Episode 2:Waypoints in Church History

The Cenacle, JerusalemActs 2:1-4

Waypoint timeline

• Music: ancient Jewish hymn??

• Theme: begin the story of the Church’s history

Cenacle Introduction

• Waypoint: Cenacle in Jerusalem

• Emphasize importance of events at Cenacle

• Evangelist and historian: St. Luke

• Destruction of Jerusalem and the Cenacle

• Rebuilding of Cenacle

What is the Cenacle• Cenacle is from Latin,

cenaculum (coenaculum), for upper room or attic

• An ancient site in old Jerusalem near the Zion Gate

• Revered in Judaism as the site of King David’s tomb– Ancient synagogue on first

floor• Revered in Christianity as site

of ‘birth place’ of the Church– The first waypoint for pilgrim

Church– Sometimes referred to as the

first Church

St. Luke• Author of Gospel and Acts of

the Apostles– Two books about the

foundation of Christianity– First Book (Gospel) is about

Jesus– Second (Acts) Book covers

missionary work of apostles• Luke was a disciple of Paul

who travelled with him to Rome

• He was a very learned man, by tradition a physician and artist

• Why does he write these Books? – See Luke 1:3-4

Important Events at Cenacle

• Last Supper and First Eucharist– Luke 22

• Some resurrection appearances of Jesus– Luke 24

• Election of St. Matthias to replace Judas among apostles – Acts 1

• Pentecost and first public sermon by St. Peter – Acts 2

First Century Roman Palestine

First Century Roman Empire

Herod the Great (73 to 4 BC)

• His father, Antipater, was placed in power by Romans

• Herod grew up (‘hostage’) in Rome

• Friend with both Ceaser Augustus and Mark Antony

• Becomes Roman client king of Romans

• Exerts great power in Palestine, including massive building projects

– Second Temple precinct– Cities of Caesarea and Tiberius– Palaces in Jerusalem, Masada

• When he dies, Romans divide his kingdom among his sons with a Roman administrator

Brief History of First Century AD Roman Provence of Palestine

• Friction among Herod’s sons• Friction among various Jewish

groups over relation with Rome– Priests and Sadducees in Jerusalem– Pharisees– Essenes– Zealots

• Frictions make Palestine a contentious place, with several localized tax rebellions

– Jesus crucified by Romans as an insurrectionist in 33 AD

• One major First Century War: First Jewish War 66 – 73 AD

– Starts in Galilee, but spreads throughout Palestine

– Nero appoints Vespasian and his son Titus as Roman generals

– Destruction of Second Temple in 70 AD

– Fall of Masada in 73 AD

Roman Destruction of Jerusalem

• In 70 A.D. Romans lay siege to Jerusalem

• Eyewitness account from the historian Josephus– Jew who defected to Romans

– After the War, he writes about Judaism

• A great fire destroyed the Temple, and much of Jerusalem, including the original Cenacle– Western Wall is one of the few

things not destroyed

Later History of Cenacle

• After time of persecution by Romans, a great basilica was built in 4th C at the Cenacle– Becomes an important

pilgrimage site

• This building was destroyed by Muslims in 11th C

• Rebuilt by Crusaders in 12th C

Cenacle Summary

• Cenacle as model for our liturgical life– Each local Church place

where Eucharist is celebrated

– Word preached– Sacraments administered

• Also a model for patient endurance of pilgrim Church during difficult times– After crucifixion– Destruction of Jerusalem

Next Waypoint: The Coliseum