgins in a pure home." When he had spoken these words, he again entrusted me to the Shepher

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

...orious purpose of continence grow weak through the sins of others. The Church, crowned with so many virgins, flourishes, and chastity and modesty keep the course of their glory. Nor is the strength of continence broken down because repentance and pardon are made easier for the adulterer. It is one thing to wait for pardon, and another thing to attain glory. It is one thing, when thrown into prison, not to go out from there until one has paid the very last penny; another thing to receive at once the reward of faith and courage. It is one thing, when cleansed by long suffering for sins, to be purified and for a long time purged by fire; another thing to have purged all sins by suffering. It is one thing, finally, to remain in uncertainty until the judgment of God on the day of judgment; another thing to be crowned at once by the Lord.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

Choose your widows to be no less than sixty years old, so that their age may in some measure prevent suspicion of a second marriage. But if you admit a younger woman into the order of widows, and she cannot bear her widowhood in her youth and marries, she will bring shameful criticism on the honor of the order of widows, and she will give an account to God. This is not because she married a second time, but because she has grown wanton against Christ, 1 Timothy 5:11, and has not kept her promise, because she did not come and keep her promise with faith and the fear of God. Therefore, such a promise should not be made carelessly, but with great caution. For it is better for her not to vow than to vow and not pay, Ecclesiastes 5:5. But if any younger woman has lived only a short time with her husband, and has lost him by death or some other cause, and remains by herself, having the gift of widowhood, she will be found blessed and will be like the widow of Sarepta in Sidon, with whom the holy prophet of God, Elijah, 1 Kings 17:9, stayed. Such a woman may also be compared to Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser, who did not depart from the temple, but continued in prayer

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

yet if she has lost her husband a great while, and has lived soberly and unblameably, and has taken extraordinary care of her family, as Judith and Anna — those women of great reputation— let her be chosen into the order of widows.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

But the true widows are those who have had only one husband and are well known by everyone for good works. They are truly widows: sober, chaste, faithful, and pious. They have brought up their children well and have welcomed strangers without blame. These are to be supported as women devoted to God. Besides this, bishop, remember the needy. Reach out your helping hand and provide for them as the steward of God, distributing the offerings at the proper time to each of them: to the widows, the orphans, the friendless, and those afflicted with trouble.

Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Supporting witness

and the widows [that persevere] in gravity of behaviour, as the altar of God.

Polycarp, Connection to 1 Timothy 5:5 Supporting witness

Teach the widows to be discreet as respects the faith of the Lord, praying continually for all.

1 Corinthians 7:25 Direct teaching

Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.

Matthew 25:1 Supporting witness

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Revelation 14:4 Supporting witness

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

1 Corinthians 7:37 Supporting witness

Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

1 Corinthians 7:34 Supporting witness

There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband.

1 Corinthians 7:28 Supporting witness

But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

1 Corinthians 7:36 Supporting witness

But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.