Chronology of the Christianization of the East Roman Empire

From: jpisc98357@...
Message: 16345
Date: 2002-10-17

Subj: [IndianCivilization] How Hindu Europe became Xtian Europe
Date: 10/16/02 8:21:47 PM Central Daylight Time
From: gsubrec@...
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To: IndianCivilization@yahoogroups.com

(Summarised from Vlasis Rassias' book "DEMOLISH THEM..",

  published in Greek, Athens 2000 (2nd edition), Anichti Poli Editions, ISBN 960-7748-20-4)

(All dates "era vulgaris" = Christian Era)

314
     Immediately after its full legalisation, the Christian Church attacks the
     Gentiles: The Council of Ancyra denounces the worship of Goddess Artemis.
324
     Emperor Constantine declares Christianism as the only official Religion of
     the Roman Empire. In Dydima, Minor Asia, he sacks the Oracle of the
     God Apollo and tortures the pagan priests to death. He also evicts all the
     Gentiles from Mt. Athos and destroys all the local Hellenic Temples.
326
     Emperor Constantine, following the instructions of his mother Helen,
     destroys the Temple of the God Asclepius in Aigeai of Cilicia and many
     Temples of the Goddess Aphrodite in Jerusalem, Aphaca, Mambre,
     Phoenice, Baalbek, etc.
330
     Emperor Constantine steals the treasures and statues of the pagan
     Temples of Greece to decorate Nova Roma (Constantinople), the new
     capital of his Empire.
335
     Emperor Constantine sacks many pagan Temples of Minor Asia and
     Palestine and orders the execution by crucifixion of "all magicians and
     soothsayers". Martyrdom of the neoplatonist philosopher Sopatrus.
341
     Emperor Flavius Julius Constantius persecutes "all the soothsayers and
     the Hellenists". Many Gentile Hellenes are either imprisoned or executed.
346
     New large-scale persecutions against the Gentiles in Constantinople.
     Banishment of the famous orator Libanius accused as... "magician".
353
     An edict of Constantius orders the death penalty for all kind of worship
     through sacrifices and "idols".
354
     A new edict orders the closing of all the pagan Temples. Some of them
     are profaned and turned into brothels or gambling rooms. Executions of
     pagan priests.
354
     A new edict of Constantius orders the destruction of the pagan Temples
     and the execution of all "idolaters". First burning of libraries in various
     cities of the Empire. The first lime factories are being organised next to
     the closed pagan Temples. A major part of the holy architecture of the
     Gentiles turns to lime.
357
     Constantius outlaws all methods of Divination (Astrology not excluded).
359
     In Skythopolis, Syria, the Christians organise the first death camps for
     the torture and executions of the arrested Gentiles from all around the
     Empire.
361  to 363
     Religious tolerance and restoration of the pagan cults declared in
     Constantinople (11th December 361) by the pagan Emperor Flavius
     Claudius Julianus.
363
     Assassination of Emperor Julianus (26th June).
364
    Emperor Flavius Jovianus orders the burning of the Library of Antioch.
364
     An Imperial edict (11th September) orders the death penalty for all
     Gentiles that worship their ancestral Gods or practice Divination ("sileat
     omnibus perpetuo divinandi curiositas"). Three different edicts (4th
     February, 9th September, 23rd December) order the confiscation of all
     properties of the pagan Temples and the death penalty for participation in
     pagan rituals, even private ones.
365
     An Imperial edict (17th November) forbids the Gentile officers of the army
     to command Christian soldiers.
370
     Emperor Valens orders a tremendous persecution of the Gentiles in all
     the Eastern Empire. In Antioch, among many other Gentiles, the
     ex-governor Fidustius and the priests Hilarius and Patricius are executed.
     Tons of books are burnt in the squares of the cities of the Eastern
     Empire. All the friends of Julianus are persecuted (Orebasius, Sallustius,
     Pegasius etc.), the philosopher Simonides is burned alive and the
     philosopher Maximus is decapitated.
372
     Emperor Valens orders the governor of Minor Asia to exterminate all the
     Hellenes and all documents of their wisdom.
373
     New prohibition of all Divination methods. The term "pagan" (pagani,
     villagers) is introduced by the Christians to lessen the Gentiles.
375
    The Temple of God Asclepius in Epidaurus, Greece, is closed down by
     the Christians.
