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According to several extra-Biblical manuscripts, twelve women in the early church were said to be commissioned to operate in significant positions of apostolic leadership.

Here is the story of Thecla... an Apostle.

Thecla is one of my favorites! Though not mentioned in Scripture, much Gnostic historical and Early Church evidence considers Thecla to have been an apostle and associate of Paul. In numerous manuscripts, Thecla is venerated as a "protomartyr" and as an "equal of the apostles" in Roman and Orthodox tradition

Thecla and me!

In the late 1990's, I visited the ruins of her still existing gigantic complex that included a huge church, a monastery, convent, and hospital that THECLA BUILT near Selleucia in Syria. Amazingly, the remains of these buildings still stand today. When I saw this, I was stunned... "who knew?"

We marched up the hill with banners and colorful little flags singing joyously -- then we sat in her cave and read her story in "The Acts of Paul and Thecla." This story contains her first century accounts -- which were probably greatly embellished as time went on until it came to us.

Here I am (with dark hair!!!) holding onto a pillar from her structure. There is no question to the truth of her existence and the actual remains of the work that she accomplished (pictured below).

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