Jesus In Every Age

“He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities -- all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

Colossians 1:15-20 

Session Two: Image of the Invisible God

The Beginning of the Age of Faith: The “Conversion” of Constantine (312)

Roman Emperor Constantine had a vision of Christ on the eve of the Battle of Milvian Bridge: in hoc signo vinces

Adopts the Christian God as his personal patron

Edict of Milan (313): Christianity becomes a tolerated religion

Becomes a major patron of the church: buildings, books, treasures

Church experiences rapid growthPaganism survives alongside

growing Church—officially banned in 392

Constantine built important churches at shrines associated with events in the life of Christ and his apostles—set pattern for future church architecture

Basilica: large assembly halls modeled on secular throne rooms

Symbols transferred from secular pageantry: image of Pantocrator (Ruler of All) in apse, elevated Altar—throne of God

Christian worship assumes some imperial ceremonial practices: processions, candles, vesture, incense

Worshipping the Incarnate God

Our earliest complete liturgical texts come from the fourth and fifth centuries: heavy use of symbolism, elaborate forms

Basic structure and many texts of Eucharistic and Baptismal worship remain consistent today: Kyrie, Gloria, Sursum Corda, Great Thanksgiving, Words of Institution, etc.

Early Christian Liturgy shows combination of many Biblical images (Good Shepherd, Thanksgiving Sacrifice, Paschal Lamb) and images common to pagan Mystery Cults (redeeming blood, light, ritual washing)

Hymnody also developed in this period as a way of asserting true doctrine and of adding dignity and grandeur to public celebrations

Liturgical Development.

Splendor paternae gloriae

O splendor of God’s glory bright,O Thou that bringest light from light;O Light of light, light’s living spring,O day, all days illumining.

O Thou true Sun, on us Thy glanceLet fall in royal radiance;The Spirit’s sanctifying beamUpon our earthly senses stream.

Morn in her rosy car is borne:Let Him come forth our perfect MornThe Word in God the Father One,The Father perfect in the Son. Amen.

Ambrose of Milan (340-397)

Of One Substance with the Father

Constantine tried to bring unity to the church by convening a council of all bishops (ecumenical) at Nicaea in 324

Controversy was the relationship between the Father and the Incarnate Son

Arius—taught the Son was a created being, subordinate to the Father (Jn. 14:28)

Athanasius—taught that the Son and the Father were of the same nature (Jn. 10:30)

Issue had been important during Jesus’ own lifetime (Mk. 2, Jn. 5). Also important in dialogue with late paganism—distinguished between one High god and lesser demigods

Controversy used the technical language of Platonic philosophy (ousia/essentia, hypostasis/persona)

Arius clearly condemned, official creed prepared

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,the only Son of God,eternally begotten of the Father,God from God, Light from Light,true God from true God,begotten, not made,of one Being with the Father.Through him all things were made.For us and for our salvationhe came down from heaven:by the power of the Holy Spirithe became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,and was made man.

Age of Christological ControversyTheological controversy about the nature of Christ dominated theological debates for the next several centuries, Successor Ecumenical Councils mostly defined Christological doctrines:•Third Council (Ephesus, 431): Christ is one person, not two•Fourth Council (Chalcedon, 451): Christ has two natures, not one•Fifth Council (Constantinople II, 553): the divinity of Christ suffered•Sixth Council (Constantinople III, 681): Christ has two wills and two sources of power•Seventh Council (Nicaea II, 787): holy images of Christ are licit because his humanity can be depicted

•Controversies led to great age of theological writing: also considerable popular interest•Correct doctrine also becomes a matter of state policy, and heresy a way of expressing protest•Scriptural interpretation, hymnody, devotional writing focuses on the mystery of the two natures and the promise of immortality

Holy Land Pilgrimage and the Development of the Church Year

Constantine also ignited interest in Palestine: constructed churches at Holy Places, inspired pilgrims

Holy Places refocus attention on the events of Christ’s life

Cyril of Jerusalem develops ceremonies for pilgrims: palm procession, veneration of Cross—many eventually spread across church

Trend associated with development of feasts connected with Christ’s life-widening emphasis from Easter alone—Good Friday, Pentecost, Epiphany, Christmas

Emphasis on God’s work through Christ in the events of His life

The True ImageThe era also sees great expansion of more tactile

forms of piety: holy water, relics, images—objects that possess divine power

Growing popularity of images depicting Christ and the saints directly—not just figures/analogies

Earliest Christians were opposed to any religious statuary and often images as well—feared violating second commandment

Iconoclastic Controversy: Emperor Leo banned icons in 726—replacement of images with crosses—related to exchange with Islam

Iconophiles triumph at 7th Ecumenical Council (787): defense based on Christ’s true humanity

Great flourishing of iconography in East, canons for “writing,” veneration becomes important in piety

Icons use an otherworldly style—try to portray the union of divine and human natures in Christ

Icons of the Incarnate God