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Chapter 9 (I). The Language of Faith: Symbolism and the Arts. The Turning Point. Emperor Constantine ’ s conversion in 312 C.E. The Reorganized Empire. Diocletian (284-316 C.E.) saved the empire from the third-century crisis. Diocletian’s reform. Diocletian. Maximian. Caesar. Caesar.
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Chapter 9 (I) The Language of Faith: Symbolism and the Arts
The Turning Point Emperor Constantine’s conversion in 312 C.E.
The Reorganized Empire • Diocletian(284-316 C.E.)saved the empire from the third-century crisis.
Diocletian’s reform Diocletian Maximian Caesar Caesar
Emperor Constantine • 313 Edict of Milan • Christianity became a legitimate faith.
Emperor Constantine • 325 Council of Nicaea • Purpose: to establish the Christian dogma→the Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed http://www.goarch.org/en/resources/clipart/icondetail.asp?i=55&c=Other&r=Ecumenical_Synod
Doctrinal Quarrels • Trinity: Christ = Father, Son, Holy Ghost • Regionalism: regional hostilities were aggravated. Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches split in 1054. • State involvement: Secular interference in Church matters increased, esp. in the East.
Hierarchical Organization • Patriarchs → bishops in charge of Rome, Jerusalem, Constantinople, Antioch, and Alexandria. • Archbishops/metropolitans → provinces • Bishops → dioceses • Priests → parishes
Primacy of the Bishop of Rome • (1) a scene of the missionary activities and eventual martyrdom of the Apostles Peter and Paul. • (2) the doctrine of the Petrine Succession
Primacy of the Bishop of Rome • (3) After the capital was moved to Constantinople, the pope replaced the Roman emperor as head of public administration.
Spread of Monasticism Fourth century • (1) A substitute for martyrdom: a desire to prove one’s religious ardor by self-abasement and suffering. • (2) Monasticism satisfied the desires of those who wished to avoid secular temptations.
St Simeon Stylite spent thirty-six years living on top of a pillar, in prayer and devotion.
East: St. Basil (330-379) Features: fasting, poverty, and celibacy http://www.st-basil.org/
West: St. Benedict (480-547) The Benedictine rule http://www.mycatholictradition.com/saint-benedict.html
The Benedictine Rule • Vows: poverty, chastity, obedience • A program of “prayer and work”
The Benedictine Rule • Contributions: (1) Missionary work (2) Emphasize the dignity of Manual labor (3) Learning: Benedictine monasteries became centers for learning and transcribing in the Middle Ages.
Women • The rise of a negative attitude toward women? • (Con) Spiritual egalitarianism: women could be saved as fully as men. • (Pro) (1) Excluded from positions of leadership in church (2)Women > flesh; Men > spirit (3) Virginity accepted as the highest standard
Marriage • Marriage >>> procreation Women >>> limited roles submissive wives mothers
Latin Church Fathers • Jerome (c. 347-420) Ambrose (340-397) Gregory (c. 540-604) Augustine (354-430)
St. Jerome • Translated the Bible from Hebrew (OT) and Greek (NT) into Latin: the Vulgate
St. Jerome (painted by El Greco) translated the Old and New Testaments into Latin. http://www.tihof.org/images/jerome/greco.jpg
St. Jerome • Much of the Bible was to be understood allegorically, rather than literally. • Classical learning could be valid if subordinated to Christian aims.
St. Augustine • The Confessions : his autobiography. Established the dualistic model of reality: the “unclean body” and the “purified soul” (by extension, matter and spirit, earth and heaven, Satan and God, state and Church).
St. Augustine • On the City of God “City of Earth” vs. “City of God”
Christianization of Classical Culture • (1) A gradual winnowing out of the classical texts that had been produced in Greece and Rome between the 5th century B.C.E. and the 2nd century C.E.
Christianization of Classical Culture • (2) An understanding of the purposes of classical culture for a Christian audience.
Christ as the Good Shepherd, the mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, c. 425-426. Mosaic. http://mh1.xplana.com/imagevault/upload/c20fadda23a7d46f8003.jpg
Symbolism and Early Christian Art: (a) Christian monograms; (b) symbols of the four evangelists; and (c) Latin and Greek crosses http://mh1.xplana.com/imagevault/upload/34b4a94ac52f06114f9d.jpg
Orans http://www.orderofcenturions.org/IMAGES/orans_catacomb2.jpg
Food for Thought • Study and identify the iconography of the life of Jesus.