Newly Revealed Catacomb Painting Undeniable Proof That Women Were Able To Raise Hands In Air In Early Church

VATICAN–Newly restored frescoes from the Catacombs of Priscilla were unveiled by the Vatican on Tuesday, some of which reveal that women in early Christianity were able to lift their hands in the air. This has led some to conclude that if a woman was able to lift her hands above her shoulders as the image suggests, then early Christians must have allowed women to become priests. The Catacombs, which are located in the northern part of Rome, and are better known as the “Queen of the catacombs” features 4th century paintings from biblical scenes, one showing an image of a woman able to raise her arms above her shoulders, like a man. For 48-year-old Desiree Gibson of New Haven, Connecticut, this raises the question, “If women are no different than men with regards to upper limb dexterity, then why can’t women become priests now?” According to Fabrizio Bisconti, the superintendent of the Vatican’s Sacred Archaeology Commission, the woman on the picture “is indeed celebrating Eucharist.” “I would not have believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes. The image is clearly one of a woman celebrating Mass. I feel so stupid. All these years we were led to believe that women have never been and can never become priests. But this image of the woman raising her hands just above her shoulders is undeniable proof that women were priests in the early Church.”