Early Christianity in the Eternal City

This course offers an introduction, starting from New Testament times to several key figures at the rise of Christianity like Mary Mother of God, as well as Saint Peter and Saint Paul, the founders of Christian Rome. Throughout history Rome has fascinated Christian and non-Christians alike. The course explores how, in the early centuries, the followers of Jesus Christ lived their faith centered upon Him. It then goes on to investigate how the theological tradition of the importance of Rome developed in the Church and the Papacy. The course considers how the early Christians related faith and reason and suffered for their belief in martyrdom. Theological material will be offered which will help the students to understand better their time in Rome. This course also indicates how the Church had to face internal conflicts and heresies and illustrates the work of the first general Councils. It explores the significant role played by women in early Christianity, and describes the part played by monks and missionaries in spreading the faith.

Effectively, this course illustrates the impact of early Christianity through great and leading figures who exercised a great influence and are still most important today. This study is carried out in the context of being in Rome which is the cradle and center of Christianity. The timescale is roughly the first six centuries of the Christian era. Many of the other courses will dovetail with this one in furnishing a synthetic picture.