PATER SYNAGOGÆ (Greek, πατὴρ συναγωγῆς):

By: Gotthard Deutsch, Schulim Ochser

Title occurring frequently in the inscriptions of the Jewish catacombs at Rome. According to Berliner ("Gesch. der Juden in Rom," i. 69), it is the equivalent of Parnas, while Schürer ("Gesch." 3d ed., iii. 50), whom most authors follow on this point, considers it merely a title of honor bestowed on congregational workers and corresponding to the title "mater synagogæ," which is given to women.

D. S. O.