Early Medieval Missions and Conversion

Missions and Conversion Common themes emerging? Common themes emerging? Who were some of the people leading missionary efforts, conversion? Who were some of the people leading missionary efforts, conversion? Strategies employed? Strategies employed?

Missions and Conversion The Great Commission The Great Commission “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20).“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Missions and Conversion St. Patrick (ca. 390 – ca. 461) St. Patrick (ca. 390 – ca. 461) “Apostle of Ireland”“Apostle of Ireland” From BritainFrom Britain Captured  Ireland, escapedCaptured  Ireland, escaped Returned, brought Roman ChristianityReturned, brought Roman Christianity Legends!Legends!

Missions and Conversion

The Visigoths The Visigoths Evangelized by Ulfilas (d. ca. 381)Evangelized by Ulfilas (d. ca. 381) Shared Iberia with CatholicsShared Iberia with Catholics Reccared (r ) adopted Catholicism (587)Reccared (r ) adopted Catholicism (587) Third Council of Toledo (589): Catholicism declared religion of VisigothsThird Council of Toledo (589): Catholicism declared religion of Visigoths Reccared reading confession of faith at Third Council of Toledo (589)

Missions and Conversion The Franks The Franks Allied to Byzantine Empire Pagans, Arians, Catholics Clovis I (r /13) Raised pagan, flirted with Arianism? Converted to Catholicism Franks adopted Catholicism en masse Baptism of Clovis

Missions and Conversion The English Mission The English Mission Initiated by Gregory I, probably Bertha Augustine dispatched 596, arrived 597 Had audience with Aethelberht at Thanet Faced tenacious paganism Missionary strategies: preaching, their lifestyle, “miracles” Image of Gregory and Augustine, S. Gregorio Magno, Rome

Missions and Conversion Image of Gregory and Augustine, S. Gregorio Magno, Rome The English Mission The English Mission Aethelberht and others converted, baptized Gregory remained involved via letters English church structure Augustine  1 st archbishop of Canterbury Provinces established Bishops consecrated

Missions and Conversion Gregory the Great and an Angle slave boy in Rome, St. Thomas’s Roman Catholic Church, Canterbury

Missions and Conversion St. Martin’s Church, Canterbury

Missions and Conversion Stained-glass image of Queen Bertha, St. Martin’s

Missions and Conversion Ruins of St. Augustine’s Abbey, Canterbury

Missions and Conversion Augustine’s grave site

Missions and Conversion Cyril and Methodius ( ; 815?-885) Cyril and Methodius ( ; 815?-885) Brothers from Thessalonika Spoke Slavonic Dispatched to Moravia to convert Slavs (863) Translated Bible, service books into Slavonic Mission ultimately unsuccessful?

Missions and Conversion The Rus The Rus Formed by East Slavs, VikingsFormed by East Slavs, Vikings Ruled by princesRuled by princes Center: KievCenter: Kiev Pagan, animistsPagan, animists Christians sought to make inroadsChristians sought to make inroads

Missions and Conversion The Conversion of the Rus The Conversion of the Rus Vladimir the Great (r ) converted (988) Launched Christianization of Rus Rus dependent on Byzantines for clergy, Slavonic liturgy Prince Vladimir

Missions and Conversion Questions? Questions?

Missions and Conversion Common themes emerging? Common themes emerging? Who were some of the people leading missionary efforts, conversion? Who were some of the people leading missionary efforts, conversion? Strategies employed? Strategies employed?

Primary Source Leo the Great’s “Petrine Doctrine” Leo the Great’s “Petrine Doctrine” –What kind of source is this? –What did Leo teach about St. Peter’s relationship to the eleven other apostles? –What titles did Leo use while describing Peter? –According to Leo, how was St. Peter still at work? What does this say about Leo’s beliefs regarding papal authority?

Primary Source Gregory the Great and “Papal Activity” Gregory the Great and “Papal Activity” –What kind of source are these? To whom were they addressed? –What was the purpose of each? –How did Gregory relate to the recipients? –What insight do these documents give us regarding papal authority, and papal concerns, during Late Antiquity?

Primary Source The Christianization of Russia The Christianization of Russia What kind of source might this be?What kind of source might this be? What does the text claim was the issue at first?What does the text claim was the issue at first? How can we describe the Russian reaction to Byzantine Christianity?How can we describe the Russian reaction to Byzantine Christianity? Based on the document, what might have been the very practical reason behind Vladimir’s conversion?Based on the document, what might have been the very practical reason behind Vladimir’s conversion? What is recorded about Vladimir’s Christianization efforts?What is recorded about Vladimir’s Christianization efforts?