380
     On 27th February, Christianism becomes the exclusive Religion of the
    Roman Empire by an edict of Emperor Flavius Theodosius, requiring that
     "all the various nations which are subject to our clemency and moderation
     should continue in the profession of that religion which was delivered to
     the Romans by the divine Apostle Peter". The non-Christians are called
     "loathsome, heretics, stupid and blind". In another edict Theodosius calls
     "insane" those that do not believe to the Christian God and outlaws all
     disagreements with the Church dogmas. Ambrosius, bishop of Milan,
     starts destroying all the pagan Temples of his area. The Christian priests
     lead the hungry mob against the Temple of Goddess Demeter in Eleusis
     and try to lynch the hierophants Nestorius and Priskus. The 95 years old
     hierophant Nestorius ends the Eleusinian Mysteries and announces the
     predominance of mental darkness over the human race.
381
     On 2nd May, Theodosius deprives of all their rights the Christians that
     return back to the pagan Religion. In all the Eastern Empire the pagan
     Temples and Libraries are looted or burned down. On 21st December,
     Theodosius outlaws even the simple visits to the Temples of the Hellenes.
     In Constantinople, the Temple of Goddess Aphrodite is turned to brothel
     and the Temples of Sun and Artemis to stables.
382
     "Hellelu-jah" (Glory to Yahweh) is imposed in the Christian mass.
384
     Emperor Theodosius orders the Praetorian Prefect Maternus Cynegius, a
     dedicated Christian, to cooperate with the local bishops and destroy the
     Temples of the Gentiles in Northern Greece and Minor Asia.
385  to 388
     Maternus Cynegius, encouraged by his fanatic wife, and bishop ("Saint")
     Marcellus with his gangs scour the countryside and sack and destroy
     hundreds of Hellenic Temples, shrines and altars. Among others they
     destroy the Temple of Edessa, the Cabeireion of Imbros, the Temple of
     Zeus in Apamea, the Temple of Apollo in Dydima and all the Temples of
     Palmyra. Thousands of innocent Gentiles from all sides of the Empire
     suffer martyrdom in the notorious death camps of Skythopolis.
386
     Emperor Theodosius outlaws (16th June) the care of the sacked pagan
     Temples.
388
     Public talks on religious subjects are also outlawed by Theodosius. The
     old orator Libanius sends his famous Epistle "Pro Templis" to Theodosius
     with the hope that the few remaining Hellenic Temples will be respected
     and spared.
389  to 390
     All non-Christian date-methods are outlawed. Hordes of fanatic hermits
     from the desert flood the cities of the Middle East and Egypt and destroy
     statues, altars, Libraries and pagan Temples and lynch the Gentiles.
     Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria, starts heavy persecutions against the
     Gentiles, turns the Temple of Dionysos into a Christian church, burns
     down the Mithraeum of the city, destroys the Temple of Zeus and
     burlesque the pagan priests before they are killed by stoning. The
     Christian mob profanes the cult images.
391
     On 24th February, a new edict of Theodosius prohibits not only visits to
     pagan Temples but also looking at the vandalised statues. New heavy
     persecutions all around the Empire. In Alexandria, Egypt, the Gentiles,
     led by the philosopher Olympius, revolt and after some street fights they
     lock themselves inside the fortified Temple of God Serapis (The
     Serapeion). After a violent siege, the Christians take over the building,
     demolish it, burn its famous Library and profane the cult images.
392
     On 8th November, the Emperor Theodosius outlaws all the non-Christian
     rituals and names them "superstitions of the Gentiles" (gentilicia
     superstitio). New full scale persecutions against the Gentiles. The
     Mysteries of Samothrace are ended and the priests slaughtered. In
     Cyprus the local bishop ("Saint") Epiphanius and "Saint" Tychon destroy
     almost all the Temples of the island and exterminate thousands of
     Gentiles. The local Mysteries of Goddess Aphrodite are ended.
     Theodosius' edict declares: "the ones that won't obey pater Epiphanius
     have no right to keep living in that island". The Gentiles revolt against the
     Emperor and the Church in Petra, Aeropolis, Rafia, Gaza, Baalbek and
     other cities of the Middle East.
393
     The Pythian Games, the Aktia Games and the Olympic Games are
