Introduction to History of Christianity

1. History of Western Christianity timeline.

2. Persecutions & martyrdom.

3. Martyrdom of Perpetua & Felicitas

History of Western Christianity Timeline

2nd- 5th c. The Patristic Period2nd -beg. 4th c. Early Patristic Periodmid. 4th c.-5th c. Late Patristic Period

6th- 15th c. The Medieval Period

6th-11th c. The Early Medieval Period12-13th c. The High Middle Ages mid 14th c. Renaissance

16th-20th c. The Modern Period

16-17th c. Reformation Period18-20th c. Post-Reformation Period

18th c. Enlightenment 21st c.-present The “Postmodern” Period

Map 2nd c.

Jupiter (Zeus) Capitolinus

Olympic gods

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

Emperor Cult

• Julius Caesar divinized after his death

• Temples dedicated to the genius of emperors

• Test of civil duty: Caesar is (divine) Lord!

Julius CaesarOctavian Augustus

Ironies of history… the cult of the emperor revived

Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924)Julius Caesar (100-44 BC)

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 2nd 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)