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Church History #1

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Church History #1 Church History #1 The Early Church (100 AD - 1000 AD) Overview - Historical Background 1. Roman Persecutions 2. Christian Rome and Early Heresies 3. Fall of Rome and the Dark Ages 4. The East-West Schism - Singspiration Historical Background Historical background ● Initially, many Christians worshipped in synagogues, but as more Gentiles were converted, Christianity became distinct from Judaism (The Council of Jerusalem in 50 AD exempts Gentiles from circumcision) and congregations use Greek and Latin ● Initially, Christians are considered a Jewish sect by the Romans and exempt from making pagan sacrifices ● But later, growing differences with Judaism leads the Romans to classify Christianity as superstitio (extremist religious force corrosive to society) and forces Christians to sacrifice to the pagan gods 1. Roman Persecutions Christian Persecutions ● Emperor Valerian takes the throne in 253 AD and is taken prisoner by the Persians ● Writes letters back to the Senate, ordering all Christian clergy to sacrifice to the Roman gods, forbids Christians from meeting in cemeteries, bishops to be executed ● However, some Christians intentionally provoke pagans to become “martyrs” - this is condemned by church authorities Sentencing of Bishop Cyprian (Sept. 14, 258 A.D.) Galerius Maximus: ‘Are you Thascius Cyprian?’ St. Cyprian: ‘I am.’ Galerius Maximus: ‘And have you acted as leader in a community of impious men?’ St. Cyprian: ‘I have.’ Galerius Maximus: ‘The sacred emperors have ordered you to sacrifice.’ St. Cyprian: ‘I will not sacrifice.’ Galerius Maximus: ‘Consider your position.’ St. Cyprian: ‘Do what is required of you. I have no need to deliberate; the issues are clear.’ Galerius Maximus: ‘You have lived in an irreligious manner for a long time now and have gathered about you a large congregation of criminals and unbelievers. You have shown yourself hostile to the gods of Rome and the rites by which they are worshipped. The pious and sacred emperors Valerian and his son, Gallienus, and the right noble Caesar, Valerian, have been unable to recall you to the practice of the official religion. Furthermore you are the instigator of abominations, a veritable standard-bearer for criminals and as such you have been brought before me. Your death will be an example to those whom you have gathered into your criminal conspiracy. Your blood will uphold the law. It is our decision that Thascius Cyprian be put to death by the sword.’ Bishop Cyprian: ‘Thanks be to God.’ Stercorinus of the Catacombs of Praetextatus ● Located in Rome, the Catacombs of Praetextatus includes the remains of a “Stercorinus”, which literally means “Little S***” ● Romans would abandon “defective” newborns in the dungheap to die; Christians rescued and brought up these babies due to a different worldview ● “Historians believe that some kept their foul nicknames as an act of humility-or triumphant irony. The joke, after all, was on the pagan world, which would soon enough die out for the crime of murdering its young. These children who were dung in the eyes of Imperial Rome knew that they were precious in the sight of God.” SOURCE: “Notes from Underground” (Mark Aquilina), Lay Witness Magazine (Sep/Oct 2007 Issue) Discussion Question #1 What do you feel was the root reason behind the Roman persecution of the Christians? 2. Christian Rome and Early Heresies Emperor Constantine and the Edict of Milan ● According to legend, the pagan Emperor Constantine receives a vision of the Cross before the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 - he heard “in hoc signo vinces” (“In this sign will you be victorious”) so he ordered his soldiers to paint the Chi-Rho on their shields ● After winning the battle, Emperor Constantine issues the Edict of Milan in 313 to grant religious freedom throughout the Empire - he did this not out of religious fervour but rather in the interest of political stability ● It was only in 318 that the Edict of Thessalonica ordered all Roman subjects to profess the faith of the bishops of Rome and Alexandria - Nicene Christianity was the state religion of Rome Church Councils define Christianity ■ First Council of Nicaea (325): Nicene Creed and declaration of Arianism as heresy (asserts that God the Son is subordinate to and created by God the Father; denies that Holy Spirit is God) - Arian Christianity splits off ■ Synod of Hippo (393): defines the Christian Biblical canon still in use by the Roman Catholic Church today Church Councils define Christianity ■ First Council of Ephesus (431): declares Nestorianism as heresy (asserts that the divine Son is distinct from but personally united to the human Jesus) and confirms Mary’s status as Theotokos - Church of the East splits off ■ Council of Chalcedon (451): declares Monophysitism (asserts that God the Son, identical with Jesus, has one divine nature) as heresy (Chalcedonian definition: asserts that Christ has two natures - divine and human - which come together in one person) Discussion Question #2 Why was it so important for the Church to define its teachings in this period? 