24. Последняя борьба язычества с христианством в Римской империи и окончательное торжество христианства над язычеством

Despite the good measures of Emperor Constantine in favor of the Church, paganism was still strong in the Roman Empire. The sons of Constantine - Constantine II, Constantius and Constantius did not have his tact and skill in governing the empire and irritated the pagan party. The pagans managed to prepare for the fight against Christianity and found themselves a weapon and leader in the person of Emperor Julian. Julian is the son of Julius Constant, brother of Constantine the Great. The lateral lines of the royal family did not enjoy the favor of the army, which, after the death of Constantine, declared that the empire should be ruled only by his direct heirs. Subsequently, Julian's father and some relatives were killed, if not with the consent, then not without the knowledge of Emperor Constantius. Julian and his brother Gall were removed to a secluded estate near Caespria of Cappadocia. In this dark story of Julian's childhood lies the first reason for his dislike of Christians. Upbringing in solitude, far from the court, destined for a clergy (with the goal of blocking the path to the throne), and the harmful influence of Arian teachers strengthened this hostile disposition in Julian. The pagan party noticed a weapon convenient for itself, entered into secret relations with it and managed to kindle the spark of hostility into a flame. They tried to reveal to him the myths of paganism in the most attractive form and, inciting his pride, assured him that he was called by the gods to return strength and brilliance to the ancient religion. Subsequently, Julian was returned to the court with the title of Caesar, and he was allowed to continue his education in Nicomedia and Athens. Here, a complete opportunity opened up for pagan rhetoricians and sophists to act on Julian in the direction they desired. Already devoted with all his heart to paganism, Julian, however, had to be cunning and pretend so as not to arouse the suspicions of Constantius, and this further inflamed his hatred of Christianity. In 361, Julian, commanding troops in Gaul, rebelled against Constantius, seized the throne and openly declared himself a pagan. Emperor Julian had remarkable abilities, distinguished himself as a brave commander, tireless in his work, and could have been a good ruler if he had not been carried away by hostility towards Christians. This enmity spoiled his character and led him to act recklessly. Under imaginary conscientiousness he hid heartless deceit, under ostentatious tolerance - deeply hidden malice. At the beginning of his reign, Julian summoned the Orthodox bishops exiled by the Arian Constantius from prison, and left the Arian bishops in their places. By giving both freedom of action, he hoped that Christianity would fall amidst the struggle and strife. He forbade the explanation of ancient poets and philosophers in Christian schools under the pretext that this would offend the gods sung and glorified in their works; introduced banners with images of gods and various pagan ceremonies into the troops; ordered that the blood sacrificed to idols be sprinkled on foodstuffs sold in the markets; forbade believers to be called Christians and, to humiliate them, gave them a new name “Galileans”. At the same time, he adopted many customs from Christians and tried to instill them in paganism, for example, he ordered the priests to explain myths to the people, established hospices and other charitable institutions at the temples, distinguished the priests with honors and demanded a strict life from them. From these insidious means, Julian little by little moved on to obvious measures of violence: he ordered that the Christians return to the pagans the places where the temples stood, and at their expense he restored these temples; deprived Christians of positions and estates; in disputes and litigation between Christians and pagans, the latter were always right. In order to offend Christian feelings, Julian gave the Jews permission and means to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Finally, having conceived a campaign in Persia, he announced that if the gods gave him victory, he would destroy Christianity. Christians awaited with horror the return of the times of Nero, Decius and Diocletian. However, all of Julian's efforts to restore paganism were unsuccessful. The priests did not fulfill Julian's demands, and instead of them he himself had to preach sermons. The Christians firmly endured Julian’s insults and oppression and tried to thwart his insidious plans. Finally, the power of God was clearly revealed in defense and protection of the holy faith. According to the testimony of not only Christian, but also pagan writers, an earthquake and clouds of fire bursting out of the ground forced the restoration of the Jerusalem temple, started by Julian, to be stopped. Even those stones that were preserved in the depths of the earth from the former church were thrown away, so that in the full sense there was not one stone left on another here. The enemy of Christianity himself had to admit his powerlessness, but did not repent of his malice. In the battle with the Persians, an enemy arrow struck Julian. Exhausted in the throes of death, he exclaimed bitterly: “You have defeated me, Galilean!” Julian's successors were already in agreement about establishing Christianity throughout the empire. Under the emperor Valentinian, who ruled the western half of the empire (364–375), paganism was already called the faith of the villagers. His son Gratian (375–383), at the insistence of Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, resigned the title of supreme pontiff, which the Roman emperors still held, ordered the statue of Victoria (victory) to be removed from the Senate, deprived the pagan priests of state support, abolished their privileges and extinguished the so-called sacred fire of the Vestals. In the east, Emperor Theodosius I (379–395) destroyed pagan temples (among others, the temple of Serapis in Alexandria, with the pagans awaiting the end of the century) and issued a law that made idolatry one of the most serious criminal offenses (on a par with lese). Paganism, however, still nested in some places and found support in the Athenian school of Neoplatonists. Emperor Justinian (527–566) closed this school and thereby dealt the final blow to paganism in the Roman Empire. You might be interested in: