Consolarsi da lontano. Autorità femminile e gerarchia nelle lettere di Maria di Cassobola e Ignazio di Antiochia

This paper aims at providing some reflections on the letters of Mary of Cassobola and Ignatius of Antioch, attributed to a fourth-century Arian forger (so-called Ps.Ignatius). After having briefly recalled the framework of the “Ignatian question”, I analyze the cultural and doctrinal setting of these two letters and their representation of the relationship between Mary and Ignatius: what clearly emerges is the authoritative role attributed to this woman; furthermore, such a role is grounded not on a charismatic or prophetic level, but on her ability of managing issues of ecclesiastical hierarchy and on her Biblical knowledge.