Книга 2

1. What should have been reported as if in the preface to Church history, namely: about the Divinity of the Word-Savior, about the antiquity of the dogmas of our faith and the evangelical Christian way of life, as well as about His recent appearance, about the events that preceded His suffering, and about the election of the apostles - we spoke about all this with brief evidence in the previous book. 2. In this same article, we will consider what happened after His Ascension, based on Holy Scripture and involving worldly historians, to whose notes I will refer, when necessary. 1. First of all, Matthias, who, as it is said 272, was a disciple of the Lord, was chosen by lot to be an apostle, instead of the traitor Judas. Seven proven men 274 were appointed apostles through prayer and the laying on of hands to serve the community 273, including Stephen 275; he, the first after the Lord, immediately upon his appointment - as if he had been chosen for this - was stoned by the murderers of the Lord. He was the first of the victorious martyrs of Christ to receive a crown - his name has precisely this meaning 276. 2. Then Jacob, called the brother of the Lord (for he was called the son of Joseph; the father of Christ was the same Joseph, to whom the Virgin was betrothed, and before they were united, it turned out that She was pregnant by the Holy Spirit, as the Holy Gospel teaches us 277) - this same Jacob, who in ancient times was given the nickname “Righteous” for his exceptional virtue, was the first, as they say, to receive the episcopal throne in the Church of Jerusalem. 3. Clement, in the 6th book of his Essays, affirms this and writes as follows: “Peter 278, James 279 and John 280, although they were especially honored by the Savior 281, however, after the Ascension of the Savior they did not dispute this honor with each other, but elected James the Righteous as bishop of Jerusalem.” 4. In the 7th book of the same work, he says the following about him: “The Lord passed on knowledge to James the Righteous, John and Peter after the Resurrection, and they passed it on to the rest of the apostles, the rest of the apostles being seventy, one of whom was Barnabas.” 5. There were two Jacobs: one – “the Righteous” – was thrown from the roof and beaten to death with a fuller’s rolling pin 282, the other had his head cut off.” This “Righteous One” is also mentioned by Paul 283: “I saw none of the apostles except James, the brother of the Lord 284.” 6. At the same time, the promise of our Savior given to the king of Osroene 285 was fulfilled. Thomas, at the inspiration of God, sends Thaddeus to Edessa to preach and proclaim the Gospel of Christ, as I said a little higher on the basis of the manuscript found there. 7. Thaddeus, having arrived at the place, heals Abgar with the word of Christ, and amazes all the people there with amazing miracles. Having sufficiently prepared them by his actions and led them to honor the power of Christ, he began to teach them the saving faith 286. And to this day, since then, all of Edessa has been sanctified by the name of Christ; she convincingly testifies to the mercies 287 of our Savior towards her. 8. This is borrowed from ancient tales. Let us now move on to Holy Scripture. After the martyrdom of Stephen, the Jews launched the first great persecution against the Church of Jerusalem, and all the disciples, except the twelve, were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria 288; some, as the Holy Scripture says, reached Phenicia 289, Cyprus 290 and Antioch, but were not able to dare to preach the Word to the pagans and proclaimed it only to the Jews 291. 9 . At the same time, Paul destroyed the Church; broke into the houses of the faithful and dragged men and women to prison 292. 10. Philip 293, one of those appointed deacons along with Stephen, left Jerusalem with others and came to Samaria; filled with the power of God, he is the first to preach the Word 294 to the local inhabitants. He was assisted by such great grace of God 295 that he captivated even Simon Magus 296 and many with him with his speeches. 11. Simon at this time became so famous and so possessed the people deceived by his spell that he was considered the great power of God. Then he, amazed by the miracles that Philip performed by the power of God, entered into his confidence and pretended that he believed in Christ so much that he was ready to be baptized 297 . 12. The behavior of the current followers of his most vile heresy is also surprising; following the example of their ancestor, they invade the Church and, like the plague and scabies, cause grave harm to people if they manage to release their secret, destructive poison into them. However, many of them, caught in their abomination, were expelled, just as Simon, caught in the act by Peter, suffered a well-deserved punishment 298. 13. The preaching of salvation expanded day by day. The providence of God brought from Ethiopia 299 a courtier 300 of the queen there 301 - according to the custom of their ancestors, these people are still ruled by women 302; him, the first of the pagans 303, Philip, by revelation, introduced him to the mysteries of the Word; and he became the first believer (Ethiopian) in the universe. There is a legend that, having returned to his homeland, he preached the knowledge of God Almighty and spoke about the life-giving presence of our Savior on earth. In fact, the prophecy was fulfilled: “Ethiopia will stretch out its hands to God 304.” 14. At the same time, Paul, the chosen vessel, was declared an apostle - not by people and not with the help of people, but by revelation 305 of Jesus Christ Himself and God the Father 306, who raised Him from the dead. He received this title because of a vision and a voice from heaven that accompanied the revelation. 1. The wondrous Resurrection of our Savior and His Ascension were already known to many. According to ancient custom, regional rulers had to inform the person vested with supreme power about all local news so that nothing escaped the imperial eye. Pilate informed 307 Emperor Tiberius that throughout Palestine there was a rumor about the Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus, that He knew His other miracles, and that many had already believed in Him, risen from the dead, as God. 2. Tiberius, they say, reported this to the Senate, but the Senate rejected this news under the pretext that it had not previously considered it: according to the ancient law, no one could be recognized as a god by the Romans except by vote and decree of the Senate. In reality, the saving teaching of the Divine preaching did not need human approval and patronage. Although the Roman Senate rejected the news about our Savior, 3. but Tiberius retained his previous opinion and did not plot anything incongruous against Christ’s teaching 308 . 4. Tertullian 309, an excellent expert on Roman laws and generally a famous person, one of the most famous, in his Apology of the Christians, written in Latin and translated into Greek, says literally this: 5. “Let's talk about the origin of such laws. According to an ancient decree, the emperor cannot recognize any god as such without prior consideration by the Senate. Marcus Aemilius did the same with a certain idol Alvurnos 310. That among you divine dignity is bestowed by human decision is in our favor. If a person does not like God, he will not become a god; Man, it turns out, should be merciful to God. 6. When Tiberius, under whom the name of Christians entered the world, received news from Palestine (Palestine is his homeland) about this teaching, he reported it to the Senate, making it clear that he liked this teaching. The Senate, however, rejected it as not previously considered. Tiberius remained unconvinced and threatened with death those who denounced Christians 311.” Heavenly Providence planted this thought in him with the special purpose that the Gospel word would first pass unhindered throughout the entire earth. 1. With the power of heaven and its assistance, the saving teaching illuminated, like a ray of sunshine 312, the entire universe, and immediately, in the words of Holy Scripture, “the voice of the wondrous 7 evangelists and apostles spread throughout the whole earth, “and to the ends of the universe their words 313.” 2. And indeed, in every city, in every village (like full granaries 314) churches arose that united many people. People whose souls were shackled by superstitious horror of idols, this ancient disease inherited from their ancestors and from ancient delusion, were revived by the power of Christ, which His disciples taught and performed miracles, they seemed to get rid of terrible masters, freed from the heaviest shackles. They turned away with disgust from all pagan polytheism, confessed that there is one and only God, the Creator of everything that exists, and began to honor Him according to the commandments of true piety, imbued with the Spirit of God, reasonable service, the seeds of which our Savior sowed among people. 3. God's mercy also poured out on other nations. In Caesarea Palestine 315 Cornelius 316 was the first to accept the faith of Christ along with his entire household (there was a vision from heaven to him, and the Apostle Peter ministered to him), and in Antioch 317 there were many Greeks who were preached to by the disciples 318 who were scattered after the persecution of Stephen. The Antiochian Church soon became numerous and prosperous. At this time, most of the Jerusalem prophets were there, and with them Barnabas, Paul, and besides them many more brothers. There for the first time, as if from an abundant inexhaustible source, the name of Christians flowed 319. 4. And since Agabus 320, one of the prophets who were there, predicted that there would be a famine, Paul and Barnabas were sent to serve the brothers 321. 1. Tiberius died 322 after a reign of almost twenty-two years 323; After him, Guy gained power 324. He immediately placed the Jewish crown on Agrippa 325, making him king over the tetrarchies of Philip and Lysanias, and a little later he entrusted to him the tetrarchy of Herod 326. He punished this Herod (the Savior suffered during his reign) together with his wife Herodias for many crimes with lifelong exile 327. Joseph also testifies to this. 2. Under Gaius, Philo 328 became known to many, a very remarkable man not only among our people 329, but also among people who received a Greek education. He came from an ancient Jewish family and was in no way inferior to those who were famous in Alexandria for their duties 330. 3. How much and what kind of work he invested in the study of sciences related to faith and the fatherland can be seen in practice by everyone. How strong he was in philosophy 331 and in the liberal arts, familiarity with which a Greek education requires, there is nothing to say about this. He studied Plato and Pythagoras 332 with special diligence and, they say, surpassed all his contemporaries in this. 1. He tells in five books 333 what happened to the Jews under Guy, depicting in detail the madness of Guy, who proclaimed himself a god and during his reign constantly mocked people. He talks about the misfortunes of the Jews under him and about his embassy to Rome, where he was sent to intercede on behalf of his Alexandrian fellow tribesmen; about how, defending domestic laws 334 before Guy, he was only viciously ridiculed in response. He even had reason to fear for his life. 2. Joseph also mentions these events in the 18th book of his Antiquities. Here is his literal story: “In Alexandria there was a discord between the local Jews and the Greeks 335; Three ambassadors were chosen from each side, who appeared before Guy. 3. From the Alexandrians one of the ambassadors was Apion 336; he very much reviled the Jews and among other things said that they did not want to give honor to Caesar: all the subjects of Rome erect altars and churches to Gaius and generally turn to him, like other gods, and only the Jews consider it shameful to erect statues of him and swear by his name 337 . 4. Apion made many grave accusations, hoping - and not without reason - that Guy would lose his temper. Philo, the head of the Jewish embassy, ​​a famous man in all respects, the brother of Alavarch Alexander 338, well acquainted with philosophy, wanted to speak out and refute these accusations, but Guy forbade him and ordered him to leave; he was very angry and clearly intended to treat the ambassadors cruelly. 5. Philo came out, showered with insults, and advised the Jews who were with him to take courage: Gaius, angry with them, is preparing God’s punishment for himself 339.” 6. This is what Joseph says. And Philo himself, in the book he entitled “Embassy” 340, describes in detail and carefully everything that happened to him then. I am skipping most of his story and will cite only what readers can clearly see that everything that soon happened to the Jews, both then and after, befell them for their crime against Christ 341. 7. Philo tells 342 first that in the time of Tiberius a certain Sejanus 343, the most powerful man among those surrounding the emperor, made every effort to exterminate their entire tribe 344 in Rome. In Judea, Pilate (under whom the crime against the Savior was committed) tried to do something prohibited for the Jews in the church - it was then still standing in its place - and caused great unrest among them. 1. After the death of Tiberius, Gaius gained power; he mocked many people in different ways, 345 but inflicted the most serious insult on the Jewish tribe. You can briefly learn about this from Philo, who writes verbatim like this: 2. “There was something uneven and strange in Guy’s attitude towards everyone, especially towards the Jewish family. He hated Jews fiercely; declared houses of worship in all cities, starting with Alexandria, his property, filled them with statues and images of himself (he allowed others to erect them, but he erected them himself with violence). The church in the holy city, which remained inviolable and enjoyed all the rights of refuge, he remade in his own way and turned into his own, personal sanctuary, which was called the church of Zeus the Newly Revealed - Gaius 346. 