presentation

• St. Polycarp of Smyrna – Bishop, martyr and

  Church Father

  • Along with his friend St. Ignatius of Antioch, was a staunch defender of orthodox faith (orthodox = “right belief”) in response to heresies
  • In 155 C.E. – Bishop Polycarp was arrested by a Roman official and
  • told to renounce his “atheistic” beliefs of refusing to worship the emperor and other Roman gods.
  • St.Polycarp knew the consequences of refusing: painful death by being torn to death by wild animals OR being burned alive on a pyre
• Martyr: A person who chooses to suffer, even to die, rather than

  renounce his or her faith or Christian principles. (From Greek word,

  martryos = witness)
• Church Father: The Church Fathers were influential theologians,

  bishops or scholars whose writings explained key Scriptural principles

  in the early Church.
• Three times St. Polycarp was

  asked to renounce his belief in

  Jesus.
• Martyrdom of St. Polycarp of Smyrna

  • Set on fire but flames did not kill him.
  • Executioner plunged his sword into Polycarp’sheart and they set fire to his corpse.
  • Polycarp’s followers buried his bones and gathered annually to celebrate the Holy Eucharist at his burial site (Feast Day of St. Polycarp)
• How did the early Church grow?

  "The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians"

  • The witness and willingness of the martyrs in the early Church to face suffering and death led others to wonder about their reasons.
  • Led others to Jesus Christ.
• The Beginning of the Church

  • The Acts of the Apostles was written by the author of the Gospel of Luke.
  • It serves as a historical record of the early days of the Catholic Church.
• Chapter 1 of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts

  1)

  • Ascension of Jesus into heaven and Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit
  • Selection of Matthias as a replacement for the Apostle Judas
• Pentecost (Acts 2)

  • The Holy Spirit descended in the form of fiery tongues on the Apostles, Mary (the mother of Jesus), and some other disciples gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem in prayer and waiting.
  • This took place on the Jewish festival of thanksgiving known as Pentecost (“fiftieth day” from the Passover).
  • Known as the “birthday of the Church.”
• Peter preaches to Jews gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost

  • Empowered the Apostles, especially Peter to preach a sermon to the Jews gathered in Jerusalem for the festival.
  • Peter recounted the life and teaching of Jesus and Jesus’ Death and Resurrection and how Jesus related to the Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah.
  • Peter spoken in tongues.
  • Peter called for faith in Jesus Christ.
  • 3000 people were baptized that day.
• St. Peter

  • A leader of the other disciples and a special
  • friend of Jesus.
  • Born with the name Simon.
  • Most frequently mentioned disciple in the Gospels.
  • From town of Bethsaida in Galilee.
  • First Pope – succession continues till today (Pope Francis).
• Mary Magdalene

  • A disciple of Jesus – travelled with Jesus.
  • Remained with Jesus until his death.
  • First witness to the Resurrection.
  • “Apostle to the apostles”.
• • Peter preaches to Cornelius and

  his family about Jesus (Gentiles)

  – Acts 10.

  • Eventually, Peter baptizes

  Cornelius and his family.

  • Soon Peter (and later Paul) starts

  preaching and eating with the

  Gentiles.
• Council of Jerusalem (about 50 C.E.)

  • In some places, Jewish and Gentile Christians got along but in other places there was discord.
  • In about 50 C.E., leaders of the Christian community (including Peter, Paul and James) met to debate whether a person had to be a Jew to become a Christian.
  • Eventual decision – you could become a Christian based on your belief in Jesus.
• Eventually Peter travels to

  Rome, and he is killed during

  Emperor Nero’s persecution of

  Christians in about 65 C.E.

  • Vatican Gardens (scene of the execution of St. Peter)
  • St. Peter’s Basilica (Over the burial site of St. Peter)
• St. Paul of Tarsus – Apostle to the Gentiles

  • 60% of the Acts of the Apostles talks about him AND half of the New Testament books
  • Saul (Paul’s Jewish name) was born between 5 and 15 C.E. into a Jewish family in Tarsus in modern-day Turkey.
  • Not one of the original members of the followers of Jesus.
  • Excellent Jewish education and Roman citizen.
  • Fluent in Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew and traveled to Jerusalem to study the Torah under Rabbi Gamaliel.
  • Strict Pharisee
• Saul of Tarsus – lead persecutions against

  Christians

  • Rigidly applied the letter of the Law – living a life in God meant following the law perfectly.
  • Led him to lead persecutions against Christians.
  • Present at stoning of St. Stephen (first Martyr).
  • Because of his zeal, the Sanhedrin sent him to Damascus in present-day Syria to root out Christians who were spreading the Gospel in the synagogues there.
• The Conversion of St. Paul on the road to