     outlawed as part of the Hellenic "idolatry". The Christians sack the
     Temples of Olympia.
395
     Two new edicts (22nd July and 7th August) cause new persecutions
     against the Gentiles. Rufinus, the eunuch Prime Minister of Emperor
     Flavius Arcadius directs the hordes of the baptised Goths (led by Alaric)
     to the country of the Hellenes. Encouraged by Christian monks the
     barbarians sack and burn many cities (Dion, Delphi, Megara, Corinth,
     Pheneos, Argos, Nemea, Lycosoura, Sparta, Messene, Phigaleia,
     Olympia, etc.), slaughter or enslave innumerable Gentile Hellenes and
     burn down all the Temples. Among others, they burn down the Eleusinian
     Sanctuary and burn alive all its priests (including the hierophant of
     Mithras Hilarius).
396
     On 7th December, a new edict by Emperor Arcadius orders that
     paganism be treated as high treason. Imprisonment of the few remaining
     pagan priests and hierophants.
397
     "Demolish them!". Emperor Flavius Arcadius orders all the still standing
     pagan Temples to be demolished.
398
     The Fourth Church Council of Carthage prohibits to everybody, including
     to the Christian bishops, the study of the books of the Gentiles.
     Porphyrius, bishop of Gaza, demolishes almost all the pagan Temples of
     his city (except 9 of them that remain active).
399
     With a new edict (13th July) Emperor Flavius Arcadius orders all the still
     standing pagan Temples, mainly in the countryside, to be immediately
     demolished.
400
     Bishop Nicetas destroys the Oracle of the God Dionysus in Vesai and
     baptises all the Gentiles of this area.
401
    The Christian mob of Carthage lynches Gentiles and destroys Temples
    and "idols". In Gaza too, the local bishop (also a.."Saint") Porphyrius
    sends his followers to lynch Gentiles and to demolish the remaining 9 still
    active Temples of the city. The 15th Council of Chalkedon orders all the
    Christians that still keep good relations with their gentile relatives to be
    excommunicated (even after their death).
405
     John Chrysostom sends hordes of gray dressed monks armed with clubs
     and iron bars to destroy the "idols" in all the cities of Palestine.
406
    John Chrysostom collects funds from rich Christian women to financially
    support the demolition of the Hellenic Temples. In Ephessus he orders
    the destruction of the famous Temple of Goddess Artemis. In Salamis,
    Cyprus, the "Saints" Epiphanius and Eutychius continue the
    persecutions of the Gentiles and the total destruction of their Temples and                           sanctuaries.
407
     A new edict outlaws once more all the non-Christian acts of worship.
408
     The Emperor of the Western Empire Honorius and the Emperor of the
     Eastern Empire Arcadius order together all the sculptures of the pagan
     Temples to be either destroyed or to be taken away. Private ownership of
     pagan sculpture is also outlawed. The local bishops lead new heavy
     persecutions against the Gentiles and new book burning. The judges that
     have pity for the Gentiles are also persecuted. "Saint" Augustine
     massacres hundreds of protesting pagans in Calama, Algeria.
409
     Once again, an edict orders Astrology and all methods of Divination to be
     punished by death.
415
     In Alexandria, Egypt, the Christian mob, urged by the bishop Cyrillus,
     attacks a few days before the Judaeo-Christian Pascha (Easter) and cuts
     to pieces the famous and beautiful philosopher Hypatia. The pieces of her
     body, carried around by the Christian mob through the streets of
     Alexandria, are finally burned together with her books in a place called
     Cynaron. On 30th August, new persecutions start against all the pagan
     priests of North Africa who end their lives either crucified or burned alive.
416
     The inquisitor Hypatius, alias "The Sword of God", exterminates the last
     Gentiles of Bithynia. In Constantinople (7th December) all non-Christian
     army officers, public employees and judges are dismissed.
423
     Emperor Theodosius B declares (8th June) that the Religion of the
     Gentiles is nothing more than "demon worship" and orders all those who
     persist in practicing it to be punished by imprisonment and torture.
429
    The Temple of Goddess Athena (Parthenon) on the Acropolis of Athens is
    sacked. The Athenian pagans are persecuted.
435
     On 14th November, a new edict by Emperor Theodosius B orders the
