Basic Ideas of Christianity 1

What is Byzantine?

Christianity & the Hebrew Scriptures

Paradosis

Byzantine Christianity = ...?

A: The Problem

B: 2 Solutions

C: Origen

Paradosis

i.e. Tradition (Constant looking back for the source of thought)

Byzantine Christianity =

Roman Political Policy + Hellenistic Culture

A: The Problem is the old testament versus the new testament

 B: Marcion & the Gnostics rejected Judaism & old testament then selected the new testament passages. The old testament becomes the Septuagint for Hebrews and the new testament represents the new form of Christianity. The Septugiant (old testament) is translated into Greek by 72 translators under Alexander the Great and he got the same "Divine Translation" from every single one.

The Gnostics create new scriptures from what they have (jesus as a teacher) to develop secret teachings.

C: Origen- Condemned as a heretic because he speculated the bible (180-250) and develops a school of thought for it. He deams ALL parts of the bible neccessary to understand/interpret each part of it.

to be continued...

Basic Ideas of Christianity 2

What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?

Main Problem Still Old V. New Testament

Origen's Solution???

 2 ways to speak about scripture?

Origen's Solution is affirmation to the old testament. KEY is to unlock metaphors and the "hidden meaning" behind the letters and words to develop a "Spritual Meaning" within the text/

He was the source fo the theological speculation and revelation.

2 Ways to Speak About Scripture

1- Sermon/Homily

2- Commentary

(Commentary on Psalms reading)

Byzantine Christianity

ORIGEN

1. 4 Things to Remember

2. What is Philosophy?

3. Moses Analogy?

1: 1-All Scripture must refer to Christ or Christianity

    2- He linked old & new testament for future followers.

    3- He castrated himself to become a Unich

    4- Always saw/searched for the/a deeper/spiritual meaning

2: Philosophy is general education that must be use to interpret the bible with. It is subordinate to Bible teachings but it has a role to play in the thought processes and activities concerning the bible. (Literal meaning at the time was WAY OF LIFE)

Christianity will later be labeled the TRUE PHILOSOPHY.

3: Moses leads the people out of Egypt back to the promise Land and God 'allows' them to 'spoil' (steal) gold and silver from Egypt. He said that spiritually if symbolizes that followers (slaves) need to rebuild the religious community.  

Byzantine Christianity

Martyrdom & The Spread of Christianity

Martyrdom

1: Literal Meaning?

2: 1st Martyr, Christian Martyr?

3: Common Misconceptions Revealed

1: From the Greek word meaning "witness" of Christ's life and resurrection.

2: Acts 6-8 STEVEN 1st Christian Martyr. Christian Martyr means conforming and mimicing the death (true form by imitation) of Jesus.

3: Common Misconceptions 

- Persecution meant- verbal abuse, taxation, and imprisonment.

- Romans really didnt care about Christians and welcomed foreign beliefs as long as the Roman "ways" & practices were not disturbed.

- Judaism was accepted so Jews were not persecuted.

- About 1500 total persecutions during the Roman Empire

-So Overall? It wasn't as bad as people thought it was.

Byzantine Christianity

Martyrdom & The Spread of Christianity

3 Famous Persecutions

1: (64-68)

2: (250-251)

3: (300-305)

Results

1: (64-68) NERO- Local- story goes that Nero set Rome on fire & blamed the christians

2: (250-251) DECIUS- 1st Empire-wide persecution. Wealth landowners and the christian hierarchy (threatened new forms of paganism & philosophy) esp N.Africa

3: (300-305) DIOCLETIAN- (last major/most severe) The "Great" Persecution (empire-wide) Both Clergy and Laity, Landowners, major taxes.

Results: 2/3 had bibles and christian books comphescated and enforcers were send to make sure people were sacrifycing to the pagan gods.

Byzantine Christianity

HW Reading from Roman Emperor Trajan

He asks what to do about Christians, his concern is if he persecutes them all the same way?

