apostasy – RCS

Aleksey Dmitrievich Panteleev PhD in History, associate professor, Saint Petersburg State University, Institute of History (7/9 Universitetskaya nab., Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russia)
a.panteleev@spbu.ru

Panteleev A. D. New Approaches to the Study of Apostasy and Religious Mobility in Roman Empire, Religiya. Tserkov’. Obshchestvo. Issledovaniya i publikatsii po teologii i religii [Religion. Church. Society: Research and publications in the field of theology and religious studies], pp. 374–399.

doi: 10.24412/2308-0698-2025-14-338-368

Language: Russian

This article analyzes new approaches to the study of apostasy and attempts to determine which of them are applicable to the analysis of religious mobility in the Roman Empire from the 1st to the 4th centuries AD, primarily for the study of the history of early Christianity. Our study is based on a recently published collective monograph devoted to the problems of apostasy from various religious teachings and religion in general (Handbook of Leaving Religion / Ed. by Daniel Enstedt, Goeran Larsson, Teemu Mantsinen. Leiden: Brill, 2020). Several preliminary comments are made on terminology, sources, and fundamental differences between the beginning of the new era and the turn of the 20th–21st centuries, then historical, geographical and demographic, statistical, sociological, psychological, narrative and autobiographical, media and communication approaches are sequentially considered. The main problem with applying these methods lies in the available sources on apostates in the early centuries: about a dozen works mentioning apostates, most of which are limited to brief condemnations of such individuals. The goal of church authors was not to describe or describe apostates, but to combat the phenomenon of apostasy itself and discourage fellow believers from even considering it. There is little insight into the mentality of those who fell away; at best, we can learn how their former comrades spoke of them. Nevertheless, some of the observations made using these methods are undoubtedly interesting. In our view, the most promising approaches are the sociological, historical, geographical, and narrative ones.

Key words: early Christianity, Roman Empire, persecutions, apostasy, hagiography, historical research methods

URL: https://rcs-almanac.ru/panteleev2025-en/

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Aleksey Dmitrievich Panteleev phd in history, associate professor, Saint Petersburg State University, Institute of History (7/9 Universitetskaya nab., Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russia)
a.panteleev@spbu.ru

Panteleev A. V. «Wealth is like a Snake»: Money, Martyrdom, Apostasy and Struggle for Power in Early Christian Tradition (1st – early 4th century), Religiya. Tserkov’. Obshchestvo. Issledovaniya i publikatsii po teologii i religii [Religion. Church. Society: Research and publications in the field of theology and religious studies], Saint-Petersburg, 2023, vol. 12, pp. 180–201.

doi: 10.24412/2308-0698-2022-11-174-193

Language: Russian

The article is devoted to the consideration of questions about how Church writers of the 1st – beginning of the 4th century perceived wealthy Christians, place of the rich Christians in the life of the community, and what dangers were associated with the possession of wealth. Main sources for analysis are the writings of the New Testament, the «Shepherd» of Hermas, the works of Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian and Eusebius of Caesarea. The accusation of rich Christians of a tendency to apostasy, both during persecution and tranquility, is studied. For all these authors, the possession of wealth is a problem. In peace time, wealth distracts from the salvation of the soul and weakens faith, creating the illusion of well-being and security, and forces you to communicate with pagans beyond measure. In times of persecution, wealth tempts you to defect. This attitude is based on their personal practical experience. But apostasy was not the only cause of concern for church hierarchs and intellectuals. The rich Christians could disrupt the normal course of community life, demand special treatment for themselves because of the benefits they provided. There was also a second reason for dissatisfaction with the rich within the community — insubordination to the church authorities. If a rich layman was not satisfied with his position, he could strive for leadership by taking on the role of a priest, or move to a heretical group where it was easier to achieve the desired position. Finally, he could simply loosen his ties with the church without severing them completely.

Key words: early Christianity, Roman Empire, wealth, poverty, persecution, apostasy

URL: //rcs-almanac.ru/en/en-panteleev-2023/