Spread of Christianity Christianity in the 4th century

1 spread of christianity

1.1 christianity outside roman empire
1.2 georgian orthodox church
1.3 great persecution
1.4 conditioning factors of missionary expansion
1.5 central asia

spread of christianity

9th century depiction of christ heroic warrior (stuttgart psalter, fol. 23, illustration of psalm 91:13)

in 4th century, process of christianization of various germanic peoples partly facilitated prestige of christian roman empire amongst european pagans. until decline of roman empire, germanic tribes had migrated there (with exceptions of saxons, franks, , lombards) had converted christianity. many of them, notably goths , vandals, adopted arianism instead of trinitarian beliefs came dominate roman imperial church. gradual rise of germanic christianity voluntary, particularly amongst groups associated roman empire.

wulfila or ulfilas son or grandson of christian captives sadagolthina in cappadocia. in 337 or 341, wulfila became first bishop of (christian) goths. 348, 1 of pagan gothic kings began persecuting christian goths, , wulfila , many other christian goths fled moesia secunda (in modern bulgaria) in roman empire. other christians, including wereka, batwin, , saba, died in later persecutions.

between 348 , 383, wulfila translated bible gothic language. arian christians in west used vernacular languages, in case including gothic , latin, services, did christians in eastern roman provinces, while christians in western provinces used latin.

christianity outside roman empire

2nd 5th century simplified migrations. see map of world in 820 ce.

the armenian , ethiopian churches instances of imposition of christianity sovereign rulers predating council of nicaea. conversions happened among grecian-roman-celtic populations on centuries, among urban population , spread rural populations in later centuries. consequently, while initial converts found among jewish populations, development of orthodox church aspect of state society occurred through co-option of state religion ethos of christianity, , conversion of large rural population accomplished.

the germanic migrations of 5th century triggered destruction of gothic kingdoms huns in 372–375.

georgian orthodox church

st nino of cappadocia

the first eparchy founded in georgia, traditionally apostle andrew. in 327, christianity adopted state religion rulers of iberia (eastern georgia). 320s, georgian orthodox church under jurisdiction of apostolic see of antioch.

great persecution

the great persecution fell upon christians in persia 340. though religious motives never unrelated, primary cause of persecution political. when rome became christian, old enemy turned anti-christian. first 3 centuries after christ in west christians persecuted. parthians religiously tolerant persecute, , less tolerant sassanian successors on throne busy fighting rome, persian emperors inclined regard them friends of persia.

it 315 ill-advised letter christian emperor constantine persian counterpart shapur ii triggered beginnings of ominous change in persian attitude toward christians. constantine believed writing fellow believers in persia succeeded in exposing them. wrote young shah:

rejoice hear fairest provinces of persia adorned with...christians...since powerful , pious, commend them care, , leave them in protection .

it enough make persian ruler conditioned 300 years of war rome suspicious of emergence of fifth column. lingering doubts must have been dispelled when twenty years later when constantine began gather forces war in east. eusebius records roman bishops prepared accompany emperor battle him , him prayers god whom victory proceeds . , across border in persian territory forthright persian preacher aphrahat recklessly predicted on basis of reading of old testament prophecy rome defeat persia.

when persecutions began shortly thereafter, first accusation brought against christians aiding roman enemy. shah shapur ii s response order double taxation on christians , hold bishop responsible collecting it. knew poor , bishop hard-pressed find money. bishop simon refused intimidated. branded tax unjust , declared, no tax collector shepherd of lord s flock.

a second decree ordered destruction of churches , execution of clergy refused participate in national worship of sun. bishop simon seized , brought before shah , offered gifts make token obeisance sun, , when refused, cunningly tempted him promise if alone apostatize people not harmed, if refused condemning not church leaders christians destruction. @ that, christians rose , refused accept such deliverance shameful. in 344, simon led outside city of susa along large number of christian clergy. 5 bishops , 1 hundred priests beheaded before eyes, , lastly put death.

sometime before death of shapur ii in 379, intensity of persecution slackened. tradition calls forty-year persecution, lasting 339–379 , ending shapur s death. when @ last years of suffering ended around 401, historian sozomen, lived nearby, wrote multitude of martyrs had been beyond enumeration . 1 estimate many 190,000 persian christians died in terror.

conditioning factors of missionary expansion

several important factors explain extensive growth in church of east during first twelve hundred years of christian era. geographically, , possibly numerically, expansion of church outstripped of church in west in centuries. outstanding key understanding expansion active participation of laymen – involvement of large percentage of church s believers in missionary evangelism.

persecution strengthened , spread christian movement in east. great influx of christian refugees roman persecutions of first 2 centuries gave vigour mesopotamian church. persecutions in persia caused refugees escape far arabia, india, , other central asian countries.

christianity penetrated arabia numerous points on periphery. northeastern arabia flourished end of 3rd end of 6th , apparently evangelized christians tigris-euphrates valley in 4th century. kingdom of ghassan on northwest frontier sphere of missionary activity. in fact, 500 many churches in existence along arabian shore of persian gulf , in oman, connected church of east in persian empire. arabian bishops found among in attendance @ important church councils in mesopotamia.

central asia

the agents of missionary expansion in central asia , far east not monks , clergy trained in mesopotamian monastic schools, in many cases christian merchants , artisans, considerable biblical training. found employment among people less advanced in education, serving in government offices , teachers , secretaries , more advanced medical care. helped solve problem of illiteracy inventing simplified alphabets based on syriac language.

persecution thrust christians forth new , unevangelized lands find refuge. dissemination of gospel largely syriac-using people had advantages, hindrance indigenizing church in new areas. because syriac never became dominant, competition ethnic religions issue. these reasons of political vicissitude, in later centuries christianity suffered total eclipse in asia until modern period. golden age of missions in central asia extended end of fourth latter part of 9th century.

christianity had , extensive dissemination throughout vast territory north of persia , west , east of oxus river. cities merv, herat , samarkand had bishops , later became metropolitanates. christians found among hephthalite huns 5th century, , mesopotamian patriarch assigned 2 bishops (john of resh-aina , thomas tanner) both peoples, result many baptized. devised , taught written language huns , of armenian bishop, taught agricultural methods , skills.