Ancient Christian Church Unearthed In Syria

[Sargon]

An ancient Christian church (1,200 yr old) has been unearthed in Syria recently as reported by the AP on Nov. 15, 2008. Experts believe that in this church baptisms, prayers, religious ceremonies and rituals took place.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/6113762.html

I sometimes hear from evangelical critics that performing rituals is not a Christian practice, but is in fact evidence that Mormons are non-Christian (because of the temple). Are there any critics here with that opinion? If so, what do you make of this news? Were these Syrian saints non-Christian also?

Thanks.

Sargon

[Ron Beron]

An ancient Christian church (1,200 yr old) has been unearthed in Syria recently as reported by the AP on Nov. 15, 2008. Experts believe that in this church baptisms, prayers, religious ceremonies and rituals took place.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/6113762.html

I sometimes hear from evangelical critics that performing rituals is not a Christian practice, but is in fact evidence that Mormons are non-Christian (because of the temple). Are there any critics here with that opinion? If so, what do you make of this news? Were these Syrian saints non-Christian also?

Thanks.

Sargon

Since this church is well within the framework in which the Catholics operated it would certainly have many rituals relating to baptism and the mass. Beyond that there are some instances of a ritual anointing that took place prior to baptism that was quite interesting. See this very interesting discussion in http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf207.ii.iii.iv.html

Chrism

. The custom of anointing the baptized with consecrated ointment is regarded by Cyril as a sacramental act representing the anointing of Jesus by the Spirit at His Baptism. "As the Holy Ghost in substance lighted on Him, like resting upon like, so, after you had come up from the pool of the sacred waters, there was given to you an unction the counterpart (τὸ ἀντίτυπον) of that wherewith He was anointed, and this is the Holy Ghost

Mystag

. iii.

[No Touch]

It is in Palmyra, how fitting?!

I would like to hear a more detailed report on all this, so perhaps I can better understand why the archaeologists believe that rituals were performed in the amphitheater and the other rooms it mentions, and what evidence there is of those rituals (like altars and such).

[saemo]

Since this church is well within the framework in which the Catholics operated it would certainly have many rituals relating to baptism and the mass. Beyond that there are some instances of a ritual anointing that took place prior to baptism that was quite interesting. See this very interesting discussion in http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf207.ii.iii.iv.html

Anointing the newly baptized still occurs today in all catholic churches, east and west. All are signed, liberally, with chrism on their foreheads. At confirmation the person is anointed beforehand with the sign of the cross on the forehead. If the person is baptized and immediately confirmed, there is only one unction.

Also, the Rite of Acceptance, for adults, includes anointing. All are signed with the cross at least once, additional signs on other senses is optional. (I was given the sign on the forehead and palm.)

The purpose of these anointings is described in the quotes you provided.

[abqfriend]

Great Web site Link-here is the dates of Cyril of Jerusalem quoted:

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (Κύριλλος Α΄ Ἱεροσολύμων) was a distinguished theologian of the early Church (ca. 313â??386). He is venerated as a saint by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as in the Anglican Communion. In 1883, St. Cyril was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII.

-Carol

Since this church is well within the framework in which the Catholics operated it would certainly have many rituals relating to baptism and the mass. Beyond that there are some instances of a ritual anointing that took place prior to baptism that was quite interesting. See this very interesting discussion in http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf207.ii.iii.iv.html

[DispensatorMysteriorum]

An ancient Christian church (1,200 yr old) has been unearthed in Syria recently as reported by the AP on Nov. 15, 2008. Experts believe that in this church baptisms, prayers, religious ceremonies and rituals took place.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/6113762.html

I sometimes hear from evangelical critics that performing rituals is not a Christian practice, but is in fact evidence that Mormons are non-Christian (because of the temple). Are there any critics here with that opinion? If so, what do you make of this news? Were these Syrian saints non-Christian also?

Thanks.

Sargon

I would point any who deny such rituals are Christian or have their origin in Jesus to this fascinating presentation on the Musteria found here: http://strongreasons.wordpress.com/2008/11/08/im-on-youtube/

[katherine the great]

An ancient Christian church (1,200 yr old) has been unearthed in Syria recently as reported by the AP on Nov. 15, 2008. Experts believe that in this church baptisms, prayers, religious ceremonies and rituals took place.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/6113762.html

I sometimes hear from evangelical critics that performing rituals is not a Christian practice, but is in fact evidence that Mormons are non-Christian (because of the temple). Are there any critics here with that opinion? If so, what do you make of this news? Were these Syrian saints non-Christian also?

Thanks.

Sargon

The 9th century doesn't fall into the category of early Christian. This was medieval.

[saemo]

The 9th century doesn't fall into the category of early Christian. This was medieval.

Medieval period in Europe. But, the Islamic golden age for Syria. But yeah, still not "early Christian".

edit to add: these would have been Assyrians, or Syriac Christians, who belong to the See of Antioch. Or, the Syriac Orthodox Church, which split from the Syriac Catholic Church in the 5th century.

[Sargon]

I would point any who deny such rituals are Christian or have their origin in Jesus to this fascinating presentation on the Musteria found here: http://strongreasons.wordpress.com/2008/11/08/im-on-youtube/

Shameless!

Kathryn,

The 9th century doesn't fall into the category of early Christian. This was medieval.

Did I say it was 'early' Christian?

[katherine the great]

Shameless!

Kathryn,

Did I say it was 'early' Christian?

It seemed implied. Why else would it be unusual to find evidence of rituals in a Christian church?

[Noah]

This is...unremarkable.

I was just at a Evangelical Church last Sunday and witnessed the "laying on of hands".

Is that not a ritual?

What about Communion?

Maybe I've got my definitions all messed up.

Somebody smack me over the head with something blunt and painful, please.

(and no, that won't hold up in court).

[Sargon]

It seemed implied. Why else would it be unusual to find evidence of rituals in a Christian church?

Well, there is a faction of Evangelical critics who oppose any and all semblance of ceremony and ritual...an extreme by-product from the Reformation I suppose.

I was just wondering how they felt about other, non-mormon, Christian churches who perform rituals (and this was cooler than citing the modern Catholic Church).

[saemo]

Well, there is a faction of Evangelical critics who oppose any and all semblance of ceremony and ritual...an extreme by-product from the Reformation I suppose.

I was just wondering how they felt about other, non-mormon, Christian churches who perform rituals (and this was cooler than citing the modern Catholic Church).

I know a few converts to Catholicism who felt sorry for Catholics their whole lives, because they believed we were all going to hell en masse. Rituals was part of that belief. Also included were the Pope, Saints, Mary...pretty much the list from the English Reformation. Which includes the erroneous assertion the Bible was kept from the whole world on pain of death.

(Same stuff, different day.)

[emeliza]

I was just at a Evangelical Church last Sunday and witnessed the "laying on of hands".

I remember how shocked the missionaries were to learn that we did the 'laying on of hands' in the Presbyterian Church when an Elder was called.

[Doctor Steuss]

I would point any who deny such rituals are Christian or have their origin in Jesus to this fascinating presentation on the Musteria found here: http://strongreasons.wordpress.com/2008/11/08/im-on-youtube/

I had my fingers crossed that you were linking to Guy Stroumsaâ?¦