His201

Week 2. Lect 1.

The Organisation of the Church, the Hierarchy, the Power of the Church Hierarchy.

The hierarchy grew slowly over the centuries from 1st to 4ad.

The roles of the hierarchy promoted education. The role of the monastery in education is large. Councils arose to deal with pressing issues. Adding another dimension to the organisation of the Church, that is, the communication between the Bishops to create some sort degree of uniformity, and thus creating political influence over local secular rulers.

The Latin Fathers - ("Latin fathers" because of the Language - many are western European, writing and communicating in Latin rather than Greek, primarily speaking.)

Some of the greatest writers and thinkers of Christian antiquity emerged during he middle to late 3rd century.

Jerome: (384-720)

Educated in Rome. Pursued studies in Antioch, Greece. Experienced a monastic life in Egypt. Then he translated a book (forget which one) from Greek to Latin - shoes the importance of the language in the dissemination of knowledge.

Augustine (354-430)

Using a powerful and persuasive argument to show the virtuosity of Christianity

What's relevant about these two figures so far, is that through their written works and their sermons, they inspired the Church to grow during these ages. Both were highly educated thinkers, well versed in Classical theology and philosophy, and highly skilled writers. They were also great Orators, they had to be able to communicate their ideas to a public that could not have read their works.

It's their capacity and ability to captivate and lead their audience through a logical rhetorical discussion.


Ambrose (337-397)

Military family, son of a prefect. Educated in the roman classics. Made his way up through the Roman secular politics.

Ambrose's episcopal appointment:

His rise is a great demonstration of the power of oratory and the power of charisma. He ascended straight to the rank of Bishop. Ambrose was not part of the Clergy - the people of Milan did not necessarily need a spiritual leader as much as a social, economic and political leader (he represented social, economic and political security). So this shows just how important the bishop can be in the psyche of the lay people - it's a melding of the Church and State - sometimes a confusion of the Church and State.

This coincided with the crowning of Valentinian the 2nd of the Western Empire - an infant empire, almost a vacuum of power.

Ambrose convinced Ambrose Valentinian II to veto senate plan to install altar of Victory in the Senate House. Shows the power of the bishop in quite extraordinary circumstances.

Ambrose negotiated peace at potential out break of civil war after being asked by the Emperor of the Eastern Empire to negotiate with the rebelling army at Gaul

Ambrose held great sway of Theodosius 1st (eastern emperor) - eg. Penance of the emperor over massacre at Thessalonica - (Greece, Constantinople) The people under control of the Eastern Emperor are rebelling and Theodosius massacres them. As punishment Ambrose told Theodosius that he had to enter an extended period of penance, in which the Emperor had to abstain from communion for several months. Not every bishop after Ambrose was able to hold such sway over his contemporaries, he was an exception.

Because of his political background Ambrose was able to influence others, coupled with his oratory skills and his education, he was a very powerful player - and because this is largely a society becoming Christian, with the emperors being Christian, he had even more power over them.

Increasing power of the bishops and the pope is due to the Church hierarchy that is developing and progressing very quickly.

The rise of the monasteries, the movement of power from southern italy up to Gaul, you have the likes of Constantine, and the power of the holy roman empire.