Paul Pavao has written three full-length books and three booklets. This adds a, The letter actually concludes by blaming the mob and city of Lyon authorities – it, We have the surviving text of an Imperial edict from Marcus that provides evidence he actually tried to, Finally, and bizarrely, Eusebius himself several times admitted that his church history contained. (Cf. It’s often said Aurelius, deprived of Christianity, didn’t have the god he deserved. We call them atheists, but it seems that they have a God as their ruling power in their conscience. Thank you for this very informative article about what really happened to Christians in Marcus Aurelius’ reign. A highly authoritative figure was needed to command the troops, yet the emperor himself could not defend both fronts at the same time. After Marcus Aurelius, Rome started to decline fairly quickly. The church father Irenaeus, the Christian Bishop of Lyon, where the incident allegedly took place, wrote his mammoth five volume. The monk gives away everything, owns nothing, and lives in utter poverty, thereby bearing witness before the rest of us--buffered with crowded closets and over-flowing pantries, insurances policies and mutual funds, Social Security and Medicare --that God is the only truly good and needful thing, the all-sufficient lover of mankind. In fact, it is impossible without divine assistance. Because of this, then, let us pardon such as are Christians, lest they pray for and obtain such a weapon against us! Stoicism started 300 years earlier with Zeno, but it really hit its stride in this time period (again, 27 BC to 313 AD). In summary, for these and other reasons, Eusebius is considered an extremely unreliable source by many modern scholars. It was in their lifeblood and collective unconscious. (2) There is the decree mentioned by Eusebius (H. E. v. 5) on the authority of Tertullian (Apol. (3) The period was one of ever-increasing calamities. We won't send you spam. Many modern readers consequently find the style suggestive of fiction, or at least embellishment. The Tiber rose to an unprecedented height and swept away the public granaries. This young man, as you will recall, dutifully kept the Law “from his youth,” but when asked by Jesus to sell all he had and distribute it to the poor, became “very sorrowful.”  (Luke 18:23) The Church Fathers frequently commented on this passage, and it was a favorite text for their homilies. The last-named year seems indeed to have witnessed an outburst of popular fury against the new sect, and this could not have been allowed to rage without the emperor's sanction, even if there were no special edicts like those of which Melito speaks (Eus. Bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, c. 180. I’m sure you are absolutely correct. Haines therefore also finds it implausible that someone so universally regarded as a man of exceptional kindness and clemency would have “encouraged mob-violence against unoffending persons, ordered the torture of innocent women and boys, and violated the rights of citizenship”. It’s highly remarkable that no other Christian author of the period actually refers to this incident. Decoding Nicea is the true story of the Council of Nicea as told by those who participated in it. Copyright © 2009-2019, Paul F. Pavao, All Rights Reserved. Nature cannot possibly have overlooked such an obvious contradiction out of ignorance, or having been aware of it, failed to protect us from it or to resolve it. I wish I still had my copy of Father Copeland’s ‘History of Philosophy’ to check. When Antoninus died, Marcus accepted the throne on the condition that he and Verus were made joint emperors (Augusti), with Verus partly subordinate. Like Marcus, we and our students live in the world surrounded by the clutter of all we possess, and like him, we are expected to be indifferent to these things. Haines correctly says that nothing has been more damaging to Marcus’ reputation that his alleged persecution of the Christians. The young man, naively or deceitfully, addresses Jesus as “Good Teacher,” and Jesus, knowing where this conversation is going, gently rebukes and reminds him that “No one is good but One, that One being God.”