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.