CONSEQUENCES OF A CHRISTIAN ROME

26 February 2026
Gloria from Misa Criolla - Ariel Ramirez

UNIVERSALISMS AND NEW DIRECTIONS

  • When in Rome

  • Consequences of a new Iran

  • Consequences of a Christian Rome

CONSEQUENCES OF A CHRISTIAN ROME

Crisis and Blame

CRISIS AND BLAME

  • Historical Context

    • Severan family tree: Illustrates the lineage of the Severan dynasty.

    • Dates and key events:

    • 230 CE: Ardashir crosses the Euphrates.

    • 232 CE: Iranian/Persian forces halt Roman advances.

    • 234 CE: Germanic tribes launch an attack across the Rhine.

    • 235 CE: Alexander Severus is assassinated during an army mutiny in Mainz.

    • Sources: Herodian’s History of the Roman Empire, 6.9.7.

Empirical Challenges

  • From 235 to 249 CE: Nine emperors rule Rome.

  • Shapur I invades Mesopotamia (243 CE):

    • Defeats Emperor Gordian III in 244.

    • A new pandemic disease emerges in 249 CE.

    • Sources: Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 5-6.

Decius and Religious Practices

  • Decius (r. 249-251 CE)

    • Profile: Portrait bust in the Musei Capitolini, Rome.

    • Roman Religion: Introduced supplicatio, an offering of wine and incense during emergencies.

    • Source: Anne Viola Siebert, Brill’s New Pauly.

    • Decius’ requirement for sacrifice:

    • Issued a decree: All citizens must perform sacrifices to the Roman gods to restore favor during crises.

    • Libellus: Document required to prove participation in this act.

Caracalla’s Edict of Citizenship

  • Constitutio Antoniniana (212 CE):

    • Extends Roman citizenship to all free men within the empire.

    • Papyrus fragment located in Egypt; housed at the University of Giessen, Germany.

    • Significance: Strengthens social bonds within a diverse empire.

    • Bust of Emperor Caracalla located at NYC’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Ongoing Conflicts

  • Germanic attacks intensify in 251 CE.

  • In 253 CE: Shapur I captures Armenia and plunders Antioch.

  • Origen of Alexandria’s observation:

    • Comments on the societal challenges facing Christians amidst wars, famines, and plagues.

    • This reflects a growing perception of Christians as scapegoats.

Edict of Gallienus

  • 260 CE:

    • Officially legalizes Christian associations, allowing property ownership.

    • Source: Eusebius, History of the Church, 7.13.

    • Coin of Gallienus displays the reverse: VIRTUS AUG with the emperor as Mars, signifying martial prowess.

CHRISTIANS AS ROMANS

Charity and Community Action

  • Tending the sick during plagues: Evidence provided in Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History.

  • Tertullian (2nd century CE):

    • Noted that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church,” emphasizing the role of martyrdom in growth.

Apologists of the Faith

  • Prominent Figures:

    • Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–c. 254 CE):

    • For 3rd-century followers of Plato, numerous gods symbolize aspects of a transcendent principle or Father.

    • Concept of Logos: The Gospel of John (1:1-3) describes Logos as divine reason through which all creation exists.

    • Logos connection: Links Christ with the philosophical tradition of reason.

    • Representation of Origen depicted in a manuscript from c. 1160 in Munich.

Religious Practices in Rome

  • Cult of Isis: Evidence from a 1st-century fresco in Pompeii.

    • Rituals and worship practices tied to this goddess were prominent in the daily life of Romans.

    • Apuleius: As a priest of Isis, describes her as “all gods and goddesses in a single form” in The Golden Ass 11.5.

MITHRAISM AND ITS RITES

  • Mithraea across the Empire: Photos of Mithraic relief and the god Mithras, representative of various aspects of the cosmos.

  • Divination Practices:

    • Haruspices examine entrails for religious guidance, reflecting prevalent beliefs in divination.

PERSECUTION AND TOLERANCE

  • Diocletian’s Edicts: General persecution against Christians stated in February 303.

  • Galerius’ Edict of Toleration (311 CE):

    • Recognizes the right to prayer, signaling a shift in policy towards religious tolerance.

CONSTANTINE'S CHRISTIAN EMPIRE

Battle of Milvian Bridge

  • Constantine (d. 337): Gifted with vision during the pivotal battle in 312 CE.

    • Encouraged to mark the sign of Christ on his soldiers’ shields, leading to victory against Maxentius.

    • Sources: Lactantius’ On the Deaths of the Persecutors.

The Edict of Milan

  • Joint issuance by Constantine and Licinius:

    • Promotes true religious freedom rather than mere tolerance.

    • Emphasis on the divine will guiding governance and promoting liberty of worship for Christians and other religions.

    • Source: Lactantius, On the Deaths of the Persecutors.

CONSTANTINOPLE AND BISHOPRIC

Founding of Constantinople

  • Byzantium renamed: Constantine establishes this city as the eastern Roman capital.

Relationship with Bishops

  • Divine Law and Governance:

    • Bishops derive authority from Christ as the source of divine law.

    • Collaboration with the emperor to shape a divinely influenced state.

    • Artwork detail: Sarcophagus of Bishop Liberius depicted with Christ delivering laws to St. Paul (378 CE).

COUNCIL OF NICEA, 325 CE

Establishing Orthodoxy

  • Core Affirmation:

    • Acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as “consubstantial with the Father”—a fundamental Christian doctrine established during the council.

    • Visual representation of the Council of Nicea in a 16th-century fresco at the Vatican.

REFLECTION ON CHRISTIANITY AND POWER

  • Historical Implications:

    • What transformations occur in Christianity when emperors engage in battles under the “sign of Christ”?

    • Examined through Piero della Francesca’s Legend of the True Cross, illustrating the historical narrative of authority, faith, and conflict.