Boston's Cathedral Church of St. Paul is holding a Lenten preaching series to celebrate the centennial of the first sermon delivered by a woman inside the cathedral. 

According to Eventbrite, "A Woman's Testimony: 2023 Cathedral Lenten Preaching Series" began on Feb. 28 and will end on March 28. The series features female religious personalities with respective takes on various religious concerns.

About the Lenten Preaching Series

An Eventbrite announcement disclosed that the preaching series seeks to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first woman who delivered a sermon inside the cathedral.

The series also takes inspiration from Jesus' conversation with a Samarian woman at the well. That conversation mentioned in the Bible is said to be the longest that Jesus had with anyone.

Eventbrite explained that organizers have identified and tapped "five female-identifying preachers" for the series. The female preachers, the post said, are tasked with discussing Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman mentioned in John 4.

The preaching series started with Rev. Rita Powell, Harvard University's Episcopalian chaplain, who delivered the inaugural lecture on Feb. 28. The Rev. Laura Everett, Massachusetts Council of Churches executive director, followed her on March 7.

Meanwhile, Monica Isabel Rey, a Ph.D. candidate in Religion from Boston University, is set to deliver her lecture on March 14. The Rev. Liz Theoharis, the Poor People's Campaign co-chair and director of Union Seminary's Kairos Center, will follow Rey's talk on March 21.

Finally, Ylisse Bess, Boston University School of Theology's director of the Trauma-Informed Congregations Program, will deliver the final lecture of the series on March 28.

Eventbrite said all of the lectures fall on a Thursday, and all start at 5:15 p.m. at the cathedral. The event is open to the public with complimentary refreshments.

A short talk with the female lecturers follows each night, plus a lamp-lighting service with Taize chant. Interested individuals may attend the lectures in-person or via the cathedral's livestream.

Those wanting to know more about the preaching series may call 617-482-5800 or visit stpaulboston.org.

The Cathedral Church of St. Paul

According to its website's History page, Boston patriots who wanted an Episcopal parish that was "wholly American" established the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1818.

St. Paul's was Boston's fourth Episcopal Church back then, with the first three being Christ Church (today's Old North), established in 1722; Trinity Church, established in 1733; and King's Chapel, established in 1686.

The church's founders commissioned Solomon Willard and Alexander Parris in 1819 to build a Greek temple that went against Boston's predominant gothic and colonial buildings. The website said St. Paul's was the first example of Greek Revival architecture in Boston when it was completed.

Then-bishop Alexander Viets Griswold consecrated St. Paul's Church on June 30, 1820.

Among the notable American religious figures associated with the church included the Right Rev. Barbara Harris and Alexander Crummel. Harris was the Anglican Communion's first female bishop, while Crummel was the Episcopal Church's third African-American ordained bishop.

More from Crossmap: New Democracy Coalition leader Rev. Kevin Peterson offers support to Roxbury community following another shooting death