(3 things)

Sacrifycing was a political gesture (not a religious one) therefore Romans typically charged Christians with the following:

1- Atheism: Political Support or Nonsupport

2- Incest: Calling each other brother/sister

3- Canablaism: Eucharist was supposedly eating/drinking the body and blood of Christ.

Byzantine Christianity

Acts of Justin

In Class Re-Cap

***(Check out page 53 on Salvation)

Eyewitness to Oral tradition to anonymous publisher

He chose Christianity as his philosophy (but was not born so)

Entire reading is basically direct discourse (dialogue)

Dialogue b/w Roman prefect and Justin (he is accused of all sin)

Trial Setting (investigation)

doc comes from tiral recorf (synography)

Byzantine Christianity

Martyrdom of Perpetua

In class Re Cap

Perpetua & felicitas

Concentrates on the act of death as a blessing from God.

Wants to fight the devil (devil is egyptian/roman)

Martyrdom can be seen as a fight against the devil himself

Gender roles/levels of mortality in text

Perpetua was a wealthy maiden who could write and was imprisoned for her beliefs

Byzantine Christianity

The "Conversion" of Constantine

Eusebius, Life of Constantine I 24-58

Re-Cap

-Father Constantius and crowned by the Ceasars

-Death of little Constantine was plotted so he fled country

-Returns and recieves empire from father

-He goes around to help the state and make peace b/w the parts and he realized he needs to overthrow the Roman Empire.

-Claims that God came to him to show him the way

-Gold Plated Cross becomes the Divine Sign of Protection

Enter Maxentius:

-He was a piece of shit (bloodthirsty tyrant) with no morals who basically raped women and accused people of heresy and was Roman Emperor at the same time as Constantine

-Constantine defeated him woohoo

Constantine is referred to as the Moses in this situation

5 Things As A Result of the

"Conversion" Constantine

(At least conversion of the empire i.e. all religions become legal)

1. State Sponsorship of Christianity

2. Age of Martyrdom ends- period of martyrdom remembered w/nostalgia & Monasticism develops)

3. Change of the Capital- From Rome to Constantinople

4. Christianity adopts roman style politics for administration of the church- also adopts Roman legal system.

5. Marks the beginning of the New Era of Christianity- Able to adopt the elements of paganism & philosophy into religious practices/beliefs.

Byzantine Christianity

The "Conversion" of Constantine

Eusebius (himself)

In Class Re-Cap/Notes

325 ?

Eusebius = Father of Christian Church History

-(very selective and biased story telling)

-Compares Constantine to Moses

-He is remembered in good favor

-dies in 337

325 START OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

When Constantine goes to battle against Maxentius and prays to a god for help- claims to see the divine symbol of Christ adn dedicated himself to Christianity after defeating Maxentius in battle.

Byzantine Christianity

The "Conversion" of Constantine

Consantine Timeline

1. 272

2. 306

3. 312

4. 313

5. 324

6. 325

7. 330

8. 337

1. 272

Constantine Born

2. 306

Father Constantious dies and Constantine becomes emperor

3. 312

defeats Maxentius

4. 313

Edict of Milan (still displays paganism)

5. 324

defeats Licinius (sp?) Sole Emperor now

6. 325

First Ecumenical Council of Nicea

7. 330

Constantinople

8. 337

Constantine dies

Byzantine Christianity

Trinity & 4th Century Controversies

1. Arius & the Arian Controversy

A. Biblical Background

B. 2 View Pts of Divinity/Relationship of the Trinity

   1. Arius

   2. Alexander

Beginning of What?

A. Biblical Background: All Christianity/Judaism said WTF about Trinity because the Great Commision (end of Matthew) "Baptise in the name of the Father, the Son, & the Hold Spirit"

Issue: How can three things be one God?!

Incarnation of the Logos- word- was Jesus

B. 2 View Pts of Divinity/Relationship of the Trinity

   1. Arius Priest in Alexander 319, delivers a set of homilies to say that the relationship betweeen God & the Logos is  hierarchy i.e. God created the Logos

Subordination of Logos & Jesus to God.