3. The same writer, in the second book of his work entitled “On the Virtues,” talks about countless grave, indescribable disasters that befell the Alexandrian Jews under the same Gaius. Joseph echoes him, noting that misfortunes have befallen the entire people since the time of Pilate, when the crime was committed against our Savior. 4. Listen to his verbatim story in Book 2 of The Jewish War. “Pilate, whom Tiberius appointed as procurator of Judea, brought images of Caesar wrapped in linen into Jerusalem at night; they are called banners. In the morning great confusion began among the Jews; coming closer, they were horrified by what they saw: their laws, which did not allow any images to be erected in the city, had been violated” 347 . 5. Comparing this story with the Gospel, you will see how quickly the cry they burst out before Pilate turned against them: they have no king except Caesar 348. 6. Then the same writer tells about another misfortune that befell them. “After this, Pilate caused a new disturbance by taking the sacred treasury (it is called the “corvan”) for the construction of a water supply system (the water was 300 stadia away 349). The Jews were indignant and, when Pilate arrived in Jerusalem, surrounded him with shouts 350. 7. Pilate foresaw this outrage and placed armed soldiers in the crowd, dressed in ordinary clothes; He forbade the use of swords and ordered, at a sign that he would give from his seat, to beat those who screamed with sticks. Many of those beaten died from blows, many were trampled by their own people in flight. The crowd, frightened by the fate of the dead, fell silent 351.” 4. He also reports 352 about many unrest and upheavals in Jerusalem itself; according to him, from that time on, both the city and all of Judea knew no peace: uprisings, wars, atrocities continuously followed one after another, and finally, the siege of Vespasian 353, which destroyed the city. This is how God’s judgment struck the Jews for their crime against Christ 354. It is worth noting that the same Pilate, who lived at the time of the Savior, fell, according to legend, under Emperor Gaius into such troubles that he was forced to commit suicide and punish himself with his own hand: God’s judgment, apparently, was not slow to overtake him. This is told by Greek writers 355 who celebrated the Olympiads 356 and the events that took place during each of them. 1. After Gaius, who reigned for less than four years 357, Claudius 358 became emperor. Under him, the entire earth suffered from famine (writers who were far from our teachings also spoke about this 359). The prediction of the prophet Agave mentioned in Acts about the famine that would be throughout the entire earth 360 was fulfilled. 2. Luke, reporting in Acts about the famine under Claudius, says that the brothers in Antioch sent whatever they could through Paul and Barnabas to the brothers in Judea, and adds: 1. “At the same time (it is clear that under Claudius) King Herod 361 raised his hand against some members of the Church and killed James, the brother of John, with the sword” 362. Clement, in the 7th book of his Essays, gives a story about this Jacob, worthy of memorization and transmitted to him by his predecessors. He relates that the man who brought him to trial, seeing him testify to his faith, was shocked and declared that he was also a Christian. 3. “And so they took them both to execution, and on the way he decided to ask Jacob for forgiveness. The latter, after thinking a little, said: “Peace be with you” and kissed him. Both were beheaded at the same time.” 4. Then, as the Holy Scripture says, Herod, seeing that the execution of Jacob was pleasing to the Jews, took Peter and put him in prison; he would soon have been killed if not for the appearance of the Lord: at night an angel appeared to Peter and miraculously freed him from his shackles; he was released to serve as a preacher 363. This is God's Providence regarding Peter. 1. The king’s malicious intentions against the apostles led to immediate consequences: he was immediately persecuted by the punishing executor of God’s judgment. Immediately after his intrigues against the apostles, Herod, according to the Acts, went to Caesarea; on the solemn day of the holiday, dressed in sparkling royal clothes, he addressed the people from the height of his throne; all the people greeted this speech as if it were spoken by God and not by man, and suddenly, says Scripture, an angel of the Lord struck him, and he died, eaten by worms 364. 2. What is surprising in the narration of this miracle is the coincidence between Holy Scripture and the story of Joseph. It is clear that it testifies to what really happened. In the 19th book of Antiquities, he talks about this miracle in these words. 3. “The third year of his 365 reign over all Judea was completed, and he arrived in the city of Caesarea, formerly called Straton's Tower 366. He arranged games there in honor of Caesar, knowing that this was a celebration of his health and prosperity; Many provincial officials and people of high rank gathered for it. 4. On the second day of the celebration, at dawn, he came to the theater in a cloak that seemed to be made entirely of silver - this fabric was amazing. When the first rays of the sun fell on the cloak, the silver sparkled marvelously, casting a terrible, frightening reflection on those who looked on. 5. Immediately the flatterers, each in their own way, turned to him with speeches that were not said well, greeted him as a god and asked him: “Be merciful to us; Until now we feared you as a man, but now we recognize that you are higher than mortal.” 6. The king did not reproach them and did not reject this wicked flattery. A little later he looked up and saw an angel sitting above his head. He immediately thought that this angel had brought him evil, as he had previously brought him good, and began to grieve to the depths of his heart. 7. Abdominal pain appeared, which immediately became severe. He looked at his friends: “I am your god, but I was ordered to give up my life; fate exposed your false cries. You called me immortal, but here I am being led to death. We must accept what is destined by the will of God. However, I did not live a gray life at all; My happiness lasted a long time!” So he spoke and was completely exhausted by the growing suffering. 8. He was hastily transferred to the royal palace, and rumors spread everywhere that the king was dying. The people, not excluding wives and children, sitting, according to ancient custom, on sacks, began to pray to God for the king; Lamentations and crying were heard everywhere. The king, lying in the bedroom above, looked down at the people lying prone and could not stop himself from crying. 9 . After five days of excruciating abdominal pain, he died at the age of 54, in the seventh year of his reign 367. For four years he reigned under Caesar Gaius, for three years he ruled the tetrarchy of Philip, in the fourth year he also received Herod’s; reigned for three years under Caesar Claudius" 368. 10. I am surprised at the coincidence of this story in Joseph and in Holy Scripture: it is true. If some think that there is a discrepancy in the name of the king, 369 then both deeds and days point to the same person. Perhaps the scribe made a mistake and changed his name, or perhaps the same person bore two names, as happens with many. 1. Luke in Acts 370 reports that Gamaliel 371, during a conference about the apostles, spoke about Theudas, who, at the time we are describing, raised an uprising, declaring that he was something great. He was killed, and all those who believed in him were scattered. We will give Joseph's story about him. In the essay just mentioned, he says word for word like this: 2. “When Fad was procurator in Judea 372, a certain sorcerer appeared, named Theudas. He persuaded a huge crowd 373 to take their belongings and follow him to the Jordan River, saying that he was a prophet, that he would command the river to part and allow it to be easily crossed. He deceived many with his speeches. 3. Fade, however, did not allow himself to reap the fruits of this madness. He sent a detachment of cavalry, which attacked them by surprise; killed many, took many alive. Fevda was caught, his head was cut off and he was sent to Jerusalem.” Following this, he recalls the famine that happened under Claudius: 1. “At this time there was a great famine in Judea, and Queen Helen 374 bought grain 376 in Egypt for a lot of money and distributed it to the needy” 377. 2. You will see that this too is consistent with the Acts of the Apostles, which tells 378 how the disciples in Antioch decreed that everyone, according to his means, should send to those living in Judea. This they did, sending relief to the elders through Barnabas and Paul. 3. Beautiful stelae of Helen, mentioned by Joseph, are still shown on the outskirts of what is now Aelia 379 . She is said to have been the queen of the Adiavins 380 . 1. Faith in our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ was already spreading everywhere when the enemy of human salvation, planning to capture the royal city 381, brought there the aforementioned Simon 382; helping him in his skillful, magical tricks, he led many of the inhabitants of Rome astray. 2. Justin 383 speaks about this, who lived shortly after the apostles, a man who distinguished himself in our teaching. I will tell you what is needed about him in a timely manner. In the First Apology addressed to Antoninus 385 in defense of our faith, he writes like this 386: 3. “After the Ascension of the Lord into heaven, demons prompted some people to declare themselves gods, and you not only did not persecute them, but honored them. A certain Simon, a Samaritan from the village of Gitto, who under Caesar Claudius, with the help of the demons operating within him, performed the wonders of his magical art in Rome, your royal city, was recognized as a god and honored by you as a god with a statue on the Tiber River between two bridges; on it there is a Latin inscription: “Simoni deo sancto”, i.e. “To Simon, holy God” 387. 4. Almost all the Samaritans and some of the foreigners confess him as the first god and worship him. They called a certain Elena 388, who at that time traveled everywhere with him, and who previously lived in an indecent house in Tire Phoenician 389, his first thought” 390. 5. This is what Justin says. Irenaeus agrees with him 391 , who in the 1st book of his essay “Against Heresies” characterizes both this man and his blasphemous, vile teaching 392 . It is unnecessary to consider it now; Those who wish can familiarize themselves in detail with the heresiarchs who came after Simon: with the beginning of their activities, their lives, their false teachings, with all their activities - all this is reported in the aforementioned very thorough book of Irenaeus 393. 6. We learned from it 394 that Simon was the first instigator of all heresies. Beginning with him and until now, the followers of his heresy pretend to adhere to Christian philosophy - reasonable and everywhere glorified for the purity of life, but immediately find themselves in the grip of idolatrous superstition, from which they seemed to have moved away: they bow to the books and images of Simon himself and his companion Helen, who was mentioned, and celebrate their service with incense, sacrifices and libations. 7. As for their mysteries, they say that whoever first hears about them is horrified and, according to one of their writings, becomes numb. They can really make you numb; they are full of fury and madness; this is something that not only cannot be written about, but sane people cannot even talk about it - there is so much vile stuff there that cannot be said about 395 . 8. Their disgusting heresy surpassed everything filthy and vile imaginable. They mock unfortunate women who are really drowning in all sorts of sins 396. 1. This Simon, the father and creator of such evil, was set up by an evil force, hostile to good, hating the salvation of people, as the great adversary of the great and wondrous apostles of our Savior. 2. Divine and heavenly grace helped, however, its servants, quickly extinguishing the flaring flame of evil upon their appearance and in their presence, suppressing and destroying all exaltation that rebels against the knowledge of God 397. 3. Therefore, the tricks of Simon or any of his contemporaries in the times of the apostles could not resist. Everything was conquered and mastered by the Light of truth - the Divine Word itself, which recently wonderfully shone upon people, strengthened itself on the earth, and dwelt in its apostles. 4. Immediately the sorcerer we are talking about - his mental eyes were as if struck by the Divine light that miraculously shone even earlier in Judea, when the Apostle Peter exposed all his vileness 398 - set off on a long overseas journey; fled from east to west, thinking that only there he could live in his own way. 5. In Rome, he received the greatest help from the authorities established there 399, and in a short time he was so successful in his affairs that he was honored by the local residents with a statue, like a god. But his luck did not last long. 6. Immediately after him, during the same reign of Claudius, the all-good and philanthropic Providence brought to Rome 400 the same fighter against this corrupter of people - the courageous and great Apostle Peter, for his courage called the first among the other apostles. He, as a noble leader of God, clothed in Divine armor, brought from the east to the inhabitants of the west the precious treasure of spiritual light, the very light and the word that saves the soul - the sermon about the Kingdom of Heaven. 