Monday, 5 November 2018

Imperial Church and Liturgical Development

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IMPERIAL CHURCH
During the first, second and the third centuries, Christians were regarded as law breakers and the people who were flowing away from the emperor. As a consequence, they were severely persecuted. They were persecuted minority in the Roman Empire. The Roman people thought the growth of Christians will hinder the growth of the state. So Christians were seen as a trade to the progress of the state. Christians also seen as a thread to the Greco-Roman culture because they believed that it is their culture that holds the state. Deotecian was the cruelest whose situation was strange with the conversion of Constantine. As successor of Deotecian adopted different attitude towards Christianity. Some historians of the opinion that Constantine felt that Christians cannot be wiped out by persecution that the best thing state should save the classical culture. That is why Constantine accepted Christianity. He became a Christian and the church was brought under the state.  He saw the Church as a new centre to save the empire. However, his conversion that far reaching effect for the church, church became the imperial church. The immediate effect of his conversion was that the persecution was stopped and the stated followed the policy of favoritism towards Christian. Freedom of worship was granted to Christian. He made Sunday and December 25 as the public holiday. Making grants from his treasury for the building of the churches and supporting clergies. He exempted clergies from taxation. The cross became the sign of Christianity. Eagle sign was changed to cross. He very actively took part entire affairs of the Church. Tried to settle the doctrinal disputes and controversies. The clergies were exempted from joining public services. He assumed the position of leadership in the church. And therefore we saw that the church is called as an imperial church. From being small group now became a state religion. Many people began to become Christian without real conversion. When many gentiles and pagans became Christian they came with various practices.

LITURGICAL DEVELOPMENT
It is a written form of worship or elements constitute of worship. As the Church began to grow there came a need for the Church governance. In other words various Church officers came out of the context. There were bishops, elders, deacons, presbyters. However, as the church began to grow some of these officers were distinguished. Infant New Testament Teachings were not distinguished but functions may be distinguished. However, by the second and half centuries office of the bishop became more important. People began to think that bishop can bring a place of unity and then there came out about one bishop who is called monarchical bishop. There were other bishops-one became prominent and it is from that concept, we see that apostolic succession. Idea is that Peter was the First bishop; he appointed his authority to his successor. That one bishop was depository in whom all truth was deposited.


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Author: verified_user