The early Christians in Rome

Front matter

Itllii

liP'l if''

FROM THE INCOME OF THE

Preface

OF the five Books which make up this work, the Firsi Book relates generally the history of the fortunes of the Church in Rome in the first days.

The foundation stories of the Roman congregations were laid largely by the Apostles Peter and Paul — Peter, so with one accord say the earliest contemporary writers,^ being the first apostle who preached in Rome. Paul, who taught many years later in the Capital, was also reckoned as a founder of the Roman Church ; for his teaching, especially his Christology, supplemented and explained in detail the teaching of S. Peter and the early founders.

The First Book relates how, after the great fire of Rome in the days of Nero, the Christians came into prominence, but apparently were looked on for a considerable period as a sect of dissenting Jews.

From A.D. 64 and onwards they were evidently regarded as enemies of the State, and were perpetually harassed and persecuted. No real period of " quietness " was again enjoyed by them until the famous edict of Constantine the Great, A.D. 313, had been issued. Although, through the favour of the reigning Emperor, a temporary suspension of the stern law of the State, sometimes lasting for several years, left the Christian sect for a time, comparatively speaking, at peace.

The Persecutions, which began in the days of Nero, with varying severity continued all through the reigns of the Flavians (Vespasian, Titus, Domitian).

^ These are quoted on pp. 13-20 of Book I.

viii THE EARLY CHRISTIANS IN ROME

Nerva, who succeeded Domitian, only reigned two years, and was followed by the great Trajan : stiU the persecution of the sect continued. This we learn from Phny's letter to Trajan, circa a.d. 111-113. Hadrian, who followed Trajan, virtually pursued the same policy.

In the latter years of Hadrian, from a.d. 134-5, the result of the great Jewish rebellion definitely and for ever separated, in the eyes of the government, the Christian from the Jew. Henceforth the Jew generally pursued his quiet way, and found new ideals, new hopes. The State feared the Jew no longer.

Not so the Christian. Rome saw clearly now that a new and influential sect had arisen in their midst ; a sect absolutely opposed to the old Roman sacred traditions and worship, a sect, too, that evidently possessed some mighty secret power which enabled the Christians fearlessly to defy the magistracy of the Empire. This partly accounts for the greater severity of the persecution under the Antonine Emperors.

The policy of the Antonines (Pius and Marcus), which endeavoured to restore and to give fresh life to the old Roman traditions and worship, which they looked upon as indissolubly bound up with the greatness and power of Rome, was absolutely hostile to the spirit of Christian thought and teaching.

The First Book brings the history down to a.d. 180, the date of the death of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus.

The " Inner Life " of the Christian congregations is now dwelt on, and forms the subject-matter of Books II., III., IV.

The subject-matter of the Second Book is the everyday life of the Christian in the first, second, and third centuries, during which period the religion of Jesus of Nazareth was in the eyes of the Roman government an unlawful cult, and its adherents were ever liable to the severest punishment, such as confiscation of their goods, rigorous imprisonment, torture, and even death.

PREFACE ix

After dwelling on the question of the numbers of Christians in very early times, their public assemblies or meetings together are described with considerable detail in Book II. The importance of these " meetings " in early Christian Ufe is dwelt upon. What took place at these gatherings is commented upon at considerable length. The position occupied by the slave at these " meetings," and in Christian society generally, is examined briefly.

Some of the various difficulties which Christians in the age of persecution had to face, and the way by which these difficulties were combated, are described.

Instruction as to the way of meeting the difficulty of life for a Christian hving in pagan Rome, was given by two different schools of thought. A sketch is given of (i) " Rigourists," and (2) of the " gentler and more practical " schools which strove to accommodate the Christian life with the life of the ordinary Roman citizen.

The important part played by the " Rigourist " or ascetic school in the ultimate conversion of the Roman World to Christianity is examined.

Finally, some of the inducements are indicated which persuaded the Christian of the first three centuries to endure with brave patience the hard and dangerous life which was ever the earthly lot of the followers of Jesus.

The Third Book treats especially of the hard and painful nature of the " life " which, from a.d. 64, was the lot of the Christian in the Roman Empire. For the members of the community ever lived under the dark shadow of persecution. The severity of the persecution varied from time to time, but the dark shadow lay on them, and constantly brooded over all their works and days. We possess no direct detailed history of this state of things, but all the early contemporary writings of Christians, a good many of which, whole or in fragments, have come down to us, are literally honeycombed with notices bearing on this perpetual apprehension ; and indeed so real, so

X THE EARLY CHRISTIANS IN ROME

constant was the danger, and so grave were the consequences to Christianity of any flinching in the hour of trial, that among the congregations of the first days, numerous schools existed for the purpose of training men and women to endure the sufferings of martyrdom.

