The Rise and Spread of Christianity

The Rise and Spread of Christianity Part 2

Christianity grew rapidly after Constantine's conversion

JULIAN: THE LAST PAGAN EMPEROR

Julian the Apostate was a fervently devoted pagan, and tried to "cure" Rome of it's Christianity.

You have conquered, o Galilean

Christianity becomes the official state religion under Theodosius I.

St. Antony

WAIT A MINUTE!

Why should we care?

Monasteries, monastic orders, and those in them would have a profound impact on Church-State relations, academic institutions, politics, and every day life ... it's worth taking a look at its roots so we can better understand events and relationships between church-state, church-society that happen later.

St. Pachomius -- Father of Communal Monastic Life

Monastic Communities

Building and living together
Led by an Abbot
Followed Written Rules

Religious Experimentation

Styelite movement & Holy Fool movement

Hagiography: Life of the Saints

Pope Gregory the Great - First elected pope

The first of many hagiographies to come, written by Bishop Athanasius of Alexandria

Look at all these halos!

These guys were celebrities!

The Western monastic communities were a little different than the Eastern ones...

Smaller communities
In towns
... "wimpy"

But now, Let's talk about SEX.

Or maybe... the lack thereof?

Abstinence from sexual activity
Increased in popularity
Roman pagans didn't understand...

ANYWAY, moving on

St. Augustine

Grew up a pagan, converted to Christianity later in life.
Studied Rhetoric in Carthage
Became Bishop of Hippo (didn't really care for the job)

Wrote two very influential, still studied and debated works: Confessions and City of God

Augustine's "City of God" was written in defense of Christianity...

After Rome was sacked by the Visigoths in 410

Appreciate

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