Introduction to History of Christianity 1 History of

Introduction to History of Christianity 1. History of Western Christianity timeline. 2. Persecutions & martyrdom. 3. Martyrdom of Perpetua & Felicitas

History of Western Christianity Timeline 2 nd- 5 th c. The Patristic Period 2 nd -beg. 4 th c. Early Patristic Period mid. 4 th c. -5 th c. Late Patristic Period 6 th- 15 th c. The Medieval Period 6 th-11 th c. The Early Medieval Period 12 -13 th c. The High Middle Ages mid 14 th c. Renaissance 16 th-20 th c. The Modern Period 16 -17 th c. Reformation Period 18 -20 th c. Post-Reformation Period 18 th c. Enlightenment 21 st c. -present The “Postmodern” Period

Map 2 nd c.

Jupiter (Zeus) Capitolinus

Olympic gods

Family altar in a pagan house. Pompei, 79 A. D

Emperor Cult Octavian Augustus • Julius Caesar divinized after his death • Temples dedicated to the genius of emperors • Test of civil duty: Caesar is (divine) Lord! Julius Caesar

Ironies of history… the cult of the emperor revived Julius Caesar (100 -44 BC) Vladimir Lenin (1870 -1924)

Persecution of Christians under Nero • Time: 64 AD • Place: Rome • Occasion: the great fire in Rome • Nero blamed the fire upon Christians • Christians burned as torches & used as gladiators Emperor Nero (54 -68)

Tertullian complains about common pagan sentiments: If the Tiber reaches the walls, if the Nile does not rise to the fields, if the sky does not move [drought], or the earth does [earthquake], if there is famine, if there is plague, the cry is at once: ‘Christians to the lion!’

Pagan caricature of the Christian God

Map 2 nd c.

Catacombs of Callistus. Gallery

Eucharist or funeral agape?

Woman in prayer

Inscription over the Tomb of SS. Perpetua and Felicitas

St. Perpetua & St. Felicitas

Questions for reflection • Perpetua’s dialogue with her father. • Felicitas’ dialogue with the prison guard (15)

Visions of the afterlife – Perpetua’s Ladder (4) – Perpetua’s brother (7 -8) – Saturus’ vision (11 -13) – Perpetua the Gladiator (10)