Episode 3 Waypoints in Church History The Coliseum and Christian Martyrs

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Episode 3 Waypoints in Church History The
Coliseum and Christian Martyrs

• Dr. Ann T. Orlando

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Waypoint Timeline

• Hymn Phos Hilaron
• Theme Church in time of martyrdom
• Focus moves from Jerusalem to Rome

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Coliseum (Colosseum) Introduction

• Construction started by Roman Emperor Vespasian
  in 71 AD
• Completed by his son, Emperor Titus
• Greatest arena in antiquity
• Site of Roman games
• Execution of criminals, including Christian
  martyrs
• Site of greatest gladiatorial contests

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Pre-History of Coliseum

• Coliseum stands on land the Emperor Nero (15-68)
  wanted for his massive Golden House (Domus Aurea)
• Roman fire of 64 AD was said to have been started
  by Nero to clear land to expand his Golden House
• To still public outrage, Nero claimed the
  Christians set the fire
• St. Peter tries to flee Rome (Quo Vadis)
• St. Paul and St. Peter were executed as a result
• Vespasian, Roman general fighting against the
  Jews, became Emperor after Nero committed suicide
  in 68 AD
• To show that he was better than Nero, Vespasian
  tore down much of the Golden House and built a
  public theatre, the Coliseum

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Typical Day in Coliseum

• Morning Animal Fights
• Noontime Public Executions
• Includes Christians
• Afternoon Gladiators
• Example Emperor Trajan used 11,000 wild animals
  and 10,000 gladiators to celebrate his triumphs
  in 107 AD

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Roman Persecution of Christians after Nero

• Romans did not really care if Christians
  worshiped Trinity
• But expected all Roman citizens to also worship
  Roman gods
• Failure to do so was impious and treasonous
• Romans become increasingly suspicious of
  Christians from the end of the 1st until the
  beginning of the 4th C

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Christian Martyrs

• Martyr comes from the Greek, witness
• Possible Christian responses to persecution
• 1. Intellectual Apologies written to justify
  Christianity to Roman authorities
• 2. But, if you believed that Jesus only appeared
  to be human (docetists), then there seemed little
  reason to be a martyr yourself
• 3. Some did not have the courage when accused,
  and so apostatized
• 4. Facing torture and death without apostasy
  often even looking forward to martyrdom eagerly
  as a proof of solidarity with Jesus

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Example St. Ignatius of Antioch

• Early Bishop of Antioch
• Antioch one of most important cities in antiquity
• Place where Christians were first called
  Christian
• Both Peter and Paul associated with first
  Christian Church in Antioch
• Antioch prides itself on having St. Peter as its
  first bishop

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Ignatius Taken to Rome

• Arrested in Antioch c. 110 AD
• Taken to Rome by command of Emperor over land and
  on prison ship
• Writes letters to seven Christian communities
  along the way

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Ignatius Letters

• Importance of suffering in imitation of Christ
• Opposed to those who did not think Christ
  suffered (Smy 2.1)
• Importance of Bishop (Eph 5.1-2)
• The truth is taught and passed down from one
  Christian generation to the next
• Unity of Church
• Eucharistic
• Witness during time of persecution (Rom 4.1-2)
• First time Christian Church is called Catholic
  (Sym 8.1-2)
• Ignatius Letters were frequently referred to by
  subsequent bishops and theologians, and he is
  quoted in CCC

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Martyrdom of Ignatius

• Died during reign of Trajan c. 110 AD
• By tradition he died a martyr in Rome
• Likely in Coliseum as part of lunchtime
  entertainment
• We remember Ignatius among the martyrs in First
  Eucharist Prayer
• Feast Day, October 17

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The Coliseum Today

• After Roman Empire fell, most of the grand
  ancient buildings also deteriorated
• Marble from the Coliseum was taken over the
  centuries for other purposes, leaving only the
  underlying stone structure
• Coliseum is one of the most iconic tourist sites
  in Rome
• Every Good Friday the Pope Leads the stations of
  the Cross in the Coliseum

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Next Waypoint

• St. John Lateran Baptistery

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Websites for Episode 3

• Pope Benedict XVI, Ignatius of Antioch, General
  Audience, March 14, 2007, available at
  http//www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/aud
  iences/2007/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20070314_en.h
  tml
• Catholic Encyclopedia, Ignatius of Antioch,
  available at http//www.newadvent.org/cathen/07644
  a.htm
• Recommended English translation Kenneth Howell,
  Ignatius of Antioch, A New Translation and
  Theological Commentary (Zanesville, OH
  CHResources, 2008)