Christians never had any doubts that Christian temples and holy icons were in use from the very beginning for worship purposes, wherever it was of course feasible, on account of persecutions. However, the Protestants arbitrarily teach that these are things that occurred later on, because of “apostasy” from the faith. Archaeologists however are constantly bringing to light even older findings that indicate the use of icons and temples by the first Christian Church.
Wherever the archaeologist may delve, he will nowhere see any signs of “Protestantism”; only ORTHODOXY.
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The facts that you will see below, bear a double significance: 1. They prove that the Christian Church, even from its very beginning, was no different to today’s Orthodox Church, with its temples, icons, and bishops and 2. They prove that not only the Christians, but EVEN THE JEWS comprehended the term “idol” with its proper meaning, which is: “a depiction of God”. This is why both Christians and Jews of the first Christian era had ONLY images (icons) in their places of worship. And here is the evidence: Dura Europos was a Hellenic city, built by Nicator the Seleucid on the right bank of the river Euphrates, near Palmyra. It was besieged by Rome in 165 A.D. and was destroyed by the Persian Sasanides in 256 A.D.. Most of the edifices of the city were discovered under the sand, and were in perfect condition. Among them, was a Judean Synagogue as well as the most ancient of all Christian temples, which has remained intact to this day.
Photograph of the Judean Synagogue in Dura Europos. The murals date back to 235 A.D.. It was discovered in 1921.
Detail from the Synagogue. Scene from the Book of Esther. The resemblance to Byzantine Hagiography is remarkable. This is natural, as Hellenistic art forms were applied.
The most ancient of all Christian churches is also preserved in Dura EUropos. Sections of the iconography can be seen on the wall. Opposite the entrance stood the elevated Altar, the “«tablinum». The Archaeologists tell us that this was where the liturgies took place, on this altar, by the Bishop. It dates back to 230-260 A.D.
As for the Christian temple, Mrs. Despina Iosif (a doctor of History at the University of London) in the magazine “Historical Themes” (issue No.30, June 2004, pages 8-19, in her article titled “A moral dilemma of the proto-Christian communities”), wrote the following: "The edifice had initially been built at the beginning of the 3rd century, in close proximity to other houses and temples. It was not, however, an ordinary, humble abode. Its owner must have been an affluent and prominent member of the community. In the year 232/233, the house underwent alterations, with the intention that a section of it was to be used as a meeting place and a house of worship for Christians (domus ecclesiae). This is the earliest example of an above-ground Christian temple that we know of to this day. The first Christians used to congregate in private homes before the 3rd century A.D., when the construction of edifices dedicated exclusively to Christian worship began. This house is of special interest for the additional reason that on one of its walls are certain etched representations of three mounted soldiers. Perhaps the owner was a Roman officer who had decided to cede a part of the house to local Christians, himself being a Christian also.” It is our hope that the above document will help Protestant believers to revise the misconception that they support, which is that the Church of Christ altered the supposed “simplicity” of worship that it had in the beginning. It should also make them more careful and less blasphemous, when they refer to the Christians’ use of temples, bishops and holy icons as “idolatry”. We have just shown here, that this has been the Christian custom since the beginning. Especially for the last point, we would also like to refer our readers to many more related reference, in other articles of ours: SOURCES OF ICONS AND INFORMATION ON DURA EUROPOSUniversity of Yale, “Judaica” Collection at Sterling Memorial Library http://www.library.yale.edu/exhibition/judaica/jcsml.2.html
History of Western Architecture at the University of Pittsburgh http://www.pitt.edu/~tokerism/0040/chrbyz.html http://www.pitt.edu/~tokerism/0040/images4/ar.96.03629.jpg
Orthodox Frequently asked questions http://www.philthompson.net/pages/icons/duraeuropos.html http://www.philthompson.net/pages/faq/14.html#here http://www.philthompson.net/pages/faq/index.html
«HISTORY OF THE HELLENIC NATION», BY EKDOTIKI ATHINON PUBLISHERS, VOLUME 6 PAGES 316, 497-498.
Translation by A.N. |