3. Fall of Rome and the Dark Ages Fall of Rome ● Fall of the Western Roman Empire: in 476 AD, barbarian leader Odoacer deposes Emperor Romulus ● Rome divided between various barbarian tribes: Visigoths, Vandals, Ostrogoths, Franks, Anglo-Saxons ● Arianism predominates among Vandals, Visigoths and Ostrogoths, who used to be pagans and use Gothic vernacular in worship Christianization of Europe ● Barbarian peoples convert from either paganism or Arian Christianity to Trinitarian Christianity which leads to leaders converting as well: ○ Clovis of the Franks converts in 496 AD ○ Æthelberht of Kent converts in 601 AD ● Missionaries are sent from Rome to Christianize Europe: ○ Ireland: St. Patrick ○ England: St. Augustine of Canterbury Discussion Question #3 What challenges did the Fall of Rome bring to the unity of the Church? 4. The East-West Schism East-West Schism ● Breakup of the Catholic Church between Eastern and Western rites ● Partly caused by political pressures from the remnants of the Roman Empire ● Long lasting effects on Church relations with Orthodox Churches and other Catholic Rites So What Happened? ● Significant figures disagreed on principle church structure ● Roman Empire shifted base to Constantinople with the Church of Rome remaining under barbarian rule in Rome ● Bad things happened and tensions rose until the East separated from the West Differences between East and West Long Lasting Effects ● Different Catholic Rites Exist ● Loss of Catholic Culture Discussion Question #4 Were the differences between the Western and Eastern traditions of the Church irreconcilable? Were they merely cultural? Doctrinal? Political? Singspiration Dominus dixit ad me (Click here for audio) Latin text English text Dominus díxit ad me: The Lord hath said to me: Fílius méus es tu, Thou art My Son, égo hódie génui te. this day have I begotten Thee. Quare fremuérunt géntes: Why have the Gentiles raged, et pópuli meditáti sunt inánia? and the people devised vain things? Glória Pátri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sáncto. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, as it was in the beginning, is now, et semper, et in saécula saeculórum. Amen. and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Dominus díxit ad me: The Lord hath said to me: Fílius méus es tu, Thou art My Son, égo hódie génui te. this day have I begotten Thee. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=xFzgfCzfSQg Te Deum (Click here for audio) Latin text English text TE DEUM laudamus: te Dominum confitemur. O GOD, we praise Thee: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord. Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur. Everlasting Father, all the earth doth worship Thee. Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi Caeli et universae Potestates; To Thee all the Angels, the Heavens and all the Powers, Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim incessabili voce proclamant: all the Cherubim and Seraphim, unceasingly proclaim: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts! Pleni sunt caeli et terra maiestatis gloriae tuae. Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy glory. Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus, The glorious choir of the Apostles, Te Prophetarum laudabilis numerus, the wonderful company of Prophets, Te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus. the white-robed army of Martyrs, praise Thee. Te per orbem terrarum sancta confitetur Ecclesia, Holy Church throughout the world doth acknowledge Thee: Patrem immensae maiestatis: the Father of infinite Majesty; Venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium; Thy adorable, true and only Son; Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum. and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. Tu Rex gloriae, Christe. O Christ, Thou art the King of glory! Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius. Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. Latin text English text Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem, non horruisti Virginis Thou, having taken it upon Thyself to deliver man, didst not uterum. disdain the Virgin's womb. Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum. Thou overcame the sting of death and hast opened to Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes, in gloria Patris. believers the Kingdom of Heaven. Iudex crederis esse venturus. Thou sitest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father. Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famulis subveni: quos pretioso We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge. sanguine redemisti. We beseech Thee, therefore, to help Thy servants whom Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis in gloria numerari. Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood. V. Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints in everlasting tuae. glory. R. Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum. V. Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thine inheritance! V. Per singulos dies benedicimus te. R. Govern them, and raise them up forever. R. Et laudamus nomen tuum in saeculum, et in saeculum V.
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