Join us on Thursday, July 11, 8 p.m. for a Zoom talk "Emperor Theodosius I - The Twilight of Greco-Roman Paganism, & its Integration with Christianity" with Dr. James Rietveld.
Pay What You Wish: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/909459707467
Theodosius I, aka Theodosius the Great, was Roman Emperor from AD 379 to AD 395 and the last to rule over both eastern and western halves of the Roman Empire. He was a distinguished general, fighting against and eventually creating treaties with barbarian Visigoths and surviving bloody civil wars.
When serious illness threatened his life, Theodosius sought baptism by the Catholic Church. After his recovery, the emperor set about establishing Christianity as the religion of the state, vigorously suppressing paganism and Arianism.
Theodosius established the creed of the Council of Nicaea (325) as the universal norm for Christian orthodoxy and directed the convening of the second general council at Constantinople. Interestingly, Theodosius was excommunicated in 390 for the massacre in Thessalonica and only allowed back into the church after doing penance. This excommunication was historic as it showed the sheer power the church had gained, even enforcing it's will on the emperor, who closed pagan temples and forbade their worship by threat of harsh punishment in 391.
Theodosius' importance rests on the fact that he founded a dynasty which continued in power until 450, whose policies influenced the emergence of Nicene Christianity as the orthodox belief of the vast majority of Christians throughout the middle ages, and ensured the destruction of paganism.
Join us for this fascinating lecture with Cal State Fullerton professor Dr. James Rietveld, a professor at CSU, Fullerton and Cal Poly Pomona, CA of History, Anthropology, Religion with a PHD from Claremont School of Religion, is author of two books, and can be seen on History channel's "Crazy Rich Ancients."
This lecture will be posted on the Dr. James Rietveld Salon Lecture You Tube channel, where you can also watch previous lectures: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jamesrietveldsalonlectu2903