1. So, the word of God found refuge in Rome 401; Simon's influence waned and disappeared immediately with him 402. The light of faith so illuminated the minds of Peter's listeners that they did not consider it sufficient to hear only an oral sermon and become familiar with it once by ear. They in every possible way persuaded and convinced Mark 403, whose Gospel we have - and he was Peter's companion - so that he left for them a record of the teaching transmitted to them orally; they did not leave him alone until they forced him; they are the reason for the writing of that Gospel, which is called the “Gospel of Mark.” 2. As they say, the apostle, having learned by the revelation of the Spirit what had happened, rejoiced at the people’s zeal and allowed this Gospel to be read in the churches. Clement gives this story in the 6th book of his Essays 404. The testimony of Bishop Papias of Hierapolis agrees with him 405. Peter mentions Mark in the First Epistle, which he is said to have composed in Rome itself; He metaphorically calls this city “Babylon” 406, saying: “The chosen church in Babylon greets you, as well as Mark my son” 407. 1. They say that this same Mark was the first to be sent to Egypt, preached there the Gospel he had written, and founded churches in Alexandria itself 408. 3. His preaching immediately attracted so many believing men and women who diligently practiced wisdom that Philo decided to write about their activities, meetings, common meals and, in general, about their entire way of life. 1. There is a rumor that Philo, under Claudius, communicated in Rome with Peter, who was then preaching to the local population. This is very likely, especially since the work we are talking about was written much later and clearly contains church rules that are still observed in our country. 2. He describes the life of our ascetics extremely accurately; it is clear that he not only knew, but also honored the apostolic men, his contemporaries, and was in awe of them; they were apparently Jewish and therefore observed most of the ancient Jewish customs. 3. In his essay, which he entitled “On the Contemplative Life, or On the Prayer Books” 409, Philo assures that he does not intend to tell anything other than the truth, nor to add anything of his own 410. He says that they are called "therapists" and the women who live with them are called "therapreads" 411 . This name 412 is given either for the reason that they, like doctors, treat and heal souls who come to them from suffering caused by vice, or because they honor God and serve Him in perfect purity 413 . 4. Whether he himself gave them this name, naturally coordinating it with the way of life of these people, or whether they themselves initially really called themselves that - the name of Christians had not yet been heard everywhere - there is no need to dwell on this. 5. It, firstly, testifies to their refusal of property: entering the field of wisdom, they give their fortune to relatives 414, and then, putting aside all everyday worries, go outside the city walls and live in gardens and secluded places, for they know well that acquaintances with people unlike them are useless and harmful 415. Those who lived at this time and thus naturally exercised themselves with sincere and ardent faith in imitating the life of the prophets. 6. And in the Acts of the Apostles, accepted by the Church, it is told 416 that all the apostolic disciples sold their property and divided what they received among everyone, depending on the need of each 417, so that there was no needy person among them. Those who had lands or houses sold them and, according to Scripture, having brought the price of what was sold, they laid it at the feet of the apostles, so that each was given according to his need 418 . 7. Having talked about similar things with therapists, Philo continues: “These people live in many places. It was necessary for both Hellas and the barbarians to become involved in the perfect good. Most of them, however, are in Egypt, in each of the so-called nomes 419, and especially in the vicinity of Alexandria. 8. And so, the best of the therapists gather from everywhere, as if to their homeland, to the most suitable place for them, located beyond Lake Mareotis 420: low hills, favorable in their safety, with healthy air” 421. 9 . Further, having described what kind of dwellings they have, Philo speaks of their local churches: “In every house there is a sacred room, which is called a sanctuary, or “monastery.” There, in solitude, they perform the sacraments that celebrate a pious life; there they do not bring in drink, or food, or in general anything necessary for bodily needs, but the Scriptures of the law and the prophets, hymns and other books, thanks to which faith is multiplied and perfected” 422. 10. “The period from dawn to evening is a time only for spiritual achievements. Reading the Holy Scripture, they talk about the wisdom of their ancestors and explain their allegories: in their opinion, words are only designations of the hidden and intelligible. 11. They have the writings of ancient men, the founders of their sect, who left many allegorical records about their teaching. Here they find models that they imitate in their lives” 423. 12. It seems that all this was said by a person who was listening to the explanation of the Holy Scriptures. Probably the books of the ancient men that they say they have are the Gospels, the apostolic writings and commentaries on the ancient prophets, such as are found in the Epistle to the Hebrews and in many other Epistles of Paul. 13. Then Philo writes about them composing new psalms: “They are not only occupied with contemplation, but also compose songs and hymns, praising God; They use different sizes and melodies, but, of course, solemn ones” 424. 14. Philo gives many other details about the therapists in the same book, but it seemed necessary to me to select what mainly determines their church life. 15. If it seems to someone that everything that has been said characterizes not only life according to the Gospel, but also applies to other people besides those about whom we are now talking, then let him be convinced by the following words of Philo: if he thinks sensibly, they will be an immutable testimony to him. He writes like this: 16. “Having first laid abstinence in the soul as a kind of foundation, they build other virtues on it. None of them will touch either food or drink before sunset: in their judgment, reflection is worthy of light, twilight corresponds to bodily needs. Therefore, they devote the whole day to the former, and a small part of the night to the latter. 17. Some, especially those thirsty for knowledge, will not remember food even after three days; others rejoice and enjoy so much at the rich feast of wisdom, which generously teaches them, that they fast twice as long and barely after six days they eat something, if necessary - this has become a habit for them” 425. We think that Philo’s words, clear and irrefutable, apply to our ascetics. If anyone becomes stubborn in disagreement due to hardness of heart, let him leave doubt: let the clearest evidence convince him, which cannot be found anywhere except the Christian faith according to the Gospel. 19. He says that with the men in question there are also women, most of whom have grown old as virgins: they observe chastity not forcedly, like some priestesses in Hellas, but of their own free will, out of a passionate zeal for wisdom; diligently striving to merge with her, they place bodily pleasures at nothing; they want to have descendants not mortals, but immortals, whom only a God-loving soul gives birth to 426. 20. He puts it more clearly below: “They interpret Holy Scripture allegorically. The whole law appears to these people as something similar to a living being: the words arranged in order are the body, and the soul is the invisible thought hidden under the words; “This sect mainly strives to penetrate into it in order to see in the mirror of words the beauty of thoughts reflected in them, which surpasses everything” 427. 21. Is it worth talking about their meetings in the same place, about what especially men and especially women do; about their usual deeds that we still perform today: fasting, especially during the days of the Savior’s Passion, all-night vigils, and attentive reading of the word of God. 22. The mentioned writer very accurately reports these customs in his work; they are observed to this day only in our country: the all-night vigil before the great holiday, the feats associated with this 428, the hymns familiar to us, when one sings in a euphonious rhythm, the rest listen and pick up only the last words of the hymn 429; these days they sleep on the ground, spreading straw; they don’t take either wine or meat into their mouths, as he himself says; They have only water to drink, seasoning for bread is salt and hyssop 430. 23. In addition, Philo writes about the hierarchy of those serving the liturgy - about the duties of deacons, about the primacy of the bishop, who is above all 431. Anyone who wants to get acquainted with all this exactly can learn about everything from the narration of the mentioned writer. 24. What Philo wrote with reference to the first proclaimers of the gospel teaching and the customs originally transmitted by the apostles is clear to everyone. 1. Rich in words, broad in his reasoning, sublime in the contemplation of Holy Scripture, Philo gave various and varied interpretations of it. Having first traced in the work entitled “Allegories of the Holy Laws” 432 the sequential connection of events in the book of Genesis, he then poses puzzling questions in separate chapters and resolves them; He entitled this book: “Puzzling questions and their solution in the books of Genesis and Exodus” 433. 2. He also has special works devoted to various issues: “On Agriculture” 434 - two books; “On Drunkenness” 435 – the same number of books; there are others under various corresponding titles: “What the sound mind desires and what it turns away from”, “On the confusion of languages” 436, “On flight and finding” 437, “On meetings for the sake of education” 438, “Who is the heir of the Divine, or On the division into equal and opposite parts” 439, “On the three virtues that, together with others, he described Moses"; in addition, “On the change of names and the reasons for this” 440 - in this work, according to him, it is written about the first and second Testaments. 4. There is his book “On the migration and life of a wise man in truth, or On unwritten laws” 441, as well as “On giants, or on the immutability of the Divine” 442, “On the fact that dreams, according to Moses, are sent by God” 443. This is what has come down to us and concerns the book of Genesis. 5. For the book of Exodus we know: “Puzzling questions and their solutions” - books 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; “On the Tabernacle”, “On the Ten Commandments” 444, “On the Laws Relating to the Main Thing in the Ten Commandments” 445 – books 1, 2, 3 and 4; “On sacrificial animals and types of victims”, “On the rewards promised by the good law, and on the punishments and curses of the evil.” 6. In addition, they talk about his writings in one book, such as: “On Providence” 446; he composed an argument “On the Jews”, “Politician”, and also “Alexander, or On the fact that all dumb animals have reason” 447; “The great sinner is a slave” and, as a continuation, “Every virtuous person is free” 448. 7. After these works, he compiled: “On the contemplative life, or On prayer books” - following it, we outlined what concerns the life of the apostolic men; “The Explanation of Hebrew Names in the Law and the Prophets” is also considered his work. 8. Philo arrived in Rome under Gaius and mockingly entitled his essay on the hatred of God by this emperor “On the Virtues” 449. They say that under Claudius he read it to the entire Roman Senate, and Philo’s books were awarded space in libraries. 9 . At the same time, when Paul completed his journey from Jerusalem to Illyricum 450, Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome 451, Aquila and Priscilla 452, having left Rome with other Jews, landed in Asia 453 and lived with the Apostle Paul, who strengthened the newly founded Churches there. The holy book of Acts tells us about this. 1. Claudius was still ruling the state when such an uprising and such a rebellion 454 took place in Jerusalem on the Easter holiday that of the Jews who forced their way out of the church, thirty thousand died 455 by being trampled. The holiday turned into grief for the entire people and tears for every home. This is what Joseph says word for word. 2. Claudius made Agrippa, the son of Agrippa, 456 king of the Jews, and appointed Felix 457 procurator of all Samaria, Galilee and the so-called Perea 458. He ruled the state for thirteen years and eight months 459 and died 460, leaving Nero as his successor 461. 1. Under Nero, when Felix was procurator of Judea, discord began between the priests, as Josephus writes verbatim in the 20th book of Antiquities. 2. “The chief priests rebelled against the priests and the first people among the people of Jerusalem. Each of them gathered around himself daring people who longed for a revolution, and led them; Having collided, they showered each other with abuse and stones. There was not a single person who would put an end to it; arbitrariness reigned as if in a city deprived of power 3. The shamelessness and insolence of the high priests reached the point that they boldly sent slaves to the threshing floor to take away the tithes that belonged to the priests. It happened to see impoverished priests who were dying of hunger - so much did the violence of the rebels overcome all justice” 462. 4. The same writer tells 463 that at this time a special type of robbers 464 appeared in Jerusalem, who, according to him, killed people they met in broad daylight and in the center of the city. 5. Especially on holidays, they intervened in the crowd and, hiding short swords under their clothes, pierced with them those who were not at one with them. When the victims fell, the killers joined the indignant crowd, their venerable appearance making them elusive. First they killed the high priest Jonathan, 465 and after him they killed many every day. Worse than these disasters was fear: everyone, as if in war, was constantly expecting death. 1. Joseph then adds: “The Egyptian false prophet struck the Jews with an even greater blow. A certain sorcerer arrived in the country; Having instilled faith in himself as a prophet, he gathered about thirty thousand deceived people and led them from the desert to the so-called Mount of Olives 466. From there he could seize Jerusalem by force 467 and, having destroyed the Roman garrison, self-proclaimed rule over the people with the help of his soldiers. 2. Felix forestalled this attack by marching out to meet the Roman infantry. The whole people came to their defense. A battle took place, the Egyptian fled with a few, most of his accomplices were killed or captured." 468 3. This is what Joseph says in Book 2 of The Jewish War. It is worth adding to this story about the Egyptian the story in the Acts of the Apostles. The tribune 469, who was with Felix in Jerusalem, when the Jerusalem crowd 470 rose up against Paul, says to him: “Are you not the Egyptian who just recently outraged the people and led four thousand Sicarii 471 into the desert?” 472 Such events occurred under Felix. 1. Nero sent Festus to replace him 473; before him Paul delivered his defensive speech 474 and was sent in chains to Rome. With him was Aristarchus 475, whom he rightly calls “prisoner” 476 in one of his Epistles. And Luke, who wrote the Acts of the Apostles, concludes his story with the message that Paul spent two whole years in Rome in freedom, preaching the word of God without hindrance 477 . 2. Then, having been justified before the trial, the apostle, they say, left for his work of preaching and, coming to Rome a second time, ended his life with martyrdom 478. While in prison, he composed the Second Epistle to Timothy 479, where he speaks of both his first defense and his imminent death. 3. Listen to his own testimony: “At my first defense, no one was with me: everyone left me (let them not count it), but the Lord was with me and gave me strength so that my preaching was completed in full and all nations heard it, and I was delivered from the lion’s mouth” 480. 4. With these words, he clearly establishes that for the first time he got rid of the lion's mouth (the apostle, apparently, calls Nero this way because of his cruelty 481), so that his sermon could be fully completed. After all, he doesn’t add anything further like: “delivered me from the lion’s mouth”; he saw in his spirit that his death was close, which is why he adds to the words “he was delivered from the lion’s mouth”: “The Lord will deliver me from all evil and save me in His Kingdom of Heaven 482,” indicating imminent martyrdom. He predicts it even more clearly in the same Epistle, saying: “I have already been offered as a sacrifice, and the time of my departure has come” 483. 6. He says that when he wrote the Second Epistle to Timothy, only Luke 484 was with him, and at the first defense even he was not there. Luke probably completed Acts while he was with Paul 485 . 7. Let us note that Paul’s martyrdom did not occur during his stay in Rome, which Luke writes about. 8. Probably at the beginning of his reign Nero was more meek and listened calmly to Paul's defense of the faith; when he reached the point of daring and lawless acts, he laid his hand both on others and on the apostle. 1. When Paul demanded Caesar's judgment and Festus sent him to Rome, the Jews, having lost hope of fulfilling their plans against him, turned against James, the brother of the Lord, whom the apostles elevated to the episcopal throne in Jerusalem. 2. This is what they dared to do against him: bringing him to their meeting, they demanded that he renounce his faith in Christ before all the people. He, contrary to general expectation, made a bold and free speech in front of the entire crowd - they did not expect such a thing - confessing that our Savior and Master Jesus is the Son of God. They could not bear the testimony of this man, whom everyone considered righteous for his perfect life, wise and pious; they killed him, taking advantage of the anarchy: Festus died in Judea at this very time 486, there was anarchy and disorder in the country 487. 3. There is information about how Jacob died in the story of Clement that we cited: he was thrown from the wing of the church and beaten to death with a rolling pin. Egesippus 488, who belonged to the first post-apostolic generation, speaks most accurately about what concerns James; in the 6th book of his Notes he says this: 4. “The Lord's brother James received control of the Church 489 together with the apostles. Everyone - from the time of the Lord to this day - calls him “Righteous”: after all, many bore the name of Jacob. He was holy from his mother's womb; 5. did not drink wine or beer 490, did not eat meat; the razor did not touch his head 491, he did not anoint himself with oil and did not go to the bathhouse. 6. He alone was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies; He wore not woolen clothes, but linen 492. He entered the church alone, and was found on his knees and praying for the forgiveness of all the people; his knees became calloused, like those of a camel, because he always prayed on his knees and asked for forgiveness from the people. 7. For his great righteousness he was nicknamed "Righteous" and "Ovliy"; this word means in translation “fence of the people” and “righteousness”; That's what the prophets said about him. 8. Some of the seven sects that existed among the people and were mentioned above in the Notes 493 asked James: what is the “door of Jesus”? And he answered them that Jesus is the Savior. 9 . Some of them believed that Jesus is the Christ. And the above-mentioned sects did not believe either in the Resurrection of Christ, or in the fact that He would come to reward everyone according to their deeds; whoever believed owes it to Jacob. 10. Since many, even from the authorities, believed, the Jews were in confusion: the scribes and Pharisees began to say that perhaps the whole people would expect this in Jesus Christ. They all went together to Jacob and said to him: “We ask you, restrain the people: they are mistaken in thinking that Jesus is the Christ. We ask you: give understanding to everyone who comes on Easter Day regarding Jesus; We all trust you. We and all the people testify about you that you are righteous and do not respect persons 494. Convince the crowd: let them not be mistaken about Jesus, 11. and all the people, and all of us, will listen to you. Stand on the wing of the church so that you can be seen and your words can be heard well by all the people. After all, all the tribes gather for Easter, and with them the pagans.” 12. The mentioned scribes and Pharisees placed Jacob on the wing of the church and shouted: “Righteous! We all have to trust you. The people are in error about Jesus crucified; tell us what this “door of Jesus” is. And he answered with a loud voice: “Why are you asking me about the Son of Man? He sits in heaven at the right hand of the Great Power and will come on the clouds of heaven” 495. 14. Many were fully convinced and glorified the testimony of Jacob, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David.” Then the scribes and Pharisees began to say to each other: “We have done a bad thing by allowing such testimony to be given about Jesus. Let us rise up and throw him down, so that they will be afraid and not believe him.” 15. And they shouted: “Oh! And the righteous is in error!” They fulfilled what was written in Isaiah: “Let us remove the righteous, he is harmful to us; they will taste the fruits of their deeds" 496. They rose up and threw down the righteous man. 16. And they said to each other: “Let us stone Jacob the Righteous,” and they began to throw stones at him, because, thrown down, he did not die, but turned around and knelt down, saying: “Lord God, Father! I pray to You, let them go, for they don’t know what they are doing.”497 17. While they were throwing stones at him in this way, one of the priests and sons of Rechab the son of Rechabim 498 , about whom the prophet Jeremiah testified, shouted: “Stop! What are you doing? The righteous man is praying for you!” 18. One of them, some cloth worker, hit the righteous man on the head with a rolling pin used in his business. Jacob died a martyr. He was buried in the same place near the church; This stele is still near the church. He testified truthfully to both Jews and Greeks that Jesus is the Christ. Soon Vespasian besieged them" 499. 19. Here is the story of Hegesippus, lengthy and in agreement with Clement. Jacob was such an amazing man, and his righteousness was so well known to everyone that reasonable people among the Jews considered the daring crime committed against him to be the reason for the siege of Jerusalem that followed immediately after his martyrdom. 20. Joseph did not hesitate to testify to this in writing; Here are his actual words: “This happened to the Jews as punishment for James the Righteous, the brother of Jesus, who is called Christ, for the Jews killed him, a most righteous man” 500. 21. He talks about his death like this in the 20th book of his Antiquities: “Caesar, having learned about the death of Festus, sent Albinus as procurator of Judea 501. Ananus the Younger 502, about whom we said 503 that he received the high priesthood, a brave man and distinguished by his insolence, belonged to the sect of the Sadducees 504, whose judgment, as we have shown 505, is even more cruel than any Jewish court. 22. Ananus - such a person was he - considered the time convenient for himself: Festus died, Albinus was still on the way, convened the Sanhedrin 506, presented to him the brother of Jesus, called Christ, by the name of James, and some others accused by him of breaking the law; It was decided to stone them. 23. Among the townspeople, people who were more moderate and better informed about the Law took this verdict seriously and secretly sent envoys to the emperor, asking him to prohibit Anan from such actions and tell him that he had acted wrongly at the beginning. Some came out to meet Albinus, who was heading from Alexandria, and explained to him that Ananus was not allowed to convene the Sanhedrin without the permission of the procurator 507. 24. Albin, convinced by their words, wrote an angry letter to Anan, threatening him with prison; King Agrippa deprived him of the high priesthood, which he had worn for three months, and installed Jesus, the son of Damean, in his place.”508 This is what concerns James, to whom the first of the so-called Council Epistles 509 belongs. 25. You should know, however, that it is false 510 - few of the ancients mention it, also the so-called Judah 511 - one of the seven called Conciliar 512. We know, however, that they, along with others, are publicly read in many Churches. In the eighth year of the reign of Nero, 513, Annianus 514, the first after the Evangelist Mark, received control of the Alexandria diocese. 1. When Nero's power strengthened, he rushed to wicked deeds and rose to faith in God Almighty. It is not our present task to write about all the abominations of which he was capable, 2. and many have left very detailed stories about him 515; anyone who is curious can become familiar with the rudeness and madness of this absurd man, who recklessly destroyed countless people, who, due to his bloodthirstiness, did not spare either relatives or friends 516: he killed his mother 517, brothers 518 and wife 519, as if his worst enemies, putting them to various deaths 520. 3. He lacked one thing: to become the first emperor to persecute faith in God 521. 4. The Roman Tertullian recalls it this way: “Take the records of your past: you will find that Nero was the first who began to persecute our teaching, when, having conquered the entire east, he began to be especially rampant in Rome. We boast of such an initiator of persecution, for who, knowing him, would not think that Nero would not have condemned Christianity if it had not been the greatest good” 522. 5. So, this first God-fighter among the rulers proudly raised his hand against the apostles 523. They say that Paul was beheaded in Rome itself, and Peter was crucified 524; this story is confirmed by the names of Peter and Paul, surviving in the cemeteries of this city. 6. This is also stated by a cleric named Gaius 525, who lived under the Roman Bishop Zephyrinus 526. In a written objection to Proclus 527, the head of the Cataphrigian sect 528, he spoke thus about the places where the sacred remains of the mentioned apostles were laid: 7. “I can show you the victory trophy of the 529 apostles. If you go to the Vatican 530 or along the Via Ostia 531, you will find the trophy of those who founded this Church." 