Saint Priscilla

First Century Christian Convert Wife of Aquila

Jewish

Patron saint of good marriages

Saint Priscilla, married to Aquila, was referenced in the New Testament of the Bible. One of the first examples of a woman preacher she and her husband were exceptional missionaries who funded their ministry with a tent making business. The impact that they made on the 1st century church must have been significant due to the many acknowledgements throughout the New Testament. What also is worth noting would be the listing of Priscilla’s name before Aquila’s when referenced in the Bible revealing their partnership as well as her importance in ministry.

Painted in rich feminine colors Saint Priscilla stands in front of a typical nomadic tent that would have been similar to the tents that would have been made by her and her husband. Holding wedding rings in one hand and a cord of three strands in the other she reflects the beauty of a nomadic Jew of the region of Corinth who were likely expelled from the City of Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius. While the wedding rings are an obvious symbol of her sacred marriage, the cord of three is a nod to Solomon’s observance in the book of Ecclesiastes 4:12 it states that it is hard to attack two people but even harder to attack three. The third being God. This declaration was to encourage the institute of marriage.