Paul restricted the office of deacon to men, others do not, since, when describing the qualities that the office-holders called "deacons" must possess, Paul wrote in gunaikas (Greek for "women") hosautos (Greek for "likewise"), translated "likewise the women." They, likewise, are to be "worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything." The "likewise" indicated that the women deacons were to live according to the same standards as the men deacons (see also the Apostle Paul's use of the term "likewise" in , , and ). prostatis In classical Greek the word prostates (προστάτης) (feminine, prostatis) was used to mean either a chief or leader, or a guardian or protector, often in a religious context; it was later used also to translate the Roman concept of a patron. The Apostle Paul's use indicates that its range of meanings had not changed by New Testament times. This suggests that Phoebe was a woman of means, who, among other things, contributed financial support to Paul's apostolate, and probably hosted the house church of Cenchreae in her home, as well as, providing shelter and hospitality to Paul when in the town. Veneration The Calendar of Saints of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America commemorates Phoebe with Lydia of Thyatira and Dorcas on January 27, the day after the commemoration of the early male missionaries Silas, Timothy and Titus and two days after the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. However, the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod remembers her on October 25, while the Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church place her feast day as September 3. Phoebe is honored with a Lesser Feast on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America on September 3. See also Romans 16 References Further reading Household Names: Michael Peppard, "Junia, Phoebe, & Prisca in Early Christian Rome", 23 April 2018, Commonweal External links St Phoebe - Catholic Online 1st-century Christian female saints Catholic deaconesses Christian saints from the New Testament Saints from Roman Greece People in the Pauline epistles Women in the New Testament