mountainman

"He that throws rubbish in this enclosure has the anathema from the 318 Fathers, as an enemy of God".

This report of an inscription appeared in a Copyright © The New York Times Article published: March 18, 1894, and entitled "Early Christian Cursings" Does anyone happen to know anything more about this inscription?
Best wishes,


Pete

Toto

http://insaph.kcl.ac.uk/iaph2007/iAph120328.html

DCHindley

Aphrodisias in Turkey was important in late Roman & Byzantine times. The synod of the 318 fathers (council of Nicaea) were revered by Nestorians as well as the Catholics. Perhaps the enclosure was a Nestorian church and the inscription (dating to 5th century CE) a warning to Byzantine Catholics not to try and desecrate it (or vice versa).

DCH

mountainman

Dear Dave,

Nestorians and "the Catholics" we must be sure to remember were totally indistinguishable from one another for an entire century ... until the time that Nestorius became the arch-bishop of Constantinople, and then removed via the political actions of Cyril of Axeandria, the big boss mafia thug bishop of Alexandria.


The writings of Nestorius have since independently turned up in the Syriac, telling Nestorius' side of the story --- or rather seeing the situation though the eyes and reports of Nestorius. Have you read these?

Yes, such schismatics were a feature of the age of the Arian controversy. IMO these correspond to the tell-tale signs of social and political turbulence. The dating of the fifth century looks quite reasonable for this type of inscription.

I have been researching to whom it was that the ecclesiatical authors who are to be regarded as continuators of Eusebius made reference as the supreme authority. So far, I have counted almost a dozen independent references made, by very important people, in very important places and in very important christian ecclesiatical historical documents (and inscriptions as here) of the fourth and fifth centuries to the three hundred and eighteen fathers of the church.

It appears these 318 were the final authority during the epoch of Constantine, and then for at least a century, the codification of the Laws of Justinian making a fitting final tribute to these illustrious three hundred and eighteen (Constantinian) "fathers" (of Nicaea) in the sixth century. This authority of thr 318 appears paramount.

In contrast I cannot find too many references to the Eusebian prenicene "fathers of the church" in authors before the very end of the fourth century. Who else apart from perhaps Jerome, Augustine and Cyril? The church fathers appear firmly identified to the minds of many of these (other more common) authors as the 318 fathers at Nicaea, not the Eusebian church fathers mentioned in "Historia Ecclesiastica" and other works, and as we might be taught today in theology college.Is it possible only a few select people knew the Eusebian history? Was it common knowledge? No Eusebian father appears to be cited in the same manner as "the 318 fathers" in terms of authority. Do you have any thoughts on this state of affairs?


Best wishes,


Pete


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