Chapter 9 (I) The Language of Faith: Symbolism and the Arts

Chapter 9 (I)

The Language of Faith: Symbolism and the Arts

The Turning Point

Emperor Constantine’s

conversion in 312 C.E.

The Reorganized Empire

Diocletian (284-316 C.E.) saved the empire from the third-century crisis.

Diocletian’s reform

Diocletian Maximian

Caesar Caesar

Emperor Constantine

313 Edict of MilanChristianity became a legitimate faith.

Emperor Constantine

325 Council of NicaeaPurpose: to establish the

Christian dogma →the Nicene Creed

http://www.goarch.org/en/resources/clipart/icondetail.asp?i=55&c=Other&r=Ecumenical_Synod

The Nicene Creed

Doctrinal Quarrels(1) Trinity: Christ = Father, Son, Holy

Ghost(2) Regionalism: regional hostilities

were aggravated. Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches split in 1054.

(3) State involvement: Secular interference in Church matters increased, esp. in the East.

Hierarchical Organization

Patriarchs → bishops in charge of Rome, Jerusalem, Constantinople, Antioch, and Alexandria.

Archbishops/metropolitans → provinces

Bishops → dioceses Priests → parishes

Primacy of the Bishop of Rome

(1) a scene of the missionary activities and eventual martyrdom of the Apostles Peter and Paul.

(2) the doctrine of the Petrine Succession

Primacy of the Bishop of Rome

(3) After the capital was moved to Constantinople, the pope replaced the Roman emperor as head of public administration.

Spread of Monasticism

Fourth century (1) A substitute for martyrdom: a

desire to prove one’s religious ardor by self-abasement and suffering.

(2) Monasticism satisfied the desires of those who wished to avoid secular temptations.

St Simeon Stylite spent thirty-six years living on top of a pillar, in prayer and devotion.

East:

St. Basil (330-379)

Features: fasting, poverty, and celibacy

http://www.st-basil.org/

West:

St. Benedict

(480-547)

The Benedictine rule

http://www.mycatholictradition.com/saint-benedict.html

The Benedictine Rule

Vows: poverty, chastity, obedience

A program of “prayer and work”

The Benedictine RuleContributions: (1) Missionary work (2) Emphasize the dignity of

Manual labor (3) Learning: Benedictine

monasteries became centers for learning and transcribing in the Middle Ages.

Women The rise of a negative attitude toward

women?(Con) Spiritual egalitarianism:

women could be saved as fully as men.

(Pro) (1) Excluded from positions of leadership in church (2)Women > flesh; Men > spirit (3) Virginity accepted as the highest standard

MarriageMarriage >>> procreation Women >>> limited roles submissive wives

mothers

Latin Church Fathers Jerome (c. 347-420) Ambrose (340-397) Gregory (c. 540-604) Augustine (354-430)

St. Jerome

Translated the Bible from Hebrew (OT) and Greek (NT) into Latin: the Vulgate

http://www.tihof.org/images/jerome/greco.jpg

St. Jerome (painted by El Greco) translated the Old and New Testaments into Latin.

St. JeromeMuch of the Bible was to be

understood allegorically, rather than literally.

Classical learning could be valid if subordinated to Christian aims.

St. AugustineThe Confessions : his

autobiography. Established the dualistic model of reality: the “unclean body” and the “purified soul” (by extension, matter and spirit, earth and heaven, Satan and God, state and Church).

St. Augustine

On the City of God “City of Earth” vs. “City of God”

Christianization of Classical Culture

(1) A gradual winnowing out of the classical texts that had been produced in Greece and Rome between the 5th century B.C.E. and the 2nd century C.E.

Christianization of Classical Culture

(2) An understanding of the purposes of classical culture for a Christian audience.

Early Christian Art

sacophagus

catacomb

Christ as Good Shepherd

Christ as the Good Shepherd, the mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, c. 425-426. Mosaic. http://mh1.xplana.com/imagevault/upload/c20fadda23a7d46f8003.jpg

Christian Symbolism

Symbolism and Early Christian Art: (a) Christian monograms; (b) symbols of the four evangelists; and (c) Latin and Greek crosses

http://mh1.xplana.com/imagevault/upload/34b4a94ac52f06114f9d.jpg

The chi-rho symbol

Orans

http://www.orderofcenturions.org/IMAGES/orans_catacomb2.jpg

Food for Thought

Study and identify the iconography of the life of Jesus.

http://members.aol.com/nonstopny/italiano/nativity.jpg

The End