THE BISHOP AND THE EMPRESS.

The article examines the complex roles and portrayals of women in early Christianity, focusing on conflicts between prominent fourth-century bishops and imperial empresses. It contrasts the contested accounts of Bishop John Chrysostom's alleged invective against Empress Eudoxia with the well-documented campaign of Bishop Ambrose of Milan against Empress Justina, highlighting how Ambrose used biblical examples to criticize her influence amid religious and political tensions. While Ambrose's rhetoric often vilified women as sources of evil, he also praised female ascetics and widows for their moral strength, reflecting the era's ambivalent attitudes toward women's public roles. The article underscores how early Christian leaders both valued and vilified women, using their portrayals to serve political and religious agendas.