Lecture: Courageous visionary - Dr. Kultzen

June 18, 2025 | Wednesday | 7:30 pm | Kathedralforum Dresden

Dr. Sophie Kultzen, Würzburg

Courageous visionary

Saint Perpetua and the changing ideals of femininity in ancient Christianity

The story of Perpetua, a young martyr of early Christianity, is more than just a testimony of faith. It offers insights into the upheavals of traditional gender roles in the Roman Empire. As a daughter, wife and mother, Perpetua challenged the patriarchal norms of her time, proving through her determination and vision that spiritual authority is not bound by gender.

We ask in what way Perpetua's account of her martyrdom took up classical Roman ideals of femininity and to what extent re-evaluations of the image of women can be observed in it from a Christian perspective. Finally, we will look at Perpetua's legacy and inquire how she could have had a lasting influence on the self-image of women in early Christianity.

The speaker

Dr. Sophie Kultzen is a Research Associate at the Chair of Ancient Church History, Christian Archaeology and Patrology in Würzburg.

Language: German

The event is being held in cooperation with the Catholic Academy of the Diocese of Dresden-Meissen.

Venue

House of the Cathedral
Schloßstraße 24
01067 Dresden