Early Christianity
WHS where some physical remains relevant to the period of "Early Christianity" may be seen.
"Early Christianity" is "commonly defined as the Christianity of the three centuries between the Crucifixion of Christ (c. 30) and the First council of Nicaea (325)" (Wiki) which was called by Constantine to develop a consensus of Christian belief from within the wide variety of interpetations which had developed. It is normally divided into 2 periods
a. The Apostolic Age - Crucifixion to death of John the Apostle (c 110)
b. The ante Nicene Period
Connected Sites
| Site | Rationale | Link |
| Aquileia | Mosaics from the reign of Bishop Theodore (314-318AD) | |
| Damascus | "House of Ananias" 1st century AD. Believed to be the house where Ananias baptised Saul and later became a Christian church. It "is the only early Christian house of worship from the first century to survive" in Damascus (Wiki). | |
| Djémila | In the southern quarter, Christianity was implanted at an early date (the bishop Pudentianus of Cuicul is noted from 255). (AB Ev) The site has also been marked by Christianity in the form of several cult buildings: a cathedral, a church and its baptistry are considered among the biggest of the Paleochristian period. (unesco website) | |
| Echmiatsin and Zvartnots | The Cathedral was originally built in AD 301- 303 (and rebuilt in 480) by St Gregory the Illuminator who had been brought up as a Christian in Caeserea and later converted the Armenian king. His son, Aristakes of Armenia, attended the council of Nicaea. | |
| Mérida | "The Basilica de Casa Herrera basilica with a double-apsidal well known North African type" (AB eval). The Basilica of Sta Eulalia was built over the remains of a former paleo-christian basilica and necropolis and is thought to contain the tomb of the child Saint Eulalia burned in 304 for spitting in the face of a Roman magistrate. This crypt has been extensively excavated since 1990 and can be visited underneath the basilica | |
| Rome | A number of the Catacombs were constructed by Christians in 2nd century for burials and some services. There are some reamins from that period e.g Mural of Christ Teaching the Apostles ("Last Supper"), Catacomb of Domitilla, Rome, c. 300 AD. | |
| Syracuse | "The Catacombs, the largest except for those in Rome, date from the paleochristian period." (AB Ev) – "The St Lucy Catacombs (...) are the earliest in the city and date from 220-230 AD." (Nomination file, p. 92) - The church of San Giovanni alle catacombe was built in the area above the Catacombs and in the place where, according to tradition, the protobishop of Syracuse San Marciano, martyred under Gallienus and Valerian, was buried (mid-3rd century). | |
| Tarraco | Paleo Christian Cemetery |
Suggestions?
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