Nostra civitas: heresy, charity, and community in fifth-century Rome

This article examines the relationship between heresy, charity, and community in mid fifth-century Rome through the lens of Leo I's anti-Manichaean persecution of 443/44. Importantly, Leo's preaching against Manichaeism took place in the context of migration. According to the bishop, Manic...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Cohen, Samuel ca. 20./21. Jh. (Author)
Format: Print Article
Language:English
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Published: Aschendorff 2020
In: Jahrbuch für Antike und Christentum
Year: 2020, Volume: 63, Pages: 139-160
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Leo, I., Pope 400-461 / Vatican Palace / Manichaeism / Persecution / Heresy
IxTheo Classification:BF Gnosticism
KAB Church history 30-500; early Christianity
KBJ Italy
Further subjects:B Charities
B Rome
B Communities
B Heresy
B Social Structure
B Bishops
B Charity
Description
Summary:This article examines the relationship between heresy, charity, and community in mid fifth-century Rome through the lens of Leo I's anti-Manichaean persecution of 443/44. Importantly, Leo's preaching against Manichaeism took place in the context of migration. According to the bishop, Manichaean heretics had migrated to the city of Rome due to "a disturbance in other places" (aliarum regionum perturbatio), almost certainly a reference to the Vandal conquest of North Africa. In addition, his preaching coincided with a reimagining of Rome's social structure away from traditional notions of citizenship bound by civic euergetism towards a new Christian conception of society, which emphasized the deserving poor - the populus dei - receiving alms administered by the church under the authority and patronage of its bishop. In this context, the Manichaean functioned didactically as the ultimate "other". As heretics and outsiders to the city, they were the perfect foil against which Leo could contrast his populus dei, and thereby delineate the boundaries of his community. Indeed, Leo's condemnations of Manichaeans can be found principally in sermons about other topics including charity, a theme that was particularly well-suited to address questions of community and belonging.
ISSN:0075-2541
Contains:Enthalten in: Jahrbuch für Antike und Christentum