The Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire

Origins and Core Beliefs

Christianity is a religion founded by Jesus of Nazareth, who preached in Judea with his apostles from AD 30 onwards. Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate's rule in Jerusalem.

Christianity's main pillars are collected in the Gospels (St. John, St. Matthew, St. Luke, and St. Mark). It is a monotheistic religion, believing in one God with three forms: God the Father, Jesus Christ (God the Son), and the Holy Spirit. Core tenets include the promise of eternal life in the Kingdom of God for those who follow Christian laws, and the emphasis on love and forgiveness as the basis of human relationships.

Early Christian Communities and Expansion

The first Christian communities were organized by Jesus' apostles:

• St. Paul extended Christ's doctrine in the Near East, where it was adopted by humble classes.
• St. Peter preached in the western part of the Roman Empire.

Christianity spread significantly after Titus' destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 and the beginning of the Diaspora. Christians gathered in churches to pray and hold the Eucharist. These meetings were presided over by a pastor or bishop. Its symbols included the cross, the chrismon, and the fish.

Persecution and Roman Opposition

Christians were considered a threat to Roman stability for several reasons:

• They did not worship the emperor.
• Social classes mixed freely in the churches.
• They rejected polytheism.

Christians faced severe persecution under the rule of various emperors. Main persecutions included those by:

• Nero (AD 64-68)
• Domitian (AD 81-96)
• Trajan (AD 109-111)
• Diocletian (AD 303-313)

During these times, Christians often sheltered in catacombs, subterranean galleries located outside Rome.

Toleration and Official Recognition

A turning point came with Constantine's Edict of Milan in AD 313, which tolerated Christianity:

• Religious freedom was declared throughout the Roman Empire.
• Christians were permitted to hold public worship services.

Following this, Christianity spread rapidly across the empire, and basilicas were constructed to host religious services.

Finally, Theodosius declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire through the Edict of Thessalonica in AD 380:

• Non-Christian people were labeled as pagans.
• Other religions were banned.

Doctrine and Early Councils

In early Christian times, various heresies emerged. The official Christian doctrine was defined in Councils, where bishops met. The first significant council was the Council of Nicaea in AD 325.