  Damascus

  • Saul has a vision in which Jesus asks him: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me.” (Acts 9:9).
  • Paul goes to Damascus and is baptized.
  • Eventually returns to Jerusalem and is introduced to Peter and the other apostles.
• Paul is beheaded in 67 C.E. in

  Rome during the time of the

  Emperor Nero.
• 70 C.E. – Destruction of Jerusalem by

  Romans

  • Roman army crushes rebellion in Judea (66 – 70 C.E.).
  • Marches into Jerusalem and desecrates and destroys the Temple (70 C.E.).
  • Jewish groups:
  • Sadducees, Zealots, Essenes no longer part of Jewish life. Pharisees became the foundation of Judaism to the present day.
  • Jewish Christians – mourned for Jerusalem and the temple but faith survived because it is centered on Jesus.
• Most of the early Christians were Jewish.
• Jews tolerated Jewish Christians as long as they followed the Torah and Jewish Christians continued to practice Jewish practices.
• Periodic persecution of Christians by Jewish authorities included the martyrdom of St. Stephen and later St. James.
• After the Jewish revolt in Jerusalem in 70 C.E., Jewish survivors felt betrayed by Jewish Christians who did not fight against the Romans because of the belief in Jesus.
• Christians were definitively excluded from worshipping with Jews and unwelcome in synagogues around 100 C.E.
• Gentile Christians assumed a major role in leadership and running the Church around 100 C.E.
• Roman persecution of Christians

  • Most persecutions for the 1st and 2nd century were brief and limited to a certain area. For example: Emperor Nero’s persecution in 64 C.E. and 67 C.E. in Rome.
  • Persecution under various Roman Emperors were all different – the most severe persecution in the first century under Emperor Domitian (81 – 96 C.E.)
  • The last and worst Roman persecution under Emperor Diocletian (284 C.E. – 305 C.E.)
• End of the 2nd Century C.E.

  There were approximately

  220,000 Christians out of the

  Roman Empire’s population of

  60 million people.

  End of the 3rd Century C.E.

  There were 4 to 6 million

  Christians
• The Golden Age of the Roman Empire was a period of peace and prosperity, marked by the construction of new roads and ports, the growth of cities, and the flourishing of business interests.
• Conditions worsened in the 3rd Century C.E, with the Roman Empire under attack by old rivals and new enemies.
• The leadership of the Roman Empire became contested, with at least 25 different Roman Emperors and many attempts to overthrow an existing emperor in a 50 year period.
• Things settled when the emperor Diocletian came to power in 284 C.E, overhauling the Roman Empire and instigating a massive persecution of Christians.
• Why the Roman government persecuted the

  Christians:

  • According to the Roman Government, people could have their own religious beliefs as long as they participated in sacrifices to appease the Roman gods.
  • Jewish communities were established in the Diaspora (the name for the dispersion of Jews outside of Jerusalem).
  • Ease of communication and travel – helped missionaries.
  • Pax Romana. Stability of Roman Empire and relative peace
  • Words supported by action.
• Bishops

  • Comes from the Greek word episkopos = “overseer” or “supervisor”.
  • Supervised the local community and ensured that the gospel teaching was properly passed down to the next generation.
  • Different Christian communities interpreted Gospel stories differently.
  • In order to find unity of belief, bishops within particular regions began coming together to discuss issues and work out their differences. These meetings were called councils or synods
• Apostolic succession

  • The Catholic Church traces her leadership directly back to St. Peter and the Apostles.
  • All Catholic Bishops are part of the line that goes back to the Apostles.
• Presbyters

  • Bishops were helped by presbyters.
  • Over time they would evolve into priests.
• Deacons AND Deaconesses

  • Members of the community and the bishop’s helping hands appointed to help care for those in need.
  • The apostles were the first to appoint deacons so they could devote more time to preaching.
• Church Fathers (Fathers of the Church)

  • Their writings explained key Scriptural principles in the early Church.
  • They explained the Faith handed down from the apostles.
  • Their examples of holiness were a witness to the Tradition of the Church.
  • About 100 people
  • Varied in their work and other characteristics..
• Apostolic Fathers

  • Early Christian leaders who personally knew the Apostles or their disciples.
  • 35 C.E. – 150 C.E.
  • It also refers to their writings.
• Apologetic writing

  • 2nd century and 3rd century writers who defended and explained Christianity to nonbelievers.
  • Dealt with issues raised by persecutions by explaining Christianity to others or by rejecting the beliefs of those who persecuted them.
  • Wrote apologies = “justification” or “defense” in Greek.