The number of martyrs in these early years has been probably understated. Pagan contemporary writers of the highest authority, casually, but still definitely, allude to the great numbers of victims, while the tone of early Christian writings (already referred to) is deeply coloured with the pathetic memories of these blood-stained days.

Besides the references even of eminent pagan authorities and the perpetual allusions in early Christian writings to the great numbers of Martyrs and Confessors, a somewhat novel testimony to the vast number of martyrs is quoted here at some length from the history of the Catacombs, where the numbers of these Confessors are again and again dwelt on in the " handbooks " to the Roman subterranean cemeteries, compiled in the fifth and following centuries as " guides " for the crowds of pilgrims from foreign lands visiting Rome. These " Pilgrim-guides," several of which have in later years come to light, have been recently made the subject of careful study.

The Fourth Book is devoted exclusively to the story of the Roman Catacombs. In the course of the second half of the nineteenth century, the vast subterranean City of the Dead, known as the Roman Catacombs, has been in parts patiently excavated, and carefully studied by eminent scholars. This study, which is still being actively pursued, has thrown much light upon the " life " lived among the early generations of Christians. The inscriptions and epitaphs graved and painted, the various symbols carved upon the countless tombs in the Catacombs, have told us very much of the relations between the rich and the poor. They have disclosed to us something of the secret of the intense faith of these early

PREFACE xi

believers on the " Name," and have shown us what was the sure and certain hope which inspired their wonderful endurance of pain and agony, and their marvellous courage in the hour of trial.

All this and much more the inscriptions on the thousand thousand graves, the dim fading pictures, the rough carvings, speak of in a language none can mistake. It is, indeed, a voice from the dead, bearing its strange, weird testimony which none can gainsay or doubt.

The work of excavation and the patient study of these Catacombs are yet slowly proceeding, but from what has been already discovered we have learned much of the " Inner Life " of this early Christian folk.

The history of these wonderful Catacombs, this subterranean city of the dead beneath the suburbs of ancient Rome, is told at some length and with considerable detail in the Fourth Book.

The Fifth Book may be considered as a supplement to the work, which in the first four Books has dwelt on (i) the very early history, and (2) on the " Inner Life " of the Christian Church in the first three centuries, especially in Rome.

Christianity sprang from the heart of the Chosen People, the Jews. The Divine Founder in His earthly hfe was pleased to be a Son of the Chosen People, and His disciples, who laid the early stories of the Faith, were all Jews, as were the earliest converts to the reUgion of Jesus.

The history of the Jews — their past and present condition — is indissolubly bound up with the records of Christianity. It constitutes the most important confirmation which we possess of the truth of early Christian history. It is the weightiest of aU evidential arguments here, and it cannot be refuted or disproved.

The general account of the Chosen People before the coming of Messiah is well known, and the historical accuracy of the Old Testament records is generally admitted. But the

Part I Introductory Page

A sketch, of the early Jewish colony in Rome — Allusion to Jews by Cicero — Favour shown them by Julius Caesar — Mention of Jews by the great poets of the Augustine age — Characteristic features and moral power of Jews — Their numbers in the days of Nero ...... 3

I

(a) FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH IN ROME — INFLUENCE OF

S. PETER

Into this colony of Jews came the news of the story of Jesus Christ — Was S. Peter among the first preachers of Christianity in Rome ? — Quotations from early Christian writers on this subject — Traditional memories of S. Peter in Rome . 7

II Early References

Quotations from patristic writers of the first three centuries, bearing on the foundation of the Church in Rome, including the oldest Catalogues of the Bishops of Rome — Deduction from these quotations . . . . . -13

PART II I (b) FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH IN ROME — INFLUENCE OF

S. PAUL

S. Paul in Rome — His share in la5dng the foundation stories in the Capital — Paul's Christology more detailed than that contained in S. Mark's Gospel, which represents S. Peter's teaching ....... 21 xvi THE EARLY CHRISTIANS IN ROME

II

POSITION OF CHRISTIANS AFTER A.D. 64

PAGE

The great fire of Rome in the days of Nero brought the unnoticed sect of Christians into prominence — The games of Nero — Never again after a.d. 64 did Christians enjoy " stillness " — The policy of the State towards them from this time was practically unaltered . . . . -25