2. Alexander Bishop who thinks Jesus is divine and a closer view to God.

Marks the beginning of a sort of renaissance for the Christian community. Religion was funded with state $money. However the theological controversy was leading to divisions within the church and eventually became a political issue.

2. Council of Nicea

What & When?

aka?

2 Things to Remember

They decided...

Council of Nicea

Held in 325 to debate & sort through religious controversy. Expensed by Constantine.

Aka: 1st Ecumenical Council

(all of the) "inhabited world" represented at this council by each bishop.

2 Things to Remember:

1. They decided how the chuch would be governed since its legalization (laws)

2. They issued a statement on the Arian controversy. ---> Creed of Nicea

They decided... (Alexander)

-Logos of God was eternally begotten.

Jesus the son is Homousios with God the Father.

(Homousios= of the same essence)

why?

They say this in order to remove the idea of a hierarchy.

3. Interlude

Cappodocians, who? (3) saying what?

Semi-Arian View

Issues?

Cappodocians

Brothers 1. Basil, 2. Gregory of Nyssa w/friend 3. Gregory of Nazimus said...

 3 Things:

1- God the Father is unbegotten

2- God the Son is begotten

3- the Holy Spirit proceeds

Semi-Arian View

Council of Nicea didn't solve anything but they eventually changed Homoousios to Homoiousios i.e. from being the "essence" to becoming kind of like the father...

Issues

Unclear to maintain/restore unity within the religious communtiy and the

Issue of the Holy Spirit arose.

4. Council of Constantinople

When & Who?

aka?

result...

When & Who?

Held in 381 by Theodosius

(who in 390 outlows paganism & making Chrstianity the sole religion.)

Aka?

The 2nd Ecumenical Council

Results...

Basically agreed with (or supported) the Council of Nicea. So nothing...

Byzantine Christianity

The Incarnation of the Word of God

(reading-in class re cap)

-Describes why all of the debates about God/Jesus mattered.

- He understands death as the

Fall of Humanity

-Humans condition is characterized by Sin, Death, & somehow related to the Devil

-According to the author Jesus' death, the resurrection, & the incarnation are all important because they show divinity.

Key Words:

Devil, Death, Sin

Byzantine Christianity

Review

***Know the Names, Dates, Locations, & Main Points/Differences between the Councils.

***The Main Concepts of the Trinity

***Adopting Roman/Political Structure of Hierarchy

Byzantine Christianity

Basil the Great &

Patriarch?

PENTARCHY

what/when?

Rivarlry...

Basil the Great

Small Town Bishop

Patriarch

Pope at the time of Nicea

Pentarch:

The 5 Political/Patriarchs that must be present at Ecumenical Councils. *(in this order)

1. Rome

2. Alexandria

3. Antioch

4. Constantinople

5. Jerusalem

*Rivarly...

In the mid 4th Century there was a rivalry between Alexandria & Constantinople b/c Alexandria became #3 in ranking (from #2)

When?

A.

B.

C.

D.

The Nestorian Controversy

*428-433*

A. Two Directions in 4th Century Chrisiology

B. Nestorius

C. Cyril of Alexandria

D. Ephesus (431)

Two Directions in 4th Century Chrisiology

First it came from Antioch but then becomes patriarch of Constantinople in 428

1. The Nestorian Controversy

C. Cyril of Alexandria

does what...?

Cyril of Alexandria...

Says they are all of one nature and calls another debate in 431

Dies in 444

1. The Nestorian Controversy

C. Ephesus

When?

Who was not represented at the council?

 What was the result?

Ephesus

3rd Ecumenical Council  

When?

431

Who was not represented?

Antioch & Rome

What was the result?

Antioch shows up a week later accepting Nestorius' views and condemning Cyril's views.

Rome shows up and fights over all while agreeing with Cyril.

