Christianity Spreads

1. Christianity Spreads • New Converts bring the message of Christianity to the Roman Empire • Places that add to the Christian Community: • Syria • Asia Minor • Greece • Italy • France (Gaul) • Spain • Northern African Coast • Many of these places provide leaders for the Church. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xos2MnVxe-c

2. Rise of Constantine "ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ" • Here is the story again… • Selected by his troops as the new emperor around 312. • Had the vision and was the use a the sign XP (chi-rho) two letters of Christ’s name. • He attributes victory to Son of God. • Legalizes Christianity • 313 CE Edict of Milan Allows Christians to worship freely. • 324 CE Const. defeats the Eastern Roman Emperor and moves capital to Byzantium—which becomes Constantinople (Istanbul)

3. Rise of Constantine continued"ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ" • From this point onward in this history of the Church there is often ties and dependency on the political structure. • In 380 CE, the Emperor Theodosius declares Paganism illegal and places Christianity as the Religion of the Empire.

4. Conflict within the Church • Heresies-beliefs contrary to the basic beliefs. These begin in the 2nd century. • Gnosticism- • Believe that all material things (including human body) are evil • Jesus was divine but not human • Salvation was a special privilege • The Church held that the Gospels and Epistles refute this heresy. • St. Irenaeus refutes this heresy and moves for a declaration of faith. I.E. Apostles Creed. • Arianism • Denial of Jesus divinity • This heresy of cause conflict in the Chruch for several centuries. • The name comes from an Alexandrian priest named, Arius. • Constantine called the Bishops together to solve this problem. • The Council of Nicaea meets in 325 CE in Nicaea across from Constantinople. • Arianism continues to cause problems depending on who was the political leader of the time • Athansius becomes a strong oppoenet of Arianism. • He is forced from his position as Bishop five time often going to the desert for safety. • Theodosus bans Arianism as well as Paganism.

5. Chapter 5 Monasticism • Circa 270 CE • Seeking Spiritual truth in the wilderness • Wrestle with their own demons • Leaving the world to seek Holiness • From the Greek Word Monos-alone • Some were wisdom figures • Toward “purity of heart.” • Seeking solitude to pray • Self-sufficient • Rejected “soft Christianity”

6. St. Antony of Egypt, St. Basil, and St. Jerome • St. Antony of Egypt • First to go out into the desert and begin the practice of monasticism • Organized colonies of hermits (what are hermits?) • St. Basil • First to organize the hermits under one roof. • Wrote a rule for the monks. This rule helped with order and structure of their community life. • Important parts of St. Basil’s rule: • Simple dress • Simple food/meals • Do works of mercy • Obey the Abbot • Apply the Gospels • Work • St. Jerome • Pagan convert to Christianity • Became hermit and was well educated in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. • Secretary under Pope Damasus. The pope instructs Jerome to translate all biblical texts into Latin. This becomes known as the Latin Vulgate. • This is the basis for the New Testament

7. Wisdom Abounds • “When we pray we choose to grow.” Joyce Rupp • “For it is in giving that we receive” St. Francis • “The interior is the essential.” WJC • “God cannot be known only loved.” Richard Rohr • You know that our Lord does not look at the greatness or the difficulty of an action but at the love with which you do it! What then do you have to fear?” St. Therese of Liseux • “Perhaps I am more powerful than I think” Thomas Merton • “The present moment is never unbearable if you live it fully.” Anthony De Mello • “My Yoke is easy and my burden light.” Luke 10:20 • “Can any of you, for all your worrying, add a single moment to your life.” (Lk. 12:26) • “I live now not my own life, but the of Christ who lives in me.” Galatians 2:20 • “Hope frees us from the need to predict the future. This allows us to live in the present.” Henri Nouwen