Becoming Christian: The Conversion of Roman Cappadocia

Introduction

Introduction Cappadocians were there in the crowd at the beginning of Christianity. At the first Pentecost in Jerusalem, Cappadocians were among those amazed spectators who were startled to hear the apostles preaching in their own exotic languages. Cappadocians were also present at the end of imperial hostility toward Christianity in the eastern empire. During the final great persecutions under the emperor Maximinus, some of the illustrious martyrs in Palestine were Cappadocians.' But despite the participation of Cappadocians at these critical moments of early Christian history, Christianity seems to have spread into most of central and eastern Asia Minor only comparatively late. Evidence for Christian communities in Pontus, Cappadocia, and northern Galatia under the early empire is scanty and scattered. Only during the mid- and later third century did communities of Christians, of different varieties, finallybecome more common. Even then these communities continued to endure hostility and sometimes outright persecution, both from Roman magistrates and from local opponents. The patronage of the emperor Constantine in the early fourth century finally accelerated the process of conversion. By then Christian communities were widespread in central and eastern Asia Minor, and one ecclesiasticalhistorian even complimented Galatia,Cappadocia, and neighboring regions for having taken the lead in the Christianization of the eastern provinces.Along with their ecclesiasticalcolleaguesfrom throughout the eastern empire, bishops from Cappadocia, Pontus, and Galatia attended the famous Council of Nicaea in 325 and enjoyed Constantine's hospitality . Some thought that this council, because it had been convened under the patronage of a Christian emperor, finally marked the fulfillment of the promise of the original Pentecost. From the era of the New Testament to the origins of a Christian Roman empire, Cappadocians had contributed to the growth of Chri~tianity.~ The three great Church Fathers from Cappadocia, Basil of Caesarea, his brother Gregory of Nyssa, and their friend Gregory of Nazianzus, were Introduction Cappadocians were there in the crowd at the beginning of Christianity. At the first Pentecost in Jerusalem, Cappadocians were among those amazed spectators who were startled to hear the apostles preaching in their own exotic languages. Cappadocians were also present at the end of imperial hostility toward Christianity in the eastern empire. During the final great persecutions under the emperor Maximinus, some of the illustrious martyrs in Palestine were Cappadocians.1 But despite the participation of Cappadocians at these critical moments of early Christian history, Christianity seems to have spread into most of central and eastern Asia Minor only comparatively late. Evidence for Christian communities in Pontus, Cappadocia, and northern Galatia under the early empire is scanty and scattered. Only during the mid- and later third century did communities of Christians, of different varieties, finally become more common. Even then these communities continued to endure hostility and sometimes outright persecution, both from Roman magistrates and from local opponents. The patronage of the emperor Constantine in the early fourth century finally accelerated the process of conversion. By then Christian communities were widespread in central and eastern Asia Minor, and one ecclesiastical historian even complimented Galatia, Cappadocia, and neighboring regions for having taken the lead in the Christianization of the eastern provinces. Along with their ecclesiastical colleagues from throughout the eastern empire, bishops from Cappadocia, Pontus, and Galatia attended the famous Council of Nicaea in 325 and enjoyed Constantine's hospitality . Some thought that this council, because it had been convened under the patronage of a Christian emperor, finally marked the fulfillment of the promise of the original Pentecost. From the era of the New Testament to the origins of a Christian Roman empire, Cappadocians had contributed to the growth of Christianity.2 The three great Church Fathers from Cappadocia, Basil of Caesarea, his brother Gregory of Nyssa, and their friend Gregory of Nazianzus, were 2 Introduction all born during the reign of Constantine, after the Council of Nicaea. Basil's family had been Christian at least since the later third century, and his grandparents had suffered during the persecutions under the last pagan emperors. Gregory of Nazianzus' father had converted only recently, after Constantine's demonstration of his support for Christianity, but he quickly became bishop of his hometown. Because their ancestors had become Christians by different routes, their experiences already represented in miniature two contrasting perspectives on the relationship between Christianity and Roman rule, imperial hostility or imperial patronage. The Cappadocian Fathers themselves grew up in a Christian Roman empire and in Christian families. Their distinguished careers as churchmen marked them as clear beneficiaries of the increasing significanceof Christianity in...