So.... nothing is resolved between Antioch and Alexandria but the term "Monophysites"

1. When/What:

Chalcedon was the 4th Ecumenical Council held in 451 debating

Monophysitism VS Nestorian Theology

2. It determined:

The trinity symbolizes 1 person (God) both divine & human in nature

RESULT showed 2 Natures in an 1 Incarnate God.

 1. Divine (nature) Word

2. & Human (nature)

3. It Affects...

How Jesus saves i.e. Salvation

4. Main Reason for Arguments:

Divinity VS Humanity

5. Sources of Cyrils Arguments:

-Sources of Authority Athanasius

-Paradosis i.e. "tradition"

Byzantine Christianity

4th Century

*4 Important things to Remember

 4th Century

1. Asceticism & Monasticism

2. Monasticism- 2 Types

3. Spread of Monasticism

4. Effects of Monasticism

Byzantine Christianity

4th Century

1. Asceticism & Monasticism

Break them down...

Asceticism

Way of life or

***Voluntary denial or giving up of bodily goods & pleasure

i.e. sex, food, alcohol/wine, sleep

***Instead...

Go to church, pray, read the bible, denial of wealth,

(To some degree all Christianity was adopting some sort of asceticism. Conversion of Constantine really generated this)

Monasticism

Alternative form to Martyrdom basically the institution of asceticism

---> Monks or Nuns

Byzantine Christianity

4th Century

2. Monasticism- 2 Types

Break them down...

1. Eremetic:

Developed in the deserts of Egypt- monks that were completely solitary

Anthony the Great was the founder of this monasticism died in 315

2. Cenobitic:

Meant living in a Monestary/Community of Monks

Pachomius was the founder of this monasticism

Pachomius developed A Rule

i.e. a set of governing laws of Monestary which outlines your daily life legend says Angel did

Byzantine Christianity

4th Century

3. Spread of Monasticism

Where, when & type?

Spread of Monasticism

It starts in Egypt then in 370 it spreads to Lower Egypt, then Palestine, Cyria, Capadosia

*The type that spread was focused on the "individual soul" even though all Monasticism (east & west) came from the same traditions

Byzantine Christianity

4th Century

4. Effects of Monasticism

List 4 & the New Genre

Effects of Monasticism

1. Monks were revered as a holy person

"geron" (old man) & "geronta" (old woman)

They symbolized living saints and their homes were sacred and holy places.

2. Develops another competing authority of the church or alternative seed of power

Uneducated Monks VS Educated Bishops

3. Women and uneducated monks could now have a place in the church hierarchy

4. Generated new types of Literature Vita

New Genre:

*Vita*

 -Narrates a Holy Persons life usually concentrating on ascetic deeds

-sayings, or a collection of loose sayings (not narrative)

Byzantine Christianity

Life of St. Mary of Egypt

-she was a whore

-who redeemed herself

-read and translated over and over again

-provide a sense of salvation and redemption

-conversion experience

-depictions of a woman?

-Monasticism is the only option for women to have any authority or position in the church.

-Life of Sin- Conversion to Holiness

Pattern! Extreme asceticism represents Holiness

Vita

-Express current and projecting views of Holiness

-View and perfection of Holiness

***I have no idea what that is all about, I copied it down at the end of a class one day.

Byzantine Christianity

Theological Anthropology

Understand Byzantine Culture:

God in relation to humanity

Central Part of Byzantine Theological Anthropology 

Based on Biblical text Genesis 1-3

Byzantine Christianity

The Creation Story/Original Sin

Homily 17

Incentive

Effects of the Fall

Result of the Fall

Homily 17

These conditions remind humanity about this transgression against God.... remember how they used to be in the image & likeness of God.

Incentive

A story used as prevention so humanity won't screw up again ( i have no idea ??)

Effects of the Fall

Not a state of original sin. Born into a state of corruption.... death

For Byzantines- the day of eating was the first day toward death (i have no idea ??)

