Christian civilization, Universal History of Educational applications

3. Persecution and Triumph of Christianity

Christians refused to worship the Roman gods such as Jupiter, Juno and Minerva and adored Jesus, true God and man. They also refused to worship the emperor that was considered a god. Christians were declared enemies of the human race and many calumnies and lies were threw over them

There were ten emperors who ruthlessly persecuted Christians: Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Septimius Severus, Maximinus, Decius, Valerian, Aurelian, and Diocletian. Many Christian martyrs died in the circus, where they were destroyed by the lions. (See the Colosseum. This amphitheater was destined to the struggles of wild beasts and gladiators). Others died on the cross, on the bonfire or were stoned.

Many believers hid in the catacombs, underground burial places, where they celebrated mass and prayers.

Then the triumph of Christianity arrived. The persecution could not stop the progress of the Christian doctrine among people of all social classes. Three centuries after the birth of Jesus, Christians had communities throughout the Empire.

The Emperor Constantine proclaimed the religious freedom in the Edict of Milan (313 A. C.) and Theodosius, the great Spanish emperor, declared the Christianity as the official religion.

4. Indicate if these sentences refer to the persecution or to the triumph of Christianity:

They were declared enemies of human race
The Christianity expanded
They threw many calumnies
Ten emperors persecuted them
Christians arrived throughout the empire
Edict of Milan
They hid in the catacombs
Constantine proclaimed religious freedom
There were martyrs killed by lions
Theodosius declared the Christianity as the official religion

5. Literature and Christian Art

Christians adopted many elements of the roman culture, such as language, scientific knowledge and the building system. They also prevented their extinction after the Roman Empire by transmitting us their knowledge and the Hellenistic culture.

Among the believers, there were illiterate and wise whom were called the Fathers of the Church, as Saint Jerome, Saint Ambrose and Saint Augustine. They wrote in Latin and Saint Basil and Saint John Chrysostom wrote in Greek.

Christian art was born in the catacombs and when the number of believers increased, pagan basilicas were used, putting them at the service of the new religion.

From ancient Christian architecture, the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls is preserved in Rome. There are also many coffins or graves. The picture represents the sarcophagus relief, consisting of the first letters of Christ's name in Greek. Other pictures represent the Good Shepherd.

6. Indicate if these sentences refer to the literature or to the Christian art:

There was illiterate Christian

Saint Augustine was the Father of the Church

He was born in the catacombs

Saint John Chrysostom wrote in Greek

Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Walls

Saint Jerome wrote in Latin

Sarcophagi abound

The sarcophagi are tombs

They transmitted Latin

They represented the Good Shepherd

®Arturo Ramo García.-Record of intellectual property of Teruel (Spain) No 141, of 29-IX-1999
Plaza Playa de Aro, 3, 1º DO 44002-TERUEL

Jesus was born in the reign of Augustus
Saint Paul preached in Asia Minor
Jesus was born in Bethlehem
He performed many miracles
The apostles were with Pedro
The poor and humble people believed
The Love of neighbor
The forgiveness of sins
Saint Paul preached in Greece

There was illiterate Christian
Saint Augustine was the Father of the Church
He was born in the catacombs
Saint John Chrysostom wrote in Greek
Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Walls
Saint Jerome wrote in Latin
Sarcophagi abound
The sarcophagi are tombs
They transmitted Latin
They represented the Good Shepherd