THE VEILED SHADOW OF PERSECUTION — POLICY OF THE FLAVIAN EMPERORS

Silence respecting details of persecutions in pagan and in Christian writings — Reason for this — These writings contain Uttle history ; but the Christian writings are coloured with the daily expectation of death and suffering — In spite of persecution the numbers of Christians increased rapidly — What was the strange attraction of Christianity ? — Persecution of the sect under the Flavian Emperors Vespasian, Titus, Domitian . 35

Part III Introductory

The correspondence between Trajan and Phny, and the Imperial Rescript — Genuineness of this piece in Pliny's Letters . . . . . . -45

I

THE LETTERS OF PLINY

Nerva — Character of Trajan — Story of correspondence here referred to — Pliny's Letters — Reply of Trajan, which contained the famous Rescript — TertuUian's criticism of Rescript—Pliny's Letters — They were no ordinary letters, but were intended for pubhc reading — Pliny's character — The vogue of writing letters as hterary pieces for pubhc reading — Pliny's Letters briefly examined — The letter here under special consideration — Its great importance in early Christian history . . . . . .48

II

VOGUE OF EPISTOLARY FORM OF LITERATURE

Letters of pubhc men considered as pieces of Uterature — After Trajan there were very few Latin writings until the close of the fourth century — In that period some celebrated letters again appear (written by Symmachus and by Sidonius ApoUinaris a few years later)— These letters were evidently written as pieces of literature intended for public circulation . 63 r

TABLE OF CONTENTS xvii

THE NEW TESTAMENT EPISTLES, AND LETTERS OF APOSTOLIC FATHERS

A J • PAGE

Adoption of favourite letter-form as literary pieces— in Epistles

of the New Testament, and in letters of Apostolic Fathers . 69

PART IV I (a) HADRIAN — HIS POLICY TOWARDS CHRISTIANITY

Hadrian — His hfe of travel — His character — Early pohcy towards Christians — He insults Christianity in his building of Aeha Capitohna on site of Jerusalem — The great Jewish war — Its two results — (a) Complete change in the spirit of the Jews — (6) A new conception of the Christian sect on part of Roman Government — It was now recognized that the Christian was no mere Jewish dissenter, but a member of a distinct sect, dangerous to Roman policy . . -75

II

(6) HADRIAN — HIS ENMITY TOWARDS CHRISTIANITY GRADUALLY INCREASED

Last years of Hadrian — Persecution of Christians more pronounced — Undoubted authorities for this graver position of Christians throughout the Empire — Table showing succession of Antonines to the Empire . . . .81

ANTONINUS PIUS AND MARCUS ANTONINUS — THEIR IDEALS

Character of Antoninus Pius — His intense love for Rome — His determination to restore the old simple life to which Rome owed her greatness — His devotion to ancient Roman traditions, and to the old Roman rehgion — Antoninus Pius and his successor Marcus lived themselves the simple austere life they taught to their court and subjects . . .84

IV Intense Antipathy Of The Antonines To Christianity

Reason of the Antonines' marked hostility to the Christian sect — The Christians stood resolutely aloof from the ancient rehgion which these two great sovereigns beheved was indissolubly bound up with the greatness of Rome— With such views of the sources of Roman power and prosperity, only a stem poUcy of persecution was possible — This pohcy, pursued in days of Pius, was intensified by his yet greater successor Marcus — The common idea that the Christians were b xviii THE EARLY CHRISTIANS IN ROME

PAGE tolerated in the days of the Antonines must be abandoned — Their sufferings under the rule of these great Emperors, especially in the days of Marcus, can scarcely be exaggerated 9 1

Book II The Life Of A Christian In The Early Days Of The Faith

I

NUMBERS OF CHRISTIANS IN THE EARLY DAYS

Certain reasons to which the rapid acceptance of Christianity was owing — The great numbers of the early converts is borne witness to by pagan authors, such as Tacitus and Phny, and by Christian contemporary writers such as Clement of Rome, Hermas, Irenaeus, and others — The testimony of the Roman catacombs described in detail in Fourth Book is also referred to ...... . 102

II

THE ASSEMBLIES OF CHRISTIANS

These " assemblies " constituted a powerful factor in the acceptance and organization of the rehgion of Jesus — Their high importance is recognized by the great teachers of the first days — Quotations from these are given , . . 107