8. That both (apostles) died as martyrs at the same time is confirmed by Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth 532, in his letter to the Romans. “In your message you combined the nurseries planted by Peter and Paul in Rome and Corinth. Both planted among us in Corinth 533, teaching us in the same way; they taught in the same way together in Italy and died as martyrs at the same time.” This is to further confirm my story. 1. Josephus gives many details about the disasters 534 that befell the Jewish people. By the way, he says that Florus 535 flogged many people respected in Jerusalem, and then crucified them 536. He was procurator of Judea when war broke out in the twelfth year of the reign of Nero. 2. He says that after the Jewish uprising, confusion swept through all of Syria 538: everywhere the people of this tribe were mercilessly 539, like enemies, beaten by the population of every city 540; in the cities one could see piles of unburied bodies, corpses of old people and children thrown together, corpses of women completely uncovered. Every district is full of untold disasters; the future threatened more than daily atrocities 541. Here is Joseph's story verbatim. This is what they did to the Jews. We are talking about the appointment of the first deacons - officials of the Christian community in charge of charitable activities. Stefan, Philip, Prokhor, Nikanor, Timon, Parmen, Nicholas of Antioch. Stephen - one of the seven deacons of the first Jerusalem community; originally from Corinth; first Christian martyr. Accused of blasphemy, he made a famous apologetic speech before the Sanhedrin, after which he was taken by the Jews outside the walls of Jerusalem and stoned. The story of Stephen is described in Leia." Ch. 6–7. Στέφανος (Greek) – wreath, crown. Peter (“stone”, “rock”) is a nickname given by Jesus Christ to Simon, the son of Jonah and brother of the Apostle Andrew. Simon was from Bethsaida. Being a fisherman, he lived at the time of his calling as the Savior in Capernaum. During the ministry of Jesus Christ, he played the most prominent role among the apostles. After the crucifixion of the Savior and before the Apostolic Council, apparently, he headed the Jerusalem community, and then turned to missionary activity. According to legend, he suffered martyrdom in Rome under Emperor Nero. This refers to James the Elder, the son of Zebedee and, possibly, Salome, the sister of Jesus' mother Mary, the elder brother of John the Theologian. Before his conversion, he fished with his father and brother on Lake Gennesaret. He was one of the two apostles whom the Savior called first. Together with Simon Peter and John, he enjoyed the special trust of Jesus. He became the first martyr among the apostles - in 43/44 he was beheaded by order of Herod Agrippa I. John the Theologian is the younger brother of the previous one, the son of Zebedee. Tradition considers him a favorite disciple of Jesus, the author of the Gospel of John and the Apocalypse (Revelation). According to legend, he was sentenced by Emperor Domitian to a painful death, but miraculously escaped it and was exiled to Fr. Patmos; when he turned 99 years old, according to Asia Minor legend, he ascended to heaven. As the Gospels show, Simon Peter, James the Elder and John formed the group of apostles closest to Christ. Only they were allowed to be present at the resurrection of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37), only they witnessed the Transfiguration of the Savior (Matthew 17:1), only them Jesus took with Him to the Mount of Olives (Mark 14:33). Paul is the famous “apostle of the Gentiles” (“apostle of the tongues”); came from the tribe of Benjamin; born in Tarsus; disciple of Rabbi Gamaliel; was a zealous Pharisee and took part in the first persecution of Christians. After the miraculous appearance of Jesus to him, he converted to Christianity and became a preacher of the faith among the pagans. He made several missionary trips to Syria, Asia Minor and the Balkan Peninsula. OK. 58 was captured in Jerusalem and brought to Rome for trial. During the persecution under Nero in mid. 60s I century suffered martyrdom (beheaded). Paul is credited with the authorship of fourteen New Testament epistles. The main source of information about Paul and his missionary work is the Acts of the Apostles and the apocryphal Acts of Paul. This refers to Abgar V, the ruler of the Edessa state, which was located on the territory of the North Mesopotamian region of Osroene. A brief repetition of the story told in the First Book (I. 13). In the early Byzantine era, there was a legend about the Savior’s prediction that Edessa would never submit to its enemies. The text of this prophecy was engraved on the city gates. See: Pros. VR. II. 12.26; Evag. IV. 27. Acts 8:1. Samaria is a region in central Palestine between Galilee in the north and Judea in the south. Before the fall in 722 BC. e. The northern kingdom of Israel is the habitat of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. In the subsequent period, it was inhabited by Samaritans - descendants of Jews and colonists from Assyria who survived the Assyrian invasion. Samaria was part of the Kingdom of Judah until 6 AD. e. At the time described, it was part of the Roman province of Syria. Phenicia (“purple country”) is the Greek name for the region on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea between Mount Carmel in the south, Mount Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon in the east, and the region of Arad in the north. Cyprus is a large island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea; in 58 BC e. conquered by Rome. Philip – one of the seven first deacons; preached Christianity in Samaria and in the ancient land of the Philistines; later, according to legend, he became the first bishop of the Carian city of Tralla in the province of Asia; died at a very old age. Philip performed many miracles in Samaria - casting out demons and healing diseases (Acts 8:6-7). Simon Magus - a native of the village of Gitton in Samaria, who practiced magic and became very famous thanks to this; accepted Christianity, but soon came into conflict with the apostles; According to legend, he died in Rome during a competition with the Apostle Peter. Considered the first heretic and the progenitor of all subsequent heresies. See: Gassiev A. Simon the Magus and his time // Proceedings of the Kyiv Theological Academy. 1869. No. 10. P. 3–38; 1870. No. 2. P. 445–473; Karsavin L.P. Holy Fathers and Teachers of the Church (disclosure of Orthodoxy in their creations). M., 1994. S. 20–21; Beyschlag K. Simon Magus und die christliche Gnosis. Tubingen, 1974; Bockmuehl M. The Remembered Peter: In Ancient Reception and Modern Debate. Tübingen, 2010. P. 101–104; Cartlidge D. R. The Fall and Rise of Simon Magus // Bible Review. Vol. 21.2005. No. 4. P. 24–36; Ferreiro A. Simon Magus in Patristic, Medieval and Early Modern Traditions. Leiden, 2005; Theißen G. Simon Magus. Die Entwicklung seines Bildes vom Charismatiker zum gnostischen Erlöser. Ein Beitrag zur Frühgeschichte der Gnosis // Religionsgeschichte des Neuen Testaments: Festschrift für Klaus Berger zum 60. Geburtstag/Hrsg. von A. von Dobbeler. Tübingen, 2000, pp. 407–433. The Acts of the Apostles tells how Simon wanted to buy from Peter and John for money the gift of the Holy Spirit, which the apostles possessed, but was condemned by Peter (Acts 8:18–24). Ethiopia (the country of the Ethiopians - “people with burnt faces”) is the richest country south of Egypt; in the Old Testament it is called “Kush”, its northern part was called “Sava” (Sabaean Kingdom). In this case, “Ethiopia” refers to the Meroitic kingdom. The story of the conversion of the Ethiopian queen's envoy to Christianity (Acts 8:27–39), set out in the Acts of the Apostles, serves as a parallel to the Old Testament story of Solomon's visit to the Queen of Sheba, who honored the God of the people of Israel (1 Kings 10:1–13). The Acts of the Apostles calls him a eunuch and keeper of the king's treasury (Acts 8:27). According to legend, he became the first preacher of the Christian faith in Ethiopia and died a martyr's death. In the Acts of the Apostles her name is called Candace (Acts 8:27). In fact, in the Meroitic kingdom, “kandaka” is not a proper name, but the title of the king’s mother. In the Meroitic kingdom, indeed, the kandaka played a large political role, especially as a regent for her minor sons, which was associated with strong remnants of matriarchy. However, there is no reason to talk about the rule of women there, as Eusebius does, certainly being captivated by the memories of the Queen of Sheba. It is believed that the first pagan to convert to the Christian faith was a Roman centurion from Capernaum (Matthew 8:5-13). Sent from Jerusalem to Damascus with instructions to arrest local Christians, Saul was blinded by heavenly light on his way and heard the voice of the Lord, ordering him to await His commands in Damascus. When the blind Saul appeared in the city, the Christian Ananias, by order of the Almighty, laid hands on him, and he immediately received his sight; after this, Saul believed and became a preacher of the faith of Christ (Acts 9:1–22). Gal. 1.1. The Lord, in a vision of Ananias, said that Saul was “My chosen vessel, to proclaim My name before the nations and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). This information is taken from Tertullian's Apologetics (Ter. Apol. 21; 24). We are talking about a forged report from Pontius Pilate to Tiberius, which circulated in Christian circles in the second half of the 2nd century. Two editions of this message have been preserved - a short one (the final part of the “Acts of Pilate”; only available in Latin and Old Slavonic translations) and an expanded one (in Greek). Rus. Transl.: Jesus Christ in the documents of history. pp. 446–450. This report is also mentioned in the apocryphal response of Tiberius to the letter of Avgar V, quoted in the History of Armenia by Moses of Khoren (Mos. Khor. II. 33). Quintus Septimius Florence Tertullian (160 - after 220) - famous Christian thinker and writer; born in Carthage into the family of a proconsular centurion; received rhetorical, philosophical and legal education; moved to Rome, where he is believed to have acted as a judicial orator; in the mid-90s. II century returned to Carthage and converted to Christianity; at the beginning of the 3rd century. joined the Montanists, then left them and founded his own sect. Author of numerous works of apologetic, dogmatic-polemical and practical-ascetic content, of which thirty-one have survived. See: Tertuliani Opera. Vol. l-2.Turnholtum, 1953–1954. Russian translations: Quintus Septimius Florence Tertullian. Selected Works/Ed. A. A. Stolyarova. M., 1994; Tertullian. Apologetic. To Scapula/Trans. A. Yu. Bratukhina. Ed. 2nd. St. Petersburg, 2010; Tertullian. On repentance // Theological works. T. 26. 1985. pp. 224–233; Tertullian Quintus Septimius Florence. About the soul/Trans. A. Yu. Bratukhina. Ed. 2nd. St. Petersburg, 2010; Tertullian Quintus Septimius Florence. About the cloak/Trans. A. Ya. Tyzhova. St. Petersburg, 2000; Tertullian Quintus Septimius Florence. Against Marcion in five books/Trans. A. Yu. Bratukhina. St. Petersburg, 2010; Works of Quintus Septimius Florent Tertullian/Trans. N. Shcheglova and Bishop. Vasily (Bogdashevsky). Parts 1–3. Kyiv, 1910–1915; Creations of Tertullian /Trans. E. Karneeva. Parts 1–4. St. Petersburg, 1847–1850. About Tertullian, see: Mayorov G. G. Decree. op. pp. 110–127; Barnes T. D. Tertullian. A historical and literary study. Oxford, 1971; Wühlte D. E. Tertullian the African. An Anthropological Reading of Tertullian's Context and Identities. Berlin, 2007; Zilling N. M. Tertullian: Untertan Gottes und des Kaisers. Paderborn, 2004. See also: Tert. Ad nat. I. 10. Alwurn is a deity revered in Lucania and lived, according to legend, on Mount Alwurn near the Silar River (cf.: Verg. Georg. III. 146). To this deity, Marcus Aemilius Scaurus (c. 163–89 BC), consul of 115, tried to fulfill the vow he had made during the war with the Gauls to erect a church in Rome, but the Senate decided that generals could perform such actions only with his consent. Ps.18:5; Rom.10:18. Wed: Matthew 24:14. Caesarea Palestine is an ancient Phoenician city on the Mediterranean coast south of Mount Carmel on the border of Galilee and Samaria; from 6 AD e. - residence of the Roman procurators of Judea. Cornelius is a centurion of the Italian Legion stationed in Caesarea. According to the Acts of the Apostles (Acts Chapter 10), an Angel of God appeared to this man, distinguished by his piety, in a vision, who ordered him to send people to Joppa to the Apostle Peter to hear from him words of salvation; at the behest of the Holy Spirit, Peter arrived in Caesarea, taught Cornelius, his friends and relatives the Word of God and ordered them to be baptized. With the conversion of Cornelius, missionary activity of Christians among the pagans began. Antioch is the largest city in Syria on the Orontes River, founded in 300 BC. e. Seleucus I Nicator and named by him in honor of his father Antiochus; from 64 BC e. - residence of the Roman governors of Syria. According to the Acts of the Apostles, Christians who arrived there from Cyrene and Fr. began to spread the Word of God in Antioch. Cyprus; when the Jerusalem Christians learned about this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch, who, taking Paul with him from Tarsus, appeared in the city and preached the gospel to its inhabitants for a year; a little later than Barnabas, Christian prophets arrived in Antioch from Jerusalem and actively became involved in missionary work (Acts 11:20–27). Agav - early Christian prophet originally from Jerusalem; successfully preached Christianity in Antioch and in many other places. After the prediction of the prophet Agabus, the Antiochian Christians collected help for Christians living in Judea and sent it through Barnabas and Paul to Jerusalem (Acts 11:29–30). In this case we are talking about a famine that occurred at the beginning of the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius I. See below: II. 8.1. In the Roman historiographical tradition, it is widely believed that Tiberius died a violent death. According to one version, he was poisoned by a slow-acting poison, which was given to him by order of Caligula (Suet. Tib. 73; Cal. 12); according to another, he was strangled either with a pillow or with a heap of clothes on the orders of either the praetorian prefect Macron, or Caligula himself, when he woke up from a deep faint (Suet. Tib. 73; Cal. 12; Tac. Ann. VI. 50). The death of Tiberius is dated 16 March 37 (Tac. Ann. VI.50). Compare: Theoph. Ad Out. III. 27. According to the calculations of Josephus, Tiberius reigned for 22 years, 5 months and 3 days (Jos. Ant. XVIII. 