DOMINANTS OF THE ROMAN BISHOPS

Between 313 and 519. The Roman Catholic Church became very prominent. Roman Catholic Church in its structure and their law reflected the imperial Rome. Roman bishops were considered as one of many bishops who were equal to in rank, power and their function Roman bishops were one among many. Thus before 313 and before 450, the Roman bishops were  first to be acknowledged among them equals. There were bishops in Alexandria, Antioch, Rome and Constantinople. From the beginning of 450 or after 450 or from the time of Leo I, the Roman bishops began to claim supremacy over the other bishops. There were centralization of power began to take place. In other words, reflection of Roman bishops began to influence.

Some reasons:

(i). The Petrine Theory based on Scripture Matthew 16:16-18, Luke 22:31-32, John 21:15-17, based on some of these Scripture Petrine theory began to enhanced. According to this theory Peter is the first Bishop and given priority over his fellow apostles. His superior position had been passed on to his successor, to bishops of Rome by apostolic successor.

(ii). Greek theologians like Cyprian, Tertullian, St Augustine are some of the outstanding theologians of the Western Church. They were under the bishop of Rome. And Roman Church unlike the Eastern Church was never divided because of disputes.

(iii). Out of the five patriarchs Jerusalem, Antioch, Constantinople, Alexandria and Rome, only Rome is not under the control of the state.  Patriarchs of Constantinople and the Bishop of Rome were leveled in cities. Bishop of Jerusalem lost his prestige and status after the Jewish revelation against the Roman during second century. The Alexandrian and Antiochan patriarchs also declined after the Muslim taken up in 7 century. They left only two important places-Rome and Constantinople. After the Council of Constantinople in 381, the primacy of Rome was recognized by everyone.

(iv). Roman Church had some effective missionary works which enhanced their authority. It was Gregory, the bishop of Rome who sent St Augustine to England and brought Britain under the Roman authority. Wherever they had their converts, they were asked to be under the bishop of Rome.

(v). Church of Rome was blessed with many able bishops during the first 6^th century. Leo I occupied. Gregory took in 519. In fact his ability him title Gregory the Great.

GROWTH OF LITURGY:

After the conversion of Constantine we see the secularization of the church in the East. Patriarchs of the East became under the Emperor. And in they East they are of the department of the state. The influx of pagan into the church through mass conversion to make this barbarians feel at home within the church. Most of these barbarian converts were nominal Christians. And this caused the church to have the power of the state to disciple them when they broke ecclesiastic rebellion.

In influx of the barbarians in the growth of Episcopal power also brought in the form of churches in the church worship. Veneration of angels, saints, and relics (bones of those martyrs) pictures and statues became common. Sunday became one of the major days in the Church calendar. Festivals began to come under the Church. By middle of the 4^th century, December 25^th  became that of Christmas. This has been previously used by pagans ceremonies. St. Augustine regarded marriage as a sacrament. Cyprian believed penance (or confession) a vital part of the Church. Also the sharp distinction between the clergies and the laymen began.  Confirmation and extreme unction also became the sacrament by 400 A.D. Beginning of the 3^rd century Tertullian and Cyprian considered infant baptism as accepted one. St Augustine especially emphasized it. Lord Super was also centre place. Veneration of Mary, the mother of Jesus also developed by 590. Mary became Mary Immaculate.

The apostolic Church was a minority one. Just a handful Christians in different parts of Paletine without much social or political standing. They had no many privileges. In fact one person who could seem privileges was Paul. Most of them were from lower classes and they were persecuted minority by Jews, gentiles and Roman authorities. Yet they were very aggressive in their faith. Their life was a life of holiness and purity. Their life was threat to others. They separated themselves from the worldly life. They were actually the followers of Christ. They were truly Christians. They resemble Christ. This was the characteristics of apostolic church. However, all these things slowly disappear as the church became imperial church. Church was recognized as state church. No longer persecuted minority. And as a result church became more worldly. But everything was not worldly, some good things were also seen even after the conversion of Constantine. As a matter of fact the moral standard of society was raised. Women were given better treatment, because the Roman women were equal position with men in the society.

Some of these cruel entertainments were stopped. Slaves were given better treatment. Roman legislation was more of just or righteousness. Spread of missionary works became speedy. In spite of all these good things, the church came under the umbrella of the state, which means the state assumes the theological and spiritual matters of the church. There were many advantages and disadvantages but disadvantage is more.