OF WHOM THESE PRIMITIVE " ASSEMBLIES " WERE COMPOSED

Information respecting these early meetings of Believers is supphed by leading Christian teachers — Quotations from these are given . . . . . . .110

IV

WHAT WAS TAUGHT AND DONE IN THESE " ASSEMBLIES "

A general picture of one of them by Justin Martyr — (A) Dogmatic teaching given in these meetings — (B) Almsgiving — Is shown to be an inescapable duty — Is pressed home by early masters of Christianity on the faithful — ^AU offerings made were, however, purely voluntary — No communism was ever

TABLE OF CONTENTS xix

PAGE taught or hinted at in the early Church — (C) Special dogmatic instruction respecting the value of almsgiving was given by some early teachers — Several of these instructions are given here — (D) Apart from this somewhat strange dogmatic teaching on the value of almsgiving, the general duty of almsgiving was most strongly impressed on the faithful — Passages emphasizing this from very early writers are here quoted — (E) Special recipients of these alms are particularized; amongst these, in the first place, widows and orphans, and the sick, appear — (F) These alms in some cases were not to be confined to the Household of Faith — (G) Hospitality to strangers is enjoined — References here are given from several prominent early teachers — Help to prisoners for the Name's sake enjoined — Assistance to be given to poorer Churches is recommended — (H) Burial expenses for the dead among the poorer brethren are to be partly defrayed from the " alms " contributed at the assembhes, partly from private sources- — Lactantius, in his summary of Christian duties, dwells markedly on this duty — Important witness of the Roman catacombs here . •113

V

Position in Christian society — How the slave was regarded in the " assembhes " — Paulinus of Nola quoted on the general Christian estimate of a slave — How this novel view of the slave was looked on by pagans . . . -134

A general summary of the effect which all this teaching current in the primitive " assembhes " had on the policy and work of the Church in subsequent ages . . . '137

VI Difficulties In Ordinary Life Among The Early Christians

Difficulties in common Ufe for the Christian who endeavoured to carry out the precepts and teaching given in the " assembhes " are sketched — In family hfe — In trades — In the amusements of the people — In civil employments — In the army — In matters of education — A general summary of such dif&culties is quoted from De Broghe Q'Eglise et I' Empire) . • • • • • .140

XX THE EARLY CHRISTIANS IN ROME

PAGE

THE ASCETIC AND THE MORE PRACTICAL SCHOOLS OF TEACHING

Two schools of teaching, showing how these difi&culties were to be met, evidently existed in the early Church — (A) The school of Rigourists — TertulUan is a good example of a teacher of this school — Effect of this school on artisans — On popular amusements — On soldiers of the Legions — On slaves — On family Ufe — From this stem school came the majority of the martyrs — (B) The gentler and more practical school — exemplified in such writings as the Dialogue of Minucius Felix and in writings of Clement of Alexandria,

etc Results of the teaching of the gentler school — Art was

still possible among Christians, although permeated with heathen symbols — The Christian might still continue to live in the Imperial court — might remain in the civil service — in the army, etc. — Examples for such allowances found in Old Testament writings — (C) The Rigowrist school again dwelt on— Its great influence on the pagan empire — The final victory of Christianity was largely owing to the popular impression of the life and conduct of followers of this school — This impression was voiced by fourth century writers such as Prudentius and PauUnus of Nola, and is shown in the work of Pope Damasus in the catacombs . -144

WHAT THE RELIGION OF JESUS OFFERED IN RETURN FOR THIS HARD LIFE TO RIGOURISTS, AND IN A SLIGHTLY LESS DEGREE TO ALL FOLLOWERS OF THE SECOND SCHOOL

(-4) Freedom from ever-present fear of death — S. Paul, Ignatius, and especially epitaphs in the Roman catacombs are referred to here — (S) New terminology for death, burial, etc., used— (C) The ever-present consciousness of forgiveness of sins — (£)) Hope of immediate bliss after death — The power of the revelation of S. John in early Christian hfe— (£) Was Christian Ufe in the early centuries after all a dreary existence, as the pagans considered it ? . 153

TABLE OF CONTENTS xxi

Part I A.d. 64-a.d. 180 Introductory Pags

The early Church remained continually under the veiled shadow of persecution — ^This state of things we learn, not from the "Acts of the Martyrs," which, save in a certain number of instances, are of questionable authority, but from fragments which have come down to us of contemporary writings — ^Extracts from two groups of the more important of these are quoted . 163

I

QUOTATIONS FROM APOSTLES, ETC.