     death penalty for all "heretics" and Gentiles of the Empire. Only Judaism
     is considered a legal non-Christian Religion.
438
     Emperor Theodosius B issues an new edict (31st January) against the
    Gentiles, incriminating their "idolatry" as the reason of a recent plague (!)
440  to 450
    The Christians demolish all the monuments, altars and Temples of
     Athens, Olympia, and other Greek cities.
448
     Theodosius B orders all the non-Christian books to be burned.
450
    All the Temples of Aphrodisias (City of Goddess Aphrodite) are
     demolished and all its Libraries burned down. The city is renamed
     Stavroupolis (City of the Cross).
451
     New edict by Emperor Theodosius B (4th November) emphasises that
     "idolatry" is punished by death.
457  to 491
     Sporadic persecutions against the Gentiles of the Eastern Empire.
     Among others, the physician Jacobus and the philosopher Gessius are
     executed. Severianus, Herestios, Zosimus, Isidorus and others are
     tortured and imprisoned. The proselytiser Conon and his followers
     exterminate the last Gentiles of Imbros Island, Norheast Aegean Sea.
     The last worshippers of Lavranius Zeus are exterminated in Cyprus.
482  to 488
     The majority of the Gentiles of Minor Asia are exterminated after a
     desperate revolt against the Emperor and the Church.
486
     More "underground" pagan priests are discovered, arrested, burlesqued,
     tortured and executed in Alexandria, Egypt.
515
     Baptism becomes obligatory even for those that already say they are
     Christians. The Emperor of Constantinople Anastasius orders the
     massacre of the Gentiles in the Arabian city Zoara and the demolition of
    the Temple of local God Theandrites.
528
     Emperor Jutprada (Justinianus) outlaws the "alternative" Olympian
     Games of Antioch. He also orders the execution (by fire, crucifixion,
     tearing to pieces by wild beasts or cutting to pieces by iron nails) of all
     who practice "sorcery, divination, magic or idolatry" and prohibits all
     teachings by the Gentiles ("..the ones suffering from the blasphemous
     insanity of the Hellenes").
529
     Emperor Justinianus outlaws the Athenian Philosophical Academy and
     has its property confiscated.
532
     The inquisitor Ioannis Asiacus, a fanatic monk, leads a crusade against
     the Gentiles of Minor Asia.
542
     Emperor Justinianus allows the inquisitor Ioannis Asiacus to convert the
     Gentiles of Phrygia, Caria and Lydia, Minor Asia. Within 35 years of this
     crusade, 99 churches and 12 monasteries are built on the sites of
     demolished pagan Temples.
546
     Hundreds of Gentiles are put to death in Constantinople by the inquisitor
     Ioannis Asiacus.
556
     Emperor Justinianus orders the notorious inquisitor Amantius to go to
     Antioch, to find, arrest, torture and exterminate the last Gentiles of the
     city and burn all the private libraries down.
562
     Mass arrests, burlesquing, tortures, imprisonments and executions of
     Gentile Hellenes in Athens, Antioch, Palmyra and Constantinople.
578  to 582
     The Christians torture and crucify Gentile Hellenes all around the Eastern
     Empire, and exterminate the last Gentiles of Heliopolis (Baalbek).
580
     The Christian inquisitors attack a secret Temple of Zeus in Antioch. The
     priest commits suicide, but the rest Gentiles are arrested. All the
     prisoners, the Vice Governor Anatolius included, are tortured and sent to
     Constantinople to face trial. Sentenced to death they are thrown to the
     lions. The wild animals being unwilling to tear them to pieces, they end
     up crucified. Their dead bodies are dragged in the streets by the Christian
     mob and afterwards thrown unburied in the dump.
583
     New persecutions against the Gentile Hellenes by the Emperor
     Mauricius.
590
     In all the Eastern Empire the Christian accusers "discover" pagan
     conspiracies. New storm of torture and executions.
692
    The "Penthekto" Council of Constantinople prohibits the remains of
    Calends, Brumalia, Anthesteria, and other pagan / Dionysian celebrations.
804
    The Gentile Hellenes of Mesa Mani (Cape Tainaron, Lakonia, Greece)
    resist successfully the attempt of Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople,
    to convert them to Christianity.
850  to  860
    Violent conversion of the last Gentile Hellenes of Laconia by the
    Armenian "Saint" Nikon.

Best Regards.  John
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