. Please get a copy. This statue is the subject of a €0.50 Italian euro coin designed by Roberto Mauri (left). It would, in fact, be more appropriate to refer to Eusebius as a Christian propagandist rather than historian. ed.) The year 166 was long known as the "annus calamitosus," and it was in that year that the persecution broke out and that Justin suffered. We will only use it to send you the newsletter. "Christianos ad leones" seemed the remedy for every disaster. The Fourth Persecution, Under Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, A.D. 162 Marcus Aurelius, followed about the year of our Lord 161, a man of nature more stern and severe; and, although in study of philosophy and in civil government no less commendable, yet, toward the Christians sharp and fierce; by whom was moved the fourth persecution. The church father Tertullian, was aged around twenty at the time the incident at Lyon supposedly happened. Because neither pain nor pleasure, poverty nor wealth can be shown to make a man better or worse. Are you enjoying this site? Roger Pearse has dealt, in considerable detail, with the charges against the truthfulness of Eusebius, here: http://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/eusebius/eusebius_the_liar.htm#rebound. Ed Uthman, Bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, c. 180. Am I unconsciously sizing her up and offering her a book or author I think she’ll enjoy? of Christianity, bk. 26) directly authorizing new measures of repression. A major piece of evidence in Marcus’ favor comes from a letter he wrote to the Greek cities when he was subordinate ruler under Antoninus, a letter in which he expressly forbids attacks against the Christians: “You harass these men [the Christians], and harden them in their conviction, to which they hold fast, by accusing them of being atheists. and the authorities of the city, they were examined in the presence of the whole multitude, and having confessed, they were imprisoned until the arrival of the governor. c. 3). Perhaps the best way to introduce this idea is simply by quoting from his handbook: I’m going to conclude this mini-series on Marcus by briefly addressing the question of whether he persecuted the then novel Christian sect. Of course, Marcus was a man of his time, and couldn’t transcend many of the limitations that were part and parcel of his culture. When they appeared before me, I raged against them. Many modern readers consequently find the style suggestive of fiction, or at least embellishment.”, “While Christian persecution takes many forms, Open Doors defines it as any hostility experienced as a result of identification with Christ. I’m sure you’re aware of Dennis MacDonald’s book “The Homeric Epics and the Gospel of Mark” which looks at the striking similarities, it’s clear to me whoever wrote Mark was taking lots of aspects from Homer, and simply re-writing them for his own story. Joint rule was revived by Diocletian's establishment of the Tetrarchy in the late 3rd century. - "Marcus Aurelius." It is, therefore, startling to find that he takes his place in the list of persecutors along with Nero and Domitian and Decius. (You didn't want to read this in a century-old translation.). Yeah, I’m surprised as well, but I have hopes that — Fate permitting — there will be as many of us as the Buddhists! Stoic Q&A: Seneca’s parting words to his wife? Even Marcus, a pagan living in a palace, saw the damage it was doing all around him. What I find interesting here are the similarities and differences between Abba Paphnutius’ pillars and the Stoic philosophy of Marcus. Then, as now, I despised long-windedness in others and, when I later became a bloviating teacher, in myself. Note that the words in blue need to be changed to match the title, date, and URL. . Everywhere on the frontiers there were murmurs of insurrection or invasion. But also on that list, for reasons I’d like to explore in this essay, is Marcus Aurelius and his Stoic handbook. (New York; Facts on File, 1994). Eusebius may just be guessing the date, and that the Caesar in question is Marcus Aurelius, although frankly it seems likely that the whole letter is a forgery. I say this because they threw themselves on the ground and prayed not only for me, but for the whole army as it stood, so that they might be delivered from the present thirst and famine. (Ibid. Marcus Aurelius in Art, Film and Literature A well-preserved bronze equestrian sculpture of Marcus Aurelius is located in Piazza del Campidoglio, Rome. Unlike the Desert Father, Marcus believed he could live in a palace surrounded by servants and still practice his philosophy. In fact, it is the only surviving bronze statue of a pre-Christian Roman emperor - because following Rome's conversion to Christianity, when statues of Emperors were being melted down to make statues for the Christian churches, it was incorrectly thought that the statue was of the Emperor Constantine, and so it was left alone. Please try again. For those like Anthony called to the monastic life, this begins with a radical form of renunciation. Massimo, I already have your book on pre-order from Amazon. And I counsel that no such person be accused by our courts only on the ground of being a Christian. Indeed, Marcus helped Antoninus Pius rule for longer than he reigned himself, as he died in 180 AD, after only nineteen years on the throne. Available wherever books are sold!