ozgeorge said:
StGeorge said:
Pope Paschal of Rome, who happened to commission the mosaics, is also depicted with a square halo. Theodora was Pope Paschal's mother. The mother of the bishop of Rome ought to receive an honorary title, especially from her son, don't you think?
I would probably be more able to think this if there were any other examples of mothers of Bishops of Rome or anywhere being given honorary titles.
I think we create problems when we project on to history what we think "ought" to have happened. As I said: the only honest answer I can give with the evidence at hand is "I don't know" why she bears the title "Episcopa". If I knew of another example of a woman being called "Episcopa" in the Church, then I could at least hazard a guess, but the only examples I know of are female Bishops in gnostic sects. I think we need to leave the jury out on this one for the time being.
I'm not saying necessarily, but I think it important to note that her son, the bishop of Rome, commissioned the mosaics, which were done while both he and his mother were still living. He oversaw their completion which included the title to the mosaic of his mother in the chapel he created for her.
Which title (if any) would Pope Paschal have for his still-living mother? In my last post I implied that it would seem natural for a son, much more the bishop of Rome, to honor his still-living mother with a title. Perhaps he could have gotten away with a mere "Theodora".
In short, I think that in addition to a focus on the etymology of "episcopa", attention needs be given to the historical circumstances surrounding the creation of the mosaic. From a quick search, there do appear to exist contemporary sources on Pope Paschal's building campaign, which may shed light on this mystery.
I'm not knowledgeable of "episcopa" being used for the wives or mothers of bishops. It may be that it was used but meant something different from how the gnostic sects centuries back used it.