Result of the Fall

Humankind is still made in the image of God although their 'likeness' of God was removed.

* Asceticism restores this 'likeness'

Byzantine Christianity

The Age of Justinian

Symbolism of Coins

Justinian who?

Coins

Were designed with religious symbols *Highwater mark for Byzantine Culture.

 

Justinian

-Born as a peasant in Latin province of Empire in 482

-Nephew of empereor Justin I

***Justin I:(518-527 & originally a poor soldier continually proved himself through ranks until he became emperor)

-Succeeds Justin I in 527

-Dies in 565 after ruling for 38 years

 

Byzantine Christianity

The Age of Justinian

Wife?

He marries THEODORA in 525

-She was a commoner,

an actress so basically a prostitute.

-A monophysite sympathizer

***(Monophysism condemmed as a heresy at the time)

Byzantine Christianity

The Age of Justinian

Justinian's Political Success

(3 reasons)

East Vs West?

1. Peaceful succession to power

2. Corpus Juris Civilis begun in 534

Juris Civilis: Completion of all Roman law (forms basis of all European law) at one time which brings a sense of UNITY (Justinianic Codex, Digest, Institutions)

 ***Provided Unity when the empire was divided at the time by two heresy's Monophysism and Arianism

3. Stability (theological & political)

of a long reign

East was Monophysite

West was pretty much Arian (Trinitarian Hierarchy)

Byzantine Christianity

The Age of Justinian

Justinian's Armies

Generals (2)

Militarization of Empire (3 effects)

2 Outstanding Generals

1-Belisarius

2-Narses

*They were sent out to re-conquer land to spread the Christianity and gain political power & unity.

Militarization of the Empire Effects

-Successors will be Generals

-Roman Senate loses influence

-Preserves but transforms the Empire.

Byzantine Christianity

The Age of Justinian

Invasions

 lead to...?

Balasarius ?

Result?

Germanic/Barbarian Invasions as well as the Hunds push all the Goths to Western Europe

this leads to the

Fall of the Roman Empire in 476

Belasarius reconquers it in about 5-6 years because he has a unified military with quick tactics

Result

Italk, N. Africa, Spain all taken over by ostrogoths

Byzantine Christianity

The Age of Justinian

Set-Backs to Unity

(3)

1. Nika Riots of 532

2. On-Going Monophysite Problem

3. Plague of 542

Byzantine Christianity

The Age of Justinian

Set-Backs to Unity

1. Nika Riots of 532

Where?

Who?

Why/How?

Nika Riots of 532

In Constantinople the people were very upset with the politicians

Where

*Hithodrome (sp?) Horse Race- where people meet to riot

Who

Blues VS Greens

How/Why?

-Greens started riot due to taxation

-After 8 days the Blues & Greens joined forces and together they set the city on fire in order to show Justinian that he needs to show control of order

Byzantine Christianity

The Age of Justinian

Byzantine Constantinople =

Justinian World

Builds what?

"Hagia Sophia"

Byzantine Constantinople = Justinian World

-Builds 40-50 Churches/Monestaries

Building of "Hagia Sophia"

i.e. "Holy Wisdom" or "Saint"

-Begins in 532 immediately after riot

-completed in 537/538 (very quickly)

-largest church until the 16th century

-Architects were Arithurius & Isidoros (sp?)

*Rebuilds other important Churches as well.

Byzantine Christianity

The Age of Justinian

Apex of Byzantium

What & Why?

5 Reasons 

& After...?

Apex of Byzantium Empire

*Justinian Empuire*

because...

1-Military Success

Conquered all of the Land

2-Technology

Steam engine with throne

3-Trade

smuggled silk worms back in order to start their own silk production which gives them control of Silk Routes and other major Trade Routes = POWER

4-Architecture/Building Program

Restored and rebuilt many cities

5-Successful Example of Diarchy (?)

& After...

Justinian the Empire will get smaller and smaller

*enters sort of a "Dark Ages"

Maximus (shit i got nothing here)