Beliefs and Practices: Christianity Flashcards
True or False: According to the New Testament, the earliest Christians did not build church buildings.
True
What was the worship of the Christians in the Pre-Constantine Era?
- As a small movement, they gathered in private dwellings, organized around a shared meal, without permanent places.
- They usually met in houses due to persecution,a nd home meetings were the most viable option
- The more organized worship usually took place in the larger homes of the community’s wealthiest members.
What is Insula?
In the urban setting of the ancient Rome, early Christians are known to have met and worshipped in warehouses or the upper levels of the multi-family dwelling spaces known as insula (similar to modern day’s apartment building).
True or False: Early Christians did not own building specifically dedicated as church.
True
Did early Christians share worship space with Jews?
no
When did the “domestic” model of Christian worship spaces continue until?
well in to the Constantine era
What change from the 2nd century onward with Christian worship spaces?
From the 2nd century onward, some houses used for Christian worship were re-modelled to accommodate as many as 75 people.
Describe the house church
- Rooms were added to accommodate rituals such as full-immersion baptism
- the house had one small room serving as a bapistery
What is the earliest archeologically identified Christian church?
A house church, at Dura Europos on the Euphrates River in eastern Roman Syria, founded between 233 and 256. In 256, it was destroyed by the Sassanian Persians.
When did the trend of worshipping in homes continue until?
Constantine legalized Christianity as official religion of the Roman Empire.
When were Christians granted the right to build larger house of worship?
in the 4th century, once th rulers recognized Christianity
What are the basilicas?
Constantine and his mother Helena contributed to the construction of much larger and grander worship spaces known as basilicas
What was ‘basilica’ first used to describe?
An ancient Roman public building, where rulers conducted the business of government.
True or False: Basilica, at first, had nothing to do with Christianity.
True
What two rituals were critical for the formation of Christian communities that were performed in the Basilicas?
1) Baptism (the rite of initiation into the Christian community)
2) Eucharist or the shared symbolic meal, with became part of the weekly worship life of the community
What is the ritual that early Christians inherited from Judaism?
Baptism
How did early Christians develop their baptism?
in keeping with the story of Jesus’ baptism
What is the story of Jesus’ baptism?
Jesus, according to the Synoptic gospels, was baptized by his cousin John the Baptist. This understood to signal the beginning of his public ministry
What did baptism, later, reflect in Christianity?
Later, baptism ritual in Christianity also reflected the influence of two Greco-Roman customs: the newly baptized were anointed with oil and given milk and honey
What is Eucharist modelled on?
Jewish gathering for prayer and worship
How did early Christians usually gather?
Around a shared meal, during which scripture was read, prayers were offered, and finally, the consecrated bread and wine were distributed.
Describe the practice of the Eucharist in the Synoptic gospels?
In the night before his arrest, Jesus is known to have shared meal with his companions. He then said: “This i say body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” and “this cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22: 19-20).
What became central to Christian life and worship?
the ritual act of remembering Jesus’ life and death
Describe the worship in the early medieval period?
The life of the church was increasingly restricted to the clergy, limiting the opportunity for ordinary people to participate