First Group. — From writings of apostles and apostoUc men, including the Epistle to the Hebrews — i Peter — Revelation of S. John — First letter of S. Clement of Rome — The seven genuine letters of S. Ignatius . . . . .166

II

QUOTATIONS FROM WRITINGS OF THE SECOND CENTURY

Second Group. — Early writings, dating from the time of Trajan to thedeathof Marcus Antoninus (a.d. 180); including — "Letters of Pliny and Trajan " — " Letter to Diognetus " — " The Shepherd of Hermas " — " ist Apology of Justin Martyr " — " Minucius Fehx " — " Writings of MeUto of Sardis " — " Writings of Athenagoras " — " Writings of Theophilus of Antioch " — " Writings of Tertullian " — the last-named a very few years later, but bearing on same period . • 177

Part II Training For Martyrdom

The sight of the martyrs' endurance under suffering had a marked effect on the pagan population. This was noticed and dreaded by the Roman magistracy. Efforts were constantly made by the Government to arrest or at least to limit the number of martyrs . . . . . '193 xxii THE EARLY CHRISTIANS IN ROME

OF THE SPECIAL TRAINING FOR MARTYRDOM

PAGE

The Church conscious of the powerful effect of a public martyrdom upon the pagan crowds — established a training for — a preparation in view of a possible martyrdom — ^This training included : (a) A pubUc recitation in the congregations of Christians of the " Acts," " Visions," and " Dreams " of confessors— (6) The preparation of special manuals prepared for the study of Christians — In these manuals our Lord's words were dwelt on — (c) A prolonged practice of austerities, with the view of hardening the body for the endurance of pain ........ 197

II

gUOTATIONS FROM TERTULLIAN, ETC.

Certain of TertuUian's references to this preparation, and to the austerities practised with this view, are quoted. (His words, written cifca a.d. 200, indicate what was in the second century a common practice in the Church.) S. Ignatius's words in his letter to the Roman Church are a good example of what was the use of the Church in the early years of the second century — Some of the words in question are quoted . 202

THE GREAT NUMBERS OF MARTYRS IN THE FIRST TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS

Christian tradition by no means exaggerates the number of martyrs — the contrary, indeed, is the case — In the first two hundred and fifty years the general tone of the early Christian writings (above quoted) dwells on those blood-stained days — But the great pagan authors of the second century, Tacitus and Pliny, are the most definite on the question of the vast number of martyrs — Here is cited a new piece of evidence concerning these great numbers from notices in the " Pilgrim Itineraries " or " Guides " to the catacombs of the sixth and following centuries — ^These tell us what the pilgrims visited — The vast numbers of martyrs in the different cemeteries again and again are dwelt upon . 207

List of the various cemeteries and their locality, with special notice of numbers of martyrs buried in each ....

TABLE OF CONTENTS xxiii

II

SPECIAL REFERENCE IN THE " MONZA " PAPYRUS, ETC.

PAGE

The " Monza " Catalogue — made for Queen Theodolinda by Gregory the Great, with notices of number of martyrs from the catalogue in question — Inscriptions of Pope Damasus — References by the poet Prudentius on the number of martyrs . 214 deductions from the " monza " catalogue and "pilgrim" guides General summary, allowing for some exaggeration in the "Pilgrim" Guides and in the "Monza " Catalogue, on the great numbers of these confessors and martyrs . . . .215

Book IV The Roman Catacombs Part I

The nature of the catacombs' witness to the secret of the " Inner Life " of the Church — A brief sketch of the contents of the Fourth Book ....... 219

I

THE ROMAN CATACOMBS — THEIR PLACE IN ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY

Early researches — Their disastrous character — De Rossi — His view of the importance of the testimony of the catacombs in early Christian history — Much that has been considered legendary is really historic — Witness of catacombs to the faith of the earUest Christians .... 223

II

DE ROSSI'S WAY OF WORKING IN HIS INVESTIGATIONS

Among the materials with which De Rossi worked may be cited : Acta Mart5?rum of S. Jerome, Liber Pontificahs, the " Pilgrim Itineraries," and the " Monza " Catalogue, which is specially described — Decoration of certain crypts — ■ Basihca (ruins) above ground — Luminaria — Graffiti of pilgrims — Inscriptions of Pope Damasus in situ, and also preserved in ancient syllogae . • . . .226 xxiv THE EARLY CHRISTIANS IN ROME

