The Arian Baptistery |
Arian Baptistry from the outside |
The Arian heresy, quite intuitively and reasonably I think, saw the Son as just that, a son, subordinate to the Father, in submission to him, not quite as omnipotent or omniscient as him.
Theodoric, an early ruler of Ravenna, and the Germans and Goths were Arians. The native Italians, and the Emperor in Constantiople adhered more or less to present day Christian orthodoxy.
The political power struggle between the two culminated in the Council of Chalcedon. The Arians lost and were persecuted.
Were the Goths, Ostrogoths and Germans stronger, Christian theology today might have looked different.
I took a two term course in the History of Christianity at Oxford University last year. Theology and dogma, I learnt was always formulated in the interplay of power politics, national politics, money, influence, and who detested, or was envious of whom.
No theological system, it’s likely, is right on every point–even, perhaps, whichever one we ourselves adhere to!!
Saint Apollinaire Nuovo on a sunny spring day. |
Charming magi in the church |
Female Martyrs in the Church |
Neonian Baptistry, Ravenna, an orthodox baptistry |
10 sided Mausoleum of Theodoric, Ravenna |
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Anita Mathias says
Thanks Nicholas, I'll take your word for it. Don't remember my reference source any more 🙂
Nicholas says
That was the Councils of Nicea and Constantinople I, not Chalcedon 😉
Lovely images!