Canonists Construct the Nun?: Church Law and Women’s Monastic Practice in Merovingian France
Catherine Peyroux
Abstract ‘In ep1scopo ecclesia est.’1 So goes the venerable adage, surely never more appropriate than when bishops were gathered in solemn council to manifest authority of church production body decrees and statutes governing faith, faithful, that we identify as early medieval canon law. The role prerogative this governance religious women christianized barbarian kingdoms west has long been a matter speculation dispute. In recent years, two dominant interpretations have emerged. One sees Merovingian period time characterized by comparative autonomy, equality spiritual potential, consecrated women, whose would later be eclipsed Carolingian age rise an organized ‘reflected prejudices patriarchal societies where Christianity was born propagated’ .
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