PAGE

Certain of his more important discoveries in the cemeteries of SS. Domitilla, Priscilla, Callistus — The yet later discoveries of Marucchi and others ..... 230

GENERAL ACCOUNT OF THE VASTNESS AND SITUATION OF THE CATACOMBS

(i) The Vatican cemetery and the groups of catacombs on the

right bank of the Tiber ..... 232

IV

(2) On the Via Ostiensis — Basihca of S. Paul — Cemeteries on the Via Ardeatina — Grandeur of cemetery of S. Domitilla — The small basilica of S. PetronUla .... 236

(3) Groups of cemeteries on the Via Appia — S. Sebastian (ad Catacumbas) — Group of S. Callistus — The Papal crypt — S. Soteris — Catacomb of Praetextatus on left hand of the Via Appia — Tomb of S. Januarius in this catacomb . 242

VI

(4) Cemeteries on the Via Latina and Via Tiburtina — S. Hippolytus — S. Laurence— S. Agnes' cemetery on the Via Nomentana ....... 248

(5) Cemeteries on the Via Salaria Nova — S. FeUcitas ; the great cemetery of S. PrisciUa, and the ancient Roman churches connected with it — Legends — Remains of basihca of S. Sylvester over the cemetery of S. PrisciUa — Memories of S. Peter in this cemetery — Its waters — Recent discoveries — Popes buried in the basilica of S. Sylvester . . 258

(6) Unimportant cemeteries on the Via Salaria Vetus — S. Pam-

phylus — S. Hermes — S. Valentinus, etc. . . . 274

TABLE OF CONTENTS xxv

APPENDIX I.— S. PETRONILLA

PAGE

Suggested derivation of Petronilla — De Rossi and other scholars still hold to the ancient Petrine tradition — Reasons for maintaining it — Early mediaeval testimony here — Traces of the early cult of this Saint ..... 277

APPENDIX II.— TOMB OF S. PETER

Probable situation of the tomb in present basiUca of S. Peter — Account of what was found in the course of the excavations in the seventeenth century, by Ubaldi, Canon of S. Peter's, who was an eye-witness of the discoveries made in a.d. 1626, when the works required for the great bronze Baldachino of Bernini were being carried out ..... 279

PART II TWO EXAMPLES OF RECENT DISCOVERIES

THE CRYPT OF S. CECILIA

The old story of the famous Saint no longer a mere legend — Reconstruction of S. Ceciha's hfe — The crypt is described — Her basilica in the Trastevere quarter — once S. Cecilia's house ........ 289

II

REMOVAL OF S. CECILIA TO HER BASILICA

Discovery of remains of S. Cecilia by Paschal i., a.d. 821 — Appearance of the body, which he translated from the crypt in the catacomb of CaUistus to her basiUca — Her tomb in the basilica opened in a.d. 1599 by Clement viii. — Appearance of the body — Maderno copied it in marble — How De Rossi discovered and identified in the original catacomb the crypt of S. Cecilia .... 292

THE TOMB OF S. FELICITAS, AND OF HER SONS

Discovery and identification of the burial-places of S. FeUcitas, of S. Januarius, and of her other sons — Reconstruction of her story — Tomb of S. Januarius found in cemetery of Prsetextatus on the Via Appia — Original tomb of S. Felicitas found in the cemetery bearing her name (Via Salaria Nova) — Identification of the burial-places of her other sons . . 298 xxvi THE EARLY CHRISTIANS IN ROME

TEACHING OF THE INSCRIPTIONS AND CARVINGS ON THE TOMBS

I

EPITAPHS IN THE CATACOMBS THEIR SIMPLICITY

PAGE

Uncounted numbers of graves in this silent city of the dead ; computed at three, four, or five millions — belonging to aU ranks— Some of these were elaborately adorned — Greek often the language of very early epitaphs — Great simphcity as a rule in inscriptions — -No panegyric of dead — just a name — a prayer — an emblem of faith and hope — Communion of saints everywhere asserted ..... 307

II

EPITAPHS IN THE CATACOMBS CONTRASTED WITH PAGAN INSCRIPTIONS

A few of these epitaphs quoted — never a word of sorrow for the departed found in them — Question of the catacomb teaching on efficacy of prayers of the dead for the hving — S. Cyprian quoted here — Desire of being interred close to a famous martyr — Marked difference in the pagan conception of the dead — Some pagan epitaphs quoted . . . .310