Plagues, Priests, and Demons

Abstract

Disease and the Rise of Christianity in Europe, 150-800 C.E. Through him [Saint Antony], the Lord healed many of those present who were suffering in body and freed others from evil spirits. (Anthanasius's Life of St. Antony, c. 360 c.e.) 1A letter from Martin happened to be brought to him and he placed it in her bosom at the very moment when her temperature was rising and at once the fever left her.(Sulpicius Severus's Life of Saint Martin, c. 396 c.e.) 2The glorious tomb of the blessed martyr Baudilius is in Nimes . . . The inhabitants of the region realized that this tomb often possessed a heavenly remedy for many illnesses.(Gregory of Tours's Glory of the Martyrs, c. 590 c.e.) 3Early Christian literature abounds in references to sickness and the miraculous cure. Indeed, the miraculous cure is perhaps the most common type scene in sacred biography and history. 4 Why are stories of sick 1

The Early Christians in the Face of Epidemics

“…Christianity during the first centuries of its existence has already prepared some modes of activities to deal with epidemics 16 . These were both ideological and practical means.…”

“…In the face of death brought by epidemics, the pagan teaching could not provide consolation that flowed from the belief in life after death 19 . The pagan society plagued by suffering from illness and fear of death could not find answers concerning the benefits of plagues and suffering in either teaching of philosophers or religious leaders 20 .…”

“…In contradistinction to the heathens, Christian belief in the resurrection of the dead was a great source of consolation. The meditation on resurrection was coincident with suffering and death 22 . The promise of life after death was noticeable in the early 3 rd -century Passio Sanctarum Perpetuae et Felicitatis 23 .…”

“…Christian community became a kind of an alternative society and even new families centered around Christ 38 . Christianity came to appeal to men who felt deserted 39 .…”

“…H.W. Bird, Liverpoool 1993 [= TTH, 14 Orosius,VII,22,1,p. 480. in the city of Rome in approximately 270 10 .…”