text: No one does.  HOWEVER, the priest is an archetype.  There were probably priests (shamans, etc.) from the beginning of humankind (from the time that human beings first became 'conscious' -- which most likely is what  The Adam and Eve story is about).  There have always been spiritual leaders, and there will always be people born to be spiritual leaders.  Women had leadership roles in the very early church -- until the men took over.  I'm just saying:  it doesn't matter if it's a man or a woman -- there always have been and always will be people who are 'called' (born to, whatever) to spiritual leadership roles.  Jesus had women disciples.  The reason he didn't have women apostles is because that simply would have been totally unacceptable in those days in Israel and no one would have listened to him.