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" Christian leadership in late antique Ancyra (284–450) "
Edward Strickland
W. E. Klingshirn
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Latin Dissertation
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English
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| Record Number
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54956
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| Doc. No
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TL24910
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| Call number
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3239355
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| Main Entry
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Edward Strickland
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| Title & Author
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Christian leadership in late antique Ancyra (284–450)\ Edward Strickland
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| College
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The Catholic University of America
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| Date
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2006
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| Degree
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Ph.D.
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2006
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| Page No
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365
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| Abstract
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In late antique Ancyra, Christians, Jews, and pagans militated against one another to gain believers or discourage defections. This dissertation examines the ideologies of leadership that orthodox Christians developed in response. Analysis of the writings of bishop Theodotus of Ancyra, the letters of the hegumen Nilus of Ancyra, and other sources demonstrates that, while prolonged sectarian pressure might be expected to impress a peculiar character on the local Christianity, Ancyra's orthodox ecclesiastical establishment did not single-mindedly hound out heretics and aim at turning the city into a hothouse of Christian polemicists. Rather, Ancyra's orthodox idealized a style of leadership whose ultimate goal was that clergy and laity alike attain holiness through the fulfillment of the duties of their stations. Despite the fact that bishop Theodotus seemed to idealize a church where clergy and laymen were poised to engage in theological combat with all who opposed orthodoxy, a careful study of the context of his writings and close comparison with the very different ideology of the episcopate promoted by Nilus permits us to conclude that the two shared substantially identical opinions on this subject, not only regarding doctrinal unity, but also the spiritual care of the fallen, the healing of divisions, redressing of injustices, and universal sanctification. Other orders of Ancyran Christian society rarely engaged in theological controversy. Sources reveal that accepting the sorrows of life, lavishing alms in times of crisis, and even directing mercantile enterprise to serve the advancement of the faith were among the highest goals for laity. While Ancyra's female ascetics were admired intercessors who aspired to mystical union with their Spouse, they also helped propagate the cult of local martyrs at their shrines. Even so, supernatural favors did not authorize them to teach the faith publicly, guide men spiritually, or promote mystical doctrine without ecclesiastical approbation. The ideologies of Christian leaders in Ancyra aimed at constructing a harmonious Christian society rather than one embroiled in interminable conflict.
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| Subject
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Philosophy, religion and theology; Social sciences; Language, literature and linguistics; Ancyra; Christian; Late Antique; Leadership; Nilus of Ancyra, Saint; Saint Nilus of Ancyra; Theodotus, Bishop of Ancyra; Turkey; Classical studies; Religious history; Religious congregations; 0330:Religious congregations; 0294:Classical studies; 0320:Religious history
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W. E. Klingshirn
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The Catholic University of America
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