6.10). In fact, his reign lasted 22 years and 6 months. Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus, nicknamed Caligula (“boot”) (12–41) - son of Germanicus, nephew of Tiberius, and Agrippina the Elder; in 35 he was declared heir to Tiberius along with the emperor’s own grandson Tiberius Gemellus (Suet. Tib. 76; Cal. 14). On March 18, 37, after the death of Tiberius and the cancellation of his will, he received, by decision of the Senate, all the powers of the princeps. Tiberius Gemellus was removed from power and soon killed. A major role in the proclamation of Caligula as emperor was played by the praetorian prefect Macron and the Roman mob who broke into the curia (Cass. Dio. LIX. 32; Suet. Cal. 14). Herod Agrippa I (10 BC - 44 AD) - grandson of Herod the Great, son of Aristobulus and Berenice. In 36 he went to Rome, where he became close to the young Caligula. His carelessly expressed wish for Caligula's speedy power became the reason for his arrest, which lasted 6 months, until the death of Tiberius. After his accession to the throne, Caligula freed Agrippa, proclaimed him king and transferred to his control the former tetrarchies of Philip and Lysanias (Jos. Ant. XVIII. 6. 1–7, 10–11; Jos. Bell. Jud. II. 9. 5–6). In 39, Agrippa contributed to the disgrace of Herod Antipas, whose lands he annexed to his possessions (Jos. Ant. XVIII. 7. 2; Jos. Bell. Jud. II. 9. 6). After the assassination of Caligula, Herod Agrippa played the role of mediator between the Roman Senate and the new emperor Claudius, for which he received Judea and Samaria from the latter in 41, thus becoming the last ruler of the united kingdom of Judea (Jos. Ant. XVIII. 4. 1–2; 5.1; Jos. Bell. Jud. II. 11.2–5). See note above. 7 to s. 55. Philo of Alexandria (c. 25 BC - before 50 AD) is a famous Judeo-Hellenistic thinker and writer who tried to bring together ancient philosophy and Jewish religion. He developed an allegorical method of interpreting the Pentateuch, famous for his teaching about the Logos as a mediator between God and the world. The author of numerous works, of which about thirty have come down to us (see their list in Eusebius in I. 18). See: Œuvres complètes de Philon d'Alexandrie. Vol. 1–36. Paris, 1961–1988. Rus. Transl.: Philo of Alexandria. About the contemplative life // Smirnov N.P. Therapists and the essay by Philo Judeus “On the contemplative life.” Kyiv, 1909. Appendix. pp. 1–31; Philo of Alexandria. Against Flaccus. About the embassy to Guy/Per. O. L. Levinskaya. Josephus Flavius. About the antiquity of the Jewish people. Against Apion/Trans. A. V. Vdovichenko. M.; Jerusalem, 1994. pp. 16–112; Philo of Alexandria. About the fact that God does not know change/Trans. E. D. Matusova // Historical and philosophical yearbook for 2002. M., 2003. pp. 135–175; Philo of Alexandria. Interpretations of the Old Testament/Trans. A.V. Vdovichenko et al. M., 2000.0 German see: Ivanitsky V.F. Philo of Alexandria. Life and review of literary activity. Kyiv, 1911; Mayorov G. G. Decree. op. WITH. 47–54: Muretov M.D. The doctrine of the Logos by Philo of Alexandria and John the Theologian. St. Petersburg, 2012; Savrey V. Ya. Alexandrian School... P. 194–302; Schenk K. Philo of Alexandria: an introduction to life and creativity. M., 2007; Borgen R. Philo of Alexandria, an Exegete for His Time. Leiden; New York; Köln, 1997; Daniélou J. Philon d'Alexandrie. Paris, 1958; Noack Ch. Gottesbewußtsein. Exegetische Studien zur Soteriologie und Mystik bei Philo von Alexandria, Tübingen, 2000; Radice R. Platonismo e Creazionismo in Filone di Alessandria. Milano, 1989; Winston D. Logos and Mystical Theology in Philo of Alexandria. Cincinnati, 1985. Philo's allegorical method of interpreting Holy Scripture and his doctrine of the Logos had an undoubted influence on Origen, St. Gregory of Nyssa, Ambrose of Milan, Blessed. Augustine and many other fathers and teachers of the Church. See: Runia D. T. Philo in Early Christian Literature: a Survey. Minneapolis, 1993. Alexandria is a city founded in 332–331. Alexander the Great in the western part of the Nile Delta near Lake Mareotis; capital of the Ptolemaic kingdom; the largest economic and cultural center of the Eastern Mediterranean. Wed: Jos. Ant. XVIII. 8.1. The formation of Philo's philosophical system was particularly influenced by Plato's Timaeus. See: Runia D. T. Philo of Alexandria and the “Timaeus” of Plato. Leiden, 1986. According to Philo, Pythagoras and Plato came closer to monotheism than all other ancient Greek philosophers. In the essay “Against Flaccus.” See: In Flaccum // Œuvres... Vol. 31.1967. We are talking about the pogrom of the Jewish community in Alexandria in 38. Apion (c. 30 BC - c. 50 AD) - Alexandrian rhetorician; author of the History of Egypt, commentaries on Homer, as well as a caustic satire on the Jews, in which he mocked their history and religion and told funny tales and fables about them. In response to this satire, Josephus wrote a treatise “Against Apion, or On the Antiquity of the Jews” (Flavius Josephus. Über die Ursprünglichkeit des Judentums (Contra Apionem)/Hrsg. von F. Siegert. Göttingen, 2008. Bd. 1–2; Josephus. On the Antiquity of the Jewish People (Against Apion) /Translated by A. V. Vdovichenko // Philo of Alexandria. Against Flaccus... P. 119–189). Caligula demanded that he be worshiped as a god and that all the churches of the Empire have his statues. Alavarch (arabarkh) - the head of the Alexandrian Jews, possibly in charge of collecting taxes and duties in the territory from the Nile to the Red Sea. This Gaius Julius Alexander was thrown into prison by Caligula, but in 41 he was released by order of Claudius (Jos. Ant. XIX. 5.1). Legatio ad Gaium // Œuvres... Vol. 32. Paris, 1972. Philo, naturally, did not view the misfortunes of the Jews as punishment for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Phil. Leg. ad Gai. 24; 38. Lucius Aelius Sejanus (c. 20 BC - 31 AD) - praetorian prefect in 14-31, favorite of Emperor Tiberius; was accused of treason and executed. Josephus reports that Tiberius ordered the consuls to expel all Jews from Rome; the reason for this he calls the fraudulent trick of three Jews who defrauded significant funds from the noble Roman matron Fulvia, promising to transfer them to the Jerusalem Temple. 4000 Jews were sent to Fr. Sardinia as soldiers, but most of them refused to serve in the Roman army and were executed (Jos. Ant. XVIII. 3.5). Jos. Bell. Jud. II. 9.2. See also: Jos. Ant. XVIII. 3.1; Phil. Leg. ad Gai. 38. The desperate resistance of the Jews forced Pilate six days later to remove the images of the emperor from Jerusalem (Jos. Bell. Jud. I. 9.2-3; Jos. Ant. XVIII. 3.1). According to the Antiquities of the Jews, at a distance of 200 stadia (Jos. Ant. XVIII. 3. 2). As Josephus reports in the Antiquities of the Jews, Pilate became the object of insults from the crowd (Jos. Ant. XVIII. 3. 2). Jos. Bell. Jud. IL 9. 4. See also: Jos. Ant. XVIII. 3. 2. Jos. Bell. Jud. II. 12. 1–7; 13.2 – 14.2. Titus Flavius ​​Vespasian (9–79) – Roman emperor from July 1, 69 to June 24, 79; in 66 he was sent by Nero to suppress the Jewish uprising and managed to win in 67–69. a series of victories over the rebels; Proclaimed emperor by the eastern legions in 69, he handed over the leadership of the campaign against the Jews to his son Titus, who besieged and captured Jerusalem in 70. Josephus also considers the disasters that befell the Jews as heavenly punishment, but he calls the desecration of the Jerusalem Temple by murders, primarily the murder of the high priest Jonathan, the cause of the wrath of the Most High (Jos. Ant. XIX. 8. 5). It is unknown who Eusebius means. There is no reliable information about the fate of Pilate after his recall from Judea in 36. A method used in Hellenistic historiography to date events based on four-year periods between the Olympic Games. The countdown began from the first Olympics (776 BC). The chronology of the Olympics was introduced in the middle of the 3rd century. BC e. Greek historian Timaeus and mathematician Eratosthenes. Theophilus of Antioch calculates the duration of Caligula's reign at 3 years, 8 months and 7 days (Theoph. Ad Aut. III. 27). Josephus gives a similar figure - 3 years and 8 months (Jos. Bell. Jud. II. 11. 1). In reality, Caligula ruled for 3 years, 10 months and 6 days. Tiberius Claudius Nero Germanicus (10 BC - 54 AD) - son of Drusus the Elder and Antonia the Younger; Roman Emperor from January 25, 41 to October 13, 54; enthroned by the Praetorian Guard after the assassination of Caligula on January 24, 41 Jos. Ant. XX. 2.6; 5.2; Suet. Cloud. 18; Tac. Ann. XII. 43. From the testimony of Josephus, it is clear that this famine occurred under the procurator Tiberius Alexander, that is, in 47 or 48. Initially, the Strato Tower was the name given to the underground passage south of Mount Carmel, then to the city that arose next to it. In the quotation given by Eusebius, the name of the king is not mentioned at all. Josephus' text refers to Agrippa, i.e. Herod I Agrippa. Gamaliel is a Pharisee and teacher of the law, a member of the Sanhedrin, who, during a discussion of the case of the apostles, gave advice to leave them alone (Acts 5:34–40); Paul calls him his teacher (Acts 22:3). According to legend, Gamaliel was the head of the Sanhedrin under Tiberius, Caligula and Claudius, received baptism from the apostles Peter and John and died in 52. Cuspius Fades was the procurator of Judea in 44–47. According to the Acts of the Apostles, the number of Theudas' supporters was 400 people (Acts 5:36). Helen - Queen of Adiabene in the middle. I century n. e., sister and wife of King Monobaz, who accepted the Jewish faith. About her see: Jos. Ant. XX. 2; 4. 3. Egypt was the main supplier of grain in the Eastern Mediterranean. Elena also purchased large quantities of dried dates from Cyprus; Helen's son, King Izat of Adiabene, sent a large sum of money to Jerusalem (Jos. Ant. XX. 2.6). This refers to Aelia Capitolina, a Roman military colony built in 135 on the site of Jerusalem destroyed by Titus. Adiabenes - inhabitants of Adiabene, a region east of the Tigris, in the territory of ancient Assyria. Simon Maga. See above: II. 1. 10–12. Justin Martyr (beginning of the 2nd century - ca. 165) - famous early Christian apologist; born in Flavia Naples (Samaria) into a wealthy Greek pagan family; received a good education; getting acquainted with different philosophical schools, he became interested in Platonism; OK. 135, under the influence of a certain Christian elder, he was baptized and became a preacher of the Christian faith; suffered martyrdom in Rome (was beheaded). He wrote a number of philosophical, polemical, apologetic and even musical and poetic works, of which two “Apologies” and “Conversation with the Jew Tryphon” have reached us. See: Die ältesten Apologeten/Hrsg. von E. J. Goodspeed. Göttingen, 1915. S. 26–265. Rus. trans.: St. Justin, Philosopher and Martyr. Creations. M., 1995.0 Justina, see: Hier. Vir. ill. XXIII. See also: Latyshev V.V. Holy Martyr Justin and his squad // Communications of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society. T. 25. Issue. 2.1914. pp. 157–158; Mayorov G. G. Decree. op. pp. 57–62; Andresen S. Justin und der mittlere Platonismus // Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und die Kunde der älteren Kirche. Bd. 44. 1952/1953. S. 157–195; Droge A. J. Op. cit. P. 49–72; Goodenough E. R. The theology of Justin Martyr. Jena, 1923; Holte R. Logos Spermatikos: Christianity and Ancient Philosophy according to St. Justin's Apologies // StudiaTheologica. Vol. 12.1958.P. 109–168; Osborn E. F. Justin Martyr. Tubingen, 1973; Rokeah D. Justin Martyr and the Jews. Leiden, 2002; Seeberg B. Die Geschichtstheologie Justins des Märtyrers // Zeitschrift für Kirchengeschichte. Bd. 58. 1939. S. 1–81. See below: IV. 11.8 – 12.1; 16; 17.13 – 18.10 The first "Apology" of Justin Martyr was addressed to the emperor Titus Aelius Hadrian Antoninus Pius (reigned 138–161) and his adopted sons Marcus Aurelius Antoninus and Lucius Verus. According to some researchers, Justin wrote this work ca. 139, according to others - approx. 150 g. Just. Apol. 1.26. There is no reference to Tire of Phoenicia in Justin's text. Eusebius makes this insertion, apparently based on the testimony of St. Irenaeus of Lyons (Iren. Adv. haer. 1.23.2). See also: The Passion of the Apostles Peter and Paul // Skogorev A.P. Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles. Arabic Gospel of the Savior's Childhood. Research. Translations. Comments. St. Petersburg, 2000. P. 261; Just. Apol. I. 56. Helen is a hierodula (sacred harlot) in Tyre, Phoenician, who became the companion of the Samaritan Dositheus, who proclaimed himself the Messiah; then Helen was taken from Dositheus by Simon the Magician, who proclaimed her the “cosmic foremother.” Simon's followers (Simonians) revered Helen as the goddess Athena. Tyre Phoenician is an ancient city in Phenicia on the Mediterranean coast (modern Sur in Lebanon). This First Thought of God, according to Simon, was the mother of all things; persecuted by the angels and archangels generated by her, she moves from body to body (Iren. Adv. haer. 1.23.2). Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 134 - c. 202) - saint, famous church writer; born in Asia Minor into a Christian family; studied with St. Polycarp of Smyrna, who sent him to Gaul to preach the Word of God. He became a presbyter of the Lyon Church, then, after the martyrdom of Polycarp, a bishop (177). He took part in the dispute over the celebration of Easter and actively fought against heresies. He died a martyr's death during the persecution of Christians under Septimius Severus (Greg. Tur. I. 29). He wrote several essays, of which two have come down to us - “The Exposure and Refutation of False Knowledge” (or “Five Books against Heresies”) and “Proof of the Apostolic Preaching.” See: Des heiligen Irenäus Schrift zum Erweise der apostolischen Verkündigung/Hrsg, von K. Ter-Mëkèrttschian und E. Ter-Minassiantz. Leipzig, 1907; Irénée de Lyon. Contre les hérésies/Ed. A. Rousseau et L. Doutreleau. Livres 1–5. Paris, 1965–1982. Rus. trans.: St. Irenaeus of Lyons. Against heresies. Proof of the Apostolic Preaching/Trans. P. Preobrazhensky and N. I. Sagarda. Ed. 2nd. St. Petersburg, 2012. About Irinea, see: Mayorov G. G. Decree. op. pp. 71–75; Skurat K. E. Soteriology of St. Irenaeus of Lyon // Theological works. T. 5.1971. pp. 47–78; Fedchenkov S. A. St. Irenaeus of Lyons. His life and literary activity. St. Petersburg, 2008; Andia Y. de. Homo vivens. Incorruptibilité et divination de l'homme chez Irénée de Lyon. Paris, 1986; Fantino J. La théologie d'Irénée. Lecture des Écritures en réponse à l'exégèse gnostique. Une approche trinitaire. Paris, 1994; Idem. L'homme image de Dieu chez saint Irénée de Lyon. Paris, 1985. Iren. Adv. haer. 1.23.1–4. Simon's teaching was set forth by himself in the work “Μεγάλη ἀπόφασις.” In the first book of his essay “Five Books Against Heresies,” St. Irenaeus, having outlined the teaching of Simon Magus, then gives an overview of the heresies of Menander (1.23.5), Saturninus, Basilides (I. 24), Carpocrates (I. 25), Cerinthos, Ebionites, Nicolaitans (I. 26), Cerdon (1.29), Ophites (I. 30), Cainites (I. 31) and many others. According to the testimony of St. Irenaeus, the Simonians widely used narcotic drugs in their ritual practice (Iren. Adv. haer. 1.23. 4). According to the testimony of St. Irenaeus, Simon was patronized by the Emperor Claudius himself (Iren. Adv. haer. 1.23. 1). According to church tradition, the Apostle Peter went from Syria first to Cappadocia, Galatia and Pontus; for a long time, together with his brother, the Apostle Andrew, he preached the Christian faith in Sinope; then, leaving Andrei in Sinope, Peter went to Rome. About Peter’s stay and activities in Rome, see: Passion... P. 256–298; The teaching of Simon Cephas in the city of Rome // Meshcherskaya E. N. Decree. op. pp. 373–378. Peter's struggle with Simon Magus in Rome is described in the apocryphal "Acts of Peter", "The Passion of the Apostles Peter and Paul" and "Pseudo-Clementines". Peter defeats Simon over and over again, and then the latter decides to ascend with the help of demons to prove his strength. However, when Simon the Magician was rising into the air on the Champs of Mars, Peter ordered the demons to release the sorcerer, and he crashed against the rocks. According to church tradition, Mark was Peter's translator, who then sent him to Alexandria. There Mark became the bishop of the city and suffered martyrdom. Sometimes he is identified with John Mark, whom the author of the Acts of the Apostles speaks of as a companion of Barnabas and Paul (Acts 12:25; 13:5). Papias of Hierapolis - church writer of the first half of the 2nd century; born at Hierapolis in Phrygia; was a student of John the Theologian and a friend of Polycarp of Smyrna; OK. 130 became bishop of Hierapolis. He wrote the essay “Interpretation of the Sayings of Our Lord” in five books, in which he collected the sayings of Jesus Christ and all the stories about His deeds. Only isolated fragments have survived from this work (see below: III. 39). For Papia, see: Iren. Adv. haer. V. 33.4; Hier. Vir. ill. XVIII. By calling Rome “Babylon,” the author of the First Epistle of John seeks to emphasize its role as an “earthly city,” the center of paganism, as opposed to the “heavenly city” of Jerusalem. De vita contemplativa // Œuvres... Vol. 29. Paris, 1963 (Russian translation: Philo of Alexandria. About life...). Θεραπεύειν in Greek means “to heal.” Nome is an administrative district in Greco-Roman Egypt. Mareotis is a lake and area in the western part of the Nile Delta near Alexandria. Ibid. XXXVII. Hyssop is a shrub with broom-shaped branches, blue and white flowers and elongated leaves. The stems and leaves of hyssop contain essential oil and were used in ancient times as a remedy. Ibid. XXXI, LXVI–LXVII, LXXII. Legum allegoriarum libri I–III // Œuvres... Vol. 2. Paris, 1962. Quaestiones in Genesim et in Exodum: Fragmenta graeca // Œuvres... Vol. 33. Paris, 1978; Quaestiones et solutions in Genesim. I–IV // Œuvres... Vol. 34. Paris, 1979–1984. De agricultura // Œuvres... Vol. 9. Paris, 1961. De ebrietate // Œuvres... Vol. 11/12. Paris, 1962. De confusione linguarum // Œuvres... Vol. 13. Paris, 1963 (On the confusion of languages ​​/ Translated by O. L. Levinskaya // Philo of Alexandria. Interpretations... P. 308–354). De fuga et inventione // Œuvres... Vol. 17. Paris, 1970. De congressu eruditionis gratia // Œuvres... Vol. 16. Paris, 1967 (On intercourse for the sake of preliminary training / Translation by M. G. and V. E. Vitkovsky // Philo of Alexandria. Interpretations... P. 355–398). Quis rerum divinarum heres sit // Œuvres... Vol. 15. Paris, 1966. De mutatione nominum // Œuvres... Vol. 18. Paris, 1964. Eusebius mistakenly combines into one two different works by Philo, “On the Journey of Abraham” and “On the Life of the Wise Man.” De gigantibus quod Deus sit immutabilis // Œuvres... Vol. 7/8. Paris, 1963. De somniis libri I–II // Œuvres... Vol. 19. Paris, 1962. De Decalogo // Œuvres... Vol. 23. Paris, 1965. De specialibus legibus libri I–IV // Œuvres... Vol. 24–25. Paris, 1970–1975. De Providentia I–II // Œuvres... Vol. 35. Paris, 1973. Alexander vel de ratione quam habere etiam bruta animalia (de animalibus) // Œuvres... Vol. 36. Paris, 1988. Quod omnis probus liber sit // Œuvres... Vol. 28. Paris, 1974. De virtutibus // Œuvres... Vol. 26. Paris, 1962. This is Paul's second missionary journey. According to the Acts of the Apostles, Paul did not visit Illyricum, a mountainous area in the western Balkan Peninsula north of Epirus, either on his second or other journeys. Obviously, in this case, Eusebius has in mind the phrase of Paul from the Epistle to the Romans - “I have spread the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem and the surrounding area to Illyricum” (Rom. 15:19). Acts 18:2. Suetonius connects the expulsion of the Jews from Rome with the activities of Christian preachers (Suet. Claud. 25). According to the testimony of Paul Orosius, this event occurred in the ninth year of the reign of Claudius (Oros. VII. 6. 15), i.e. in 50. Aquila and Priscilla were a Jewish couple from Pontus who made tents. Aquila and Priscilla moved from Asia Minor to Rome, were expelled from there along with their other coreligionists under Claudius I and then settled in Corinth. Where and how they adopted Christianity is unknown. In Corinth we find them already Christians and close friends of the Apostle Paul. Aquila and Priscilla successfully spread the word of God in Asia and Achaia. According to legend, Aquila became the bishop of Heraclea and suffered martyrdom there. According to the Acts of the Apostles, Aquila and Priscilla traveled from Corinth with the Apostle Paul to the east; in Ephesus they separated - the apostle ordered them to stay in this city, and they began to preach the word of God here (Acts 18:18-19, 21, 26). In this case, by “Asia” Eusebius means the Roman province of Asia, the center of which was Ephesus. Jos. Ant. XX. 5.3; Jos. Bell. Jud. II. 12.1. This event took place ca. 50 The cause of the unrest was the obscene behavior of a Roman soldier on the fourth day of the holiday. The crowd began to demand that the Roman procurator Ventidius Cuman punish the culprit. Some Jews began to revile Cuman and throw stones at the Roman soldiers. The prosecutor failed to calm the crowd and had to call for reinforcements. At the sight of the approaching legionnaires, the Jews were seized with panic, and a terrible stampede occurred. According to the “Antiquities of the Jews”, 20,000 (Jos. Ant. XX. 5. 3), according to the “Jewish War” - 10,000 (Jos. Bell. Jud. II 12. 1). Herod Agrippa II, or Julius Mark Agrippa II (27 - before 100) - son of Herod Agrippa I and Cyprus; was brought up at the court of Emperor Claudius. After the death of his father in 44, when Agrippa II was 17 years old, Claudius wanted to make him king of Judea, but the emperor's freedmen convinced him to abandon this intention and place Judea under direct Roman rule (Jos. Ant. XIX. 9.2). In 49, after the death of his uncle Herod of Chalcis, Agrippa II became tetrarch of Chalcis, a region at the foot of the Lebanese mountains (Jos. Ant. XX. 5.2; Jos. Bell. Jud. II 12.1). In 54, Claudius took Chalcis from Agrippa, giving him in return Gaulanitis, Trachonea, Batanea and Abilenea (Jos. Ant. XX. 7. 1; Jos. Bell. Jud. II. 12. 8). Nero annexed part of Perea and Galilee to Agrippa's possessions (Jos. Ant. XX. 8.4; Jos. Bell. Jud. II. 13.2). During the Jewish War, Agrippa supported the Romans. The words of Eusebius, “Claudius made Agrippa king of the Jews,” are not entirely accurate. Agrippa never ruled the main areas of the former kingdom of Judea - Idumea, Judea and Samaria. Mark Antony Felix - brother of Pallant, a freedman and favorite of Claudius; Procurator of Judea in 52–58. Further listing the regions that came under the control of Felix, Eusebius does not mention Judea itself. See: Jos. Bell. Jud. II. 12.8 Perea is a region in Transjordan northeast of the Dead Sea, bounded on the south by the Arnon River and on the north by the Jabbok River. The territory of the tribes of Gad and Reuben. According to Josephus, 13 years, 8 months and 20 days (Jos. Ant. XX. 8.1; Jos. Bell. Jud. II. 12. 8), according to St. Theophilus of Antioch - 13 years, 8 months and 24 days (Theoph. Ad Aut. III. 27) Claudius died on October 13, 54. He was poisoned by his fourth wife, Agrippina the Younger, who gave him poison in his favorite mushrooms (Suet. Claud. 44; Tac. Ann. xii. 64–67). Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, as emperor - Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus (37–68) - son of Senator Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Agrippina the Younger; in 50 he was adopted by Claudius; became Roman Emperor on October 13, 54, by the will of Claudius, thanks to the efforts of his mother and with the support of the Praetorians (Suet. Ner. 8; Tac. Ann. XII. 68–69). Jos. Bell. Jud. IL 13.3. See also: Jos. Ant. XX. 8.5. We are talking about the movement of the Sicarii, a radical political group consisting primarily of representatives of the lower strata of Jewish society. The Sicarii opposed Roman rule and the Jewish nobility. They actively used violent methods of struggle, including murder. Jonathan is the son of the high priest Ananias (Anna); high priest of Judea in 37. According to the Antiquities of the Jews, Jonathan was killed by hired assassins sent to him by the Roman procurator Felix, whom he condemned for the misrule of Judea (Jos. Ant. XX. 8. 5). The Mount of Olives (Olive) is a mountain 1 km east of Jerusalem beyond the Kidron River. It got its name from the olive, or oilseed, trees that covered it in abundance since ancient times. According to the Antiquities of the Jews, this prophet promised that at his command the walls of the city would fall (Jos. Ant. XX. 8.6). Jos. Bell. Jud. II. 13. 5. In the Antiquities of the Jews, Josephus reports that 400 were killed and 200 captured (Jos. Ant. XX. 8. 6). Chiliarch - commander of a detachment of 1000 warriors We are talking about a crowd of Jerusalem Jews who were incited against Paul by their fellow believers who came from the province of Asia. They accused the apostle of bringing Trophimus, a pagan from Ephesus, into the Jerusalem temple. The crowd grabbed Paul in the church and wanted to deal with him, but the Roman chiliarch and soldiers managed to intervene and arrested the apostle (Acts 21:27–33). The rebels were called "sicari" because of the similarity of the knives they used to the Roman sicae knives. See: Jos. Ant. XX. 8.10. Porcius Festus († 62) - Roman procurator of Judea in 59–62. Paul was arrested in 60 and imprisoned in Caesarea by order of the procurator Felix. After the death of the latter, the new procurator Festus decided to examine Paul’s case. At the trial, where, in addition to the procurator, there were also Agrippa II, his sister Berenice, high priests and members of the Sanhedrin, Paul turned to Agrippa (and not to Festus, as Eusebius says) with a defensive speech. As a result, it was decided to send the apostle to the court of the emperor in Rome. See: Acts 25–26. Aristarchus is a Macedonian from Thessalonica who converted to Christianity; accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey and almost died with him during the pagan riot in Ephesus (Acts 19:29 – 20:4). According to legend, he later became the bishop of Apamea in Syria and suffered martyrdom in Rome (he was beheaded). Acts 28:30–31. This period falls on 62–64. The New Testament texts say nothing about the martyrdom of the Apostle Paul. According to legend, he was executed in Rome during Nero’s persecution of Christians along with the Apostle Peter (Passion... P. 268, 294–296; Sulp. Seu. II. 19.4). According to legend, his severed head pronounced the name of Jesus Christ. Timothy is the son of a pagan and a Christian Evnika; born in the Asia Minor city of Lystra; disciple and zealous companion of the Apostle Paul, who wrote two Epistles to him. According to legend, Paul ordained him bishop of Ephesus. Timothy suffered martyrdom, according to one version, under Domitian, according to another - under Nerva (he was stoned during a pagan festival in honor of Artemis). Considered to be the co-author of Paul's First Epistle to the Thessalonians and the Epistle to Philemon. This refers to Nero's persecution of Christians, which began in 64. See: Suet. Ner. 16; Tac. Ann. XV. 15.44; Sulp. Sev. II. 29. 1–2. 2 Timothy 4:10. Luke is a doctor (tradition also calls him a painter), Paul’s companion on his missionary travels. It is believed that he was of Greek origin. According to legend, he preached Christianity in Italy, Macedonia and Greece. According to one version, he died peacefully at the age of 80, according to another, he suffered martyrdom in Achaia during the reign of Domitian (hanged from an olive tree). He is credited with the authorship of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. See about this: WikenhauserA. Die altkirchliche Überlieferung über die Abfassungszeit der Apostelgeschichte // Biblische Zeitschrift. Bd. 23.1935–1936. S. 365–371. See: Jos. Ant. XX. 8.10; Jos. Bell. Jud. II. 13. 3–7. Egesippus (or Hegesippus) - early Christian historian of the 2nd century; probably born in Palestine; OK. 155 moved to Rome; OK. 177 wrote an essay against the Gnostics - “Notes” (Hypomnemata), from which only a few fragments have survived. About him see: Hier. Vir. ill. XXII. See also: Bratkin D. A. Theology of Hegesippus // Universe of Platonic thought: Questions of knowledge. Procedures for correct thinking. Doxa and noesis. St. Petersburg, 1997, pp. 110–112. For the depiction of Hegesippus in Eusebius, see: Halton T. Hegesippus in Eusebius // Studia Patristica. Vol. 17. Part 2.1982. P. 688–693. Jerusalem. See above: II. 1.2–3. Wed: Lev. 10:9; Number 6:3. Wed: Numbers 6:5; Luke 1:15. Linen clothing symbolized sinlessness and moral purity among the Jews. See: Rev. 15:6. Wed. the words of the wicked people sent to Jesus by the chief priests and scribes (Luke 20:21). Wed. Jesus' response to Caiaphas before the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:64). The words of Jesus on the cross (Luke 23:34). In the Bible, the sons of Rechab, or Rehobites, are a nomadic tribe distinguished by their loyalty to the commandments of their fathers. The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah tells how the Lord set an example for the Jews who did not want to listen to the Heavenly Father, the Rehobites, who, out of respect for the covenant of their ancestor Jonadab, refused to drink the wine offered to them by Jeremiah (Jer. 35). In this case, Egesippus uses the expression “sons of Rechab” in a figurative sense - it means all pious men who walk in the path of the Lord. Jerusalem in the spring of 70 was no longer besieged by Vespasian, but by his son Titus. This phrase does not appear in the extant manuscripts of the works of Josephus. Albinus - procurator of Judea in 62–64. Ananias the Younger - the son of the high priest Ananias (Anna) the Elder; High Priest of Judea in 62 The Sadducees were a religious party in Judea that represented the interests of the priestly aristocracy. Originated in the 2nd century. BC e. Had a majority in the Sanhedrin. She sought to achieve independence from Rome through non-violent methods. Fought with the party of the Pharisees. Its name comes from Zadok, the legendary high priest of the era of King Solomon - his descendants were high priests in Judea until the time of the Maccabees. In religious and ideological terms, the Sadducees recognized only the written Law of Moses and rejected all later institutions and folk customs. They denied the immortality of the soul, the afterlife and fate, arguing that the choice between good and evil was left entirely to the free will of man. The teachings of the Sadducees influenced the formation of Gnosticism, in particular the views of Marcion, Apelles and Valentinus (especially on the issue of the impossibility of the resurrection of the flesh). See: Tert. Praes. haer. 33; Tert. Cam. Chr. 1; Tert. Res. earn. 2,36,39. For a general description of the Sadducees, see Josephus: Jos. Ant. XVIII. 1.4; Jos. Bell. Jud. IL 8.14. Jos. Bell. Jud. II. 8.14. The Sanhedrin (“society of those sitting together”) is the highest religious, judicial and political authority in Judea after the return of the Jews from Babylonian captivity; consisted of seventy-one members and was headed by a high priest. In addition, under the Romans, the Sanhedrin did not have the right to condemn criminals to death - such a decision could only be made by the procurator. Wed: John 18:31. Jesus, son of Damaeus, high priest of Judea in 62–63. The Council Epistles are New Testament epistles, the authorship of which is not attributed to the Apostle Paul. The reason for their designation as "conciliar" is difficult to establish, and the issue is still a matter of debate. This letter, consisting of five chapters and addressed to “the twelve tribes that were scattered” (James 1:1), most likely appeared at the end of the 1st century. n. e. The Epistle of Jude, consisting of 25 verses, was written in the first third of the 2nd century. n. e. The author of the Epistle calls himself “Judas, the servant of Jesus Christ, the brother of James” (Jude Ch. 1). There is a version that the name “Judas” is a pseudonym for an unknown Galilean author who knew Greek well. Church tradition attributes the Epistle to Jude, one of the four so-called. "brothers of the Lord." The conciliar epistles include, in addition to the Epistle of James and the Epistle of Jude, two more Epistles of Peter and three Epistles of John. Annianus - second bishop of Alexandria (62–84). Primarily Suetonius (Suet. Ner.) and Tacitus (Tac. Ann. XIII–XVI). Nero poisoned his closest ally Afranius Burrus; forced his tutor, the philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca (the Younger), to commit suicide; Claudius' daughter Antonia was executed, accusing him of attempting a coup; he ordered his stepson Rufrius Crispinus, son of Poppaea, to be drowned in the sea; Torquatus Silanus, great-great-grandson of Augustus, was forced to commit suicide; he sent assassins to Rubellius Plautus, the maternal great-grandson of Tiberius, etc. (Suet. Ner. 35; Tac. Ann. XIV. 51, 57–59; XV. 35, 60–64; XVI. 17). Nero's conflict with his mother Agrippina the Younger was caused by the latter's desire to play a leading role in governing the Empire. The reason for it was Agrippina’s intervention in her son’s private life - she unsuccessfully tried to prevent Nero’s rapprochement with Claudia Acte and Poppaea Sabina. Under pressure from Poppaea and with the support of the praetorian prefect Burrus and the philosopher Seneca, Nero decided to deal with his mother. Several attempts to poison her, however, were unsuccessful. Then a shipwreck was staged, but the empress managed to escape again. Fearing any retaliation from his mother, Nero sent a detachment of soldiers to the villa where she had taken refuge, led by the prefect of the Misenian fleet, Anicetus, who, together with the trierarch Herculius and the centurion Obaritus, killed Agrippina (Suet. Ner. 34; Tac. Ann. XIV. 1–10). This event occurred in 59. See: Dawson A. Whatever happened to Lady Agrippina? // Classical Journal. Vol. 64. 1969. P. 253–267; Scott R. D. The death of Nerós mother // Latomus. Vol. 33. 1974. P. 105–115. We are talking about Britannicus, the natural son of Claudius I, whom Nero and Agrippina removed from power after the death of Claudius and whom Nero ordered to be poisoned in 55 (Suet. Ner. 33; Tac. Ann. XIII. 15–17). Nero was responsible for the death of his first two wives - Octavia, daughter of Claudius, whom he executed in 62 on trumped-up charges of adultery, and Poppaea Sabina, whom he killed in 65 while pregnant by kicking her in the stomach (Suet. Ner. 35; Tac. Ann. XIV. 59–64; XVI. 6–7). Wed: Jos. Ant. XX. 8.2; Jos. Bell. Jud. II. 13.1. According to Tacitus, Nero blamed the Christians for the fire in Rome in July 64 and began to persecute them with incredible cruelty; in this way he tried to drown out popular rumors accusing him of setting the city on fire (Tac. Ann. XV. 44; see also: Sulp. Sev. II. 29. 1–3). On this, see: Donini A. At the origins of Christianity (from its origins to Justinian). M., 1979. S. 179–182; Dando-Collins S. The Great Fire of Rome: The Fall of the Emperor Nero and His City. Cambridge (MA), 2010. Tert. Apol. I. 3. See also: Tert. Ad nat. I. 7. The first emperor-persecutor of Christians, Nero, is also called Meliton of Sardia (see below: IV. 26. 9) and Lactantius (Lact. De mort. pers. II. 6). At the same time, neither Josephus, nor Plutarch, nor Cassius Dio say anything about Nero’s persecution of Christians. See: Lact. De mort. pers. II. 6; Sulp. Sev. IL 29.4; Greg. Tur. 1.25 The martyrdom of the Apostle Peter is described in the apocryphal tradition, according to which the apostle, with his preaching of moral purity, incurred the hatred of those in power; Yielding to the persuasion of his disciples, Peter, in order to avoid danger, leaves Rome at night, but a meeting with Jesus Christ outside the city gates forces him to return; the apostle, captured and imprisoned in the Mamertine prison, is sentenced to crucifixion; At Peter's request, so as not to become like Jesus Christ himself in his death, he is crucified upside down. See: Passions... P. 267–268, 271–274 294–296; The teachings of Simon Cephas... P. 377–378. Guy - Christian writer of the early 2nd century; presbyter of the Roman Church. His work “Dialogue with Proclus,” mentioned by Eusebius, has not reached us. About him, see below: VI. 20. 3. See also: Hier. Vir. ill. LIX. Zephyrinus - Bishop of Rome in 200-218. See also: Phot. Cod. 48. According to other sources, his name was Proculus. The Cataphrygian (Montanist) sect is a community of supporters of the heresiarch Montana, which arose in the Asia Minor region of Phrygia in the third quarter of the 2nd century. The Montanist movement had a pronounced prophetic character and was closely connected with the expectation of the imminent Coming of Christ. The Montanists were characterized by special moral strictness and ascetic behavior, a desire for martyrdom, and hostility to the state and social norms. See: Donini A. Decree. op. pp. 149–154; Sventsitskaya I. S. Secret writings of the first Christians. M., 1980. S. 137–142; Hirschmann V.-E. Horrenda Secta. Untersuchungen zum frühchristlichen Montanismus und seinen Verbindungen zur paganen Religion Phrygiens. Stuttgart, 2005; Tabbernee W. Prophets and Gravestones: An Imaginative History of Montanists and Other Early Christians. Peabody (MA), 2009; Trevett Ch. Montanism: Gender, Authority and the New Prophecy, Cambridge, 1996. A trophy is a monument to victory. We are talking about either the Vatican Field or Vatican Hill, located across the Tiber northwest of Rome. The Triumphal Road led to this area from Rome, near which, according to legend, the Apostle Peter was buried. See: Passion... P. 298. The Ostian road led from Rome to the port of Ostia. It began at the Circus Maximus and went through the Aventine Hill and the Ostian Gate to the southwest along the Tiber. According to tradition, the Apostle Paul was buried at the second mile of the Ostian road. See: Passion... P. 298. Dionysius of Corinth - church leader and writer of the late 2nd - early 3rd centuries; Bishop of Corinth in 170–202. Below (IV. 23) Eusebius lists eight works of Dionysius known to him, but none of them have reached us. About him see: Hier. Vir. ill. XXVII. Corinth is an ancient Doric city in Greece in the south of the Isthmian Isthmus; from 27 BC e. center of the Roman province of Achaia. In 50–51 During his second missionary journey, the Apostle Paul founded a Christian community in Corinth (Acts 18:1–18). At the same time, the New Testament does not mention the activities of the Apostle Peter in Corinth. Jos. Bell. Jud. IL 14.2–16. 1. Gessius Florus - Roman administrator; originally from Klazomen; his wife Cleopatra was a friend of the Empress Poppea Sabina, thanks to which he was appointed procurator of Judea in 64. Florus was largely responsible for the outbreak of the Jewish revolt (Tac. Hist. V. 10; Jos. Ant. XX. 11. 1; Jos. Bell. Jud. II. 14.2–9; 15.3–16.1). Jos. Bell. Jud. II. 14.9. Florus subjected even Jews who had Roman citizenship to this punishment. In 66 Wed: Jos. Ant. XX. 11.1. In New Testament times, Syria was an imperial province, which included Palestine; it was governed by a legate in the capacity of propraetor. Jos. Bell. Jud. II. 18.1–8. Massacres of Jews occurred in Caesarea, Scythopolis, Ascalon, Ptolemais, Tire, Gadar, Ippa, and even in the domains of Herod Agrippa II. Such excesses spared only Antioch, Sidon, Apamea and Gerasa. For their part, the Jews destroyed many pagan cities and villages in the areas bordering Judea. You might be interested in: