The Ancient Witnesses

Chapter 6: The Fullness of Time • 223

“They came not as women,” said Chrysologus, “but as a type of the Church to the Lord’s tomb. 119 “Is he dismissing the role of women in the gospel?” asked Cesar. “No,” said Father Greg, “he’s following the biblical pattern of identifying types with their antitypes.” 120 “But isn’t an Old Testament type usually matched to a Chrysologus is describing the Marys as a kind of double- anticipation of the birth of the Church at Pentecost.” “Mary, the Mother of Christ, is doubled in two women,” explain Chrysologus, “because here the Church, coming from two peoples, is prefigured as from the gentiles and the Jews, since the first shall be last and the last first .” 121 “What’s he talking about?” asked Preacher. “Listen to the angel’s charge to the women,” said Chrysologus, Go tell his disciples that he has risen and goes before you into Galilee, where he will appear to you. ’ 122 The angel is not just sending women, but sending the one Church in the two women, sending her—the Church—to New Testament fulfillment?” asked Joseph. “That’s true,” agreed Father Greg, “but here

119 Peter Chrysologus, Sermon 73, Fathers of the Church vol. 110, (75.3). In that socially, very conservative Middle Eastern setting, attention was not focused on a woman apart from her role as a virgin, a mother, or a widow.

120 Greek: tupos , matched with antitypes, antitupos .

121 Matt. 19:30. Paraphrase of Peter Chrysologus, Sermon 73, Fathers of the Church vol. 110, 16. Corpus ChristianorumSeries Latina vol. 24a , 459-460.

122 Matt. 28:7.