Highlight- Early Christians Flashcards
Why weren’t cremations a thing during this time period?
Body was transformed by god on judgment day
What did lights and candles signify?
Eternal life and the glory to come
When were christian funerals
During the day
What were cemeteries considered?
resting places
Who consecrated the first christian cemetery and when
Pope John III in 575 AD.
What does Monotheistic belief in god mean?
Exsistence of one god
Death beliefs of the christians
added to the conception of the early hebrews of “flesh and blood” that the body is to resurrected and would be judged on his/her life on earth to be rewarded or punished. Christ aded concept of sonship of man and brotherhood of man.
What did christ preach most often about?
infinite and equal value of every human soul
how was the soul looked at and what was destined in the afterlife?
The shoul was both spiritual and immortal and destined in the afterlife to be a discarnate spirit; no soul could be totally destroyed.
Resurrection fo the body for christians
Christians held that it was the power of god that transformed the body on the day of judgement and many felt that the dead must necessarily be buried in the earth.
What did the christians believe about resurrection and cremation?
That the resurrection was a miracle of god.
That the bodies burned buried or lost at sea shared equally in the miraculous transformation, although the church held it revolting that the human body “once the temple of the Holy Spirit, once sanctified and refreshed spiritually by the sarcraments” should be burned, except in “well defined, isolated instances when because of disease or epidemic, cremation is absolutely necessary to prevent the disease”
Doctrine that in death all men are equal and that the eternal rewards they gain are not to be assigned.
Death beliefs in christianity
Simple, unpretentious and organized within the context of community living by a group of people.
Burial Customs of the christians
What was one of the seven great enumerated corporal works of mercy enjoined upon all christians
burying the dead
What were the requirements that Early Cannon law laid down for the burial of the dead
- The body should be decently laid out; with lights beside it;
- should be asperges with hole water and incensed at stated times
- the cross should be placed upon the breast or in lieu of a cross the hands should be folded
- Buried in consecrated ground
What was the regulation that the dead must be buried in a coffin
there were none
Who forbad the priest to bestow the ceremonial kiss upon the dead and prohibited the practice of clothing the corpse in rich raiment
Council of Auxerre
Who closed the eyes and mouth of the dead as one of the first acts after death?
Performed by the spouse, children or other close relatives of the deceased.
Who administered to the dying and took charge of the care of the dead?
the family
Christians touched the dead, and since the body was considered sacred and holy, it was possible for the laity and even the clergy to handle it without fear or legal defilement or need for ritualistic purification.
Kiss of Peace
What was a developed rite that was included in the burial service which involved contact with the dead, namely imparting the kiss of peace
Formal liturgical rite
The communion or Eucharist administered to the dying as a means of giving them strength on the journey into eternity.
Viaticum
What color did the christians believe that the deceased went forth into immortality?
White
Who washed the corpse? and why?
The female relatives and was preparation to make the dead appear to best advantage in the afterlife.
Why did the christians believe in the psychological need in gradually conditioning friends and relatives
The changed conditions brought about by death
Why did the christians believe in the physical need in providing an opportunity for continued close observation of the corpse
in hopes that the deceased might return to consciousness
If the christian burial was during the forenoon; what was distributed?
The requiem was said and holy communion was distributed
If the christian burial took place in the afternoon, what was happening?
The ceremony was limited to singing the psalms and the saying of prayers; accompanied by the special service of the dead.
Who was allowed to attend an early christian funeral procession?
Limited to the corpse, the bearers, family and friends of the dead.
What was the reason for funerals to be held during the day?
to emphasize the belief that the dead person was entering into eternal light and life and not into the gloom.
why were torches carried at the head of the procession?
“befits the progress of a victorious combatant.”
- symbolized both the gloryy into which it was hoped he had come and the triumph of his new state.
what days were designated as a special Memorial Day for remembering the dead with requiem masses?
In the primitive church, 3rd, 7th or 9th, 30th or 40th days as well as anniversaries.
Who carried out the early christian funeral functions?
The brethren of the dead under the direction of the clergy
overseers; burial parties worked in groups, some preparing for the religious procession, some carrying the body, others lifting the body and digging the grave
definition of decani
These people risked their lives in caring for the sick with contagious diseases
Parabolani (first class of minor functionaries)
2 classes of minor functionaries were assigned to visit the sick and bury the dead
- paranolani
2. laborantes, lectarii, fossarii, sandapilarii, and decanii
These people had the responsibility of digging graves, carrying coffins, placing the remains in the ground, and performing other related services
Laborantes, lectarii, fossarii, sandapilarii, and decanii (second class of minor functionaries)
