EARLY CHURCH IN THE EARLY CHURCH IN THE ROMAN EMPIREROMAN EMPIRE

In the first century AD, the entire In the first century AD, the entire Mediterranean basin was part of the empire Mediterranean basin was part of the empire created by the city of Rome, founded eight created by the city of Rome, founded eight centuries earlier, in 753 BCcenturies earlier, in 753 BC..

The Christian faith, born in Palestine was quickly spread around the cosmopolitan cities of the Roman Empire.

disseminated through the comings disseminated through the comings and goings of merchants or travelers and goings of merchants or travelers through the roads of the Empire.through the roads of the Empire.

In these cities we find a presence of cults and religions, In these cities we find a presence of cults and religions, some from the civilizations of the Near Eastsome from the civilizations of the Near East

Júpiter, Mars, Minerva... Júpiter, Mars, Minerva...

Some Romans returned with renewed fervor to worship their ancient gods ::

Stoicism taught that man should resign his fate Stoicism taught that man should resign his fate even though it seemed unfair and even though it seemed unfair and incomprehensible.incomprehensible.

Others sought solace in Greek philosophy, primarily in Stoicism..

The cult of the Egyptian The cult of the Egyptian goddess Isis and goddess Isis and worship of the Persian worship of the Persian Mithras, whose symbol Mithras, whose symbol was the bull.was the bull.

These cults promised resurrection and eternal life full of happiness..

Many gave themselves to the mysterious oriental cults ::

Throughout the empire Throughout the empire it was imposed as it was imposed as official cult the worship official cult the worship of the deified emperor. of the deified emperor.

To the people of the ancient world, To the people of the ancient world, Christianity was a novelty, as were Christianity was a novelty, as were the religions that came from Persia, the religions that came from Persia, Egypt or Syria and the Hellenistic Egypt or Syria and the Hellenistic mysteries ...mysteries ...

But none of these But none of these systems and rites could systems and rites could give an answer to the give an answer to the agonizing question of agonizing question of the meaning of the meaning of existence and the existence and the ultimate goal of human ultimate goal of human lifelife..

Jesus left two main commandments Jesus left two main commandments to humanity:to humanity:

"Love the Lord God "Love the Lord God with all your heart and with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your soul and with all your mind.“with all your mind.“

“ “Love your neighbor as Love your neighbor as you love yourself. ”you love yourself. ”

The apostles fulfilled The apostles fulfilled their mission and began their mission and began to preach the doctrine of to preach the doctrine of Christ first in Palestine Christ first in Palestine and then in other and then in other countries.countries.

And Jesus said to his disciples as his last command :

““Go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature "(Mark 16:15).

The proclamation of the Good News The proclamation of the Good News is a message of reconciliation and is a message of reconciliation and love from God.love from God.

The success of the The success of the preaching was preaching was miraculous. In thirty miraculous. In thirty years some ignorant years some ignorant fishermen managed to fishermen managed to raise a grand raise a grand missionary activity.missionary activity.

Men and women from Men and women from all social classes hear all social classes hear the message and feel the message and feel totally transformed in totally transformed in his person.his person.

In such an environment, Christian missionaries get to know Jesus Christ and his Gospel.

The small Christian communities multiply, where everybody knows, helps one another and they are considered as brothers

ARRIVAL OF CHRISTIANITY IN ARRIVAL OF CHRISTIANITY IN SPAIN:SPAIN:

Christianity may come as Christianity may come as early as the first century to early as the first century to the more Romanized the more Romanized Hispanic provinces such as Hispanic provinces such as Tarragona and especially Tarragona and especially the Betic.the Betic. S St. Paul says in t. Paul says in his letter to the Roman his letter to the Roman Christians (Rom 15.19 to Christians (Rom 15.19 to 29) that29) that he thinks to travel he thinks to travel to Hispania, to Hispania, but we have but we have no historical record of the no historical record of the fullfilment of this desire.fullfilment of this desire.

Possibly, the Gospel came Possibly, the Gospel came to Spain, and the rest of the to Spain, and the rest of the Empire, by traders, Empire, by traders, travelers, soldiers ...They travelers, soldiers ...They came from the East, Italy or came from the East, Italy or North Africa. In the year North Africa. In the year 254 the bishop of Carthage, 254 the bishop of Carthage, St. Cyprian, addressed a St. Cyprian, addressed a letter to the Church of letter to the Church of León-Astorga León-Astorga from which from which we conclude, that, at that we conclude, that, at that time time the church of Spain the church of Spain was already organized.was already organized.

. .

The relationship of the first hispanian Christian The relationship of the first hispanian Christian communities with Northafrican communities must communities with Northafrican communities must have been very importanthave been very important

By the year 300 a council was held at By the year 300 a council was held at Elvira (Granada) in which 37 communities Elvira (Granada) in which 37 communities were represented throughout the were represented throughout the Peninsula.Peninsula.

Their records make us Their records make us see the difficulties faced see the difficulties faced by Christians to live their by Christians to live their faith in a still strongly faith in a still strongly pagan enviroment.pagan enviroment.

Subsequently, Hosius, Subsequently, Hosius, bishop of Cordova, bishop of Cordova, attended the Council of attended the Council of Nicaea in 325Nicaea in 325..

It was too small to cause It was too small to cause concern.concern.

Moreover, the emergence Moreover, the emergence of a new belief was not a of a new belief was not a matter of worry; in the matter of worry; in the Roman Pantheon there Roman Pantheon there was room for all godswas room for all gods

During the first generation (apostolic age), Christianity had no major problems with the Roman authorities;

But Christianity was not a neutral But Christianity was not a neutral religion, it involved a kind of attitude religion, it involved a kind of attitude before the political, social and religious before the political, social and religious system of the Empire. system of the Empire.

Most Christians recognized Jesus Christ as Most Christians recognized Jesus Christ as their only Lord and refused to worship the their only Lord and refused to worship the emperor.emperor.

They Also refused to participate in the They Also refused to participate in the festivities in honor of the gods of the Empire.festivities in honor of the gods of the Empire.

They also objected when enlisting as soldiers They also objected when enlisting as soldiers to go to war and neither did they attend shows to go to war and neither did they attend shows at the theater and the circusat the theater and the circus..

It includes the Bishop of It includes the Bishop of Tarragona San Fructuoso, the Tarragona San Fructuoso, the centurion Marcelo in Leon , the centurion Marcelo in Leon , the Saints Justa and Rufina in Saints Justa and Rufina in Seville, Santa Engracia and the Seville, Santa Engracia and the countless martyrs in Zaragoza, countless martyrs in Zaragoza, San Vicente in Valencia, San Vicente in Valencia, Emeterio and Celedonio in Emeterio and Celedonio in Calahorra, St. Felix in Gerona, Calahorra, St. Felix in Gerona, san Cugat in Barcelona, San san Cugat in Barcelona, San Acisclo in Cordoba, the children Acisclo in Cordoba, the children Justo and Pastor in Alcala de Justo and Pastor in Alcala de Henares and Santa Eulalia in Henares and Santa Eulalia in Mérida.Mérida.

There were many martyrs in Spain, especially in the persecutions of Diocletian and Valerio..

The most important footprint in The most important footprint in Spain and in this world is a Spain and in this world is a spiritual legacy for those who can spiritual legacy for those who can understand it.understand it.

The The "love one another", "love one another", is is the reason why millions of the reason why millions of men and women of all men and women of all ages have been found in ages have been found in the example of Jesus, the the example of Jesus, the model and the meaning of model and the meaning of their lives.their lives.

Disabled Centers, of Disabled Centers, of bystanders, of dying of bystanders, of dying of AIDS.AIDS.

Nursing homes.Nursing homes. Outpatients clinicsOutpatients clinics Dispensaries.Dispensaries. Orphanages.Orphanages. Rehabilitation centers for Rehabilitation centers for

social outcasts: ex-social outcasts: ex-prostitutes, ex-convicts, prostitutes, ex-convicts, former drug addicts, etc.former drug addicts, etc.

This track can also be found in several works that these followers of Jesus founded along history as:

Vanessa Beverly Martínez Jiménez, 4ºDVanessa Beverly Martínez Jiménez, 4ºD

Esteban Fernández Álvarez, 4ºEEsteban Fernández Álvarez, 4ºE

Omar García Rodríguez, 4ºEOmar García Rodríguez, 4ºE

David Peláez Boto, 4ºEDavid Peláez Boto, 4ºE