persecutions

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/

pdf

Aleksey Dmitrievich Panteleev, PhD in history, assistant professor, Institute of History, Saint-Petersburg State University (Mendeleevskaya linia, dom 5, Saint-Petersburg, Russia, 199034)
a.panteleev@spbu.ru
alpant@hotmail.com

Panteleev A. D. The martydom of Potamiaena and Basilides (Eus. HE, VI, 5) , 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, 2012, vol. 1, pp. 100–115.

DOI: 10.24411/2308-0698-2012-00002

Language: Russian

The story about young woman Potamiaena, who lived in Alexandria, and the warrior Basilides was told by Eusebius of Caesarea in Church History (6, 5) and Palladius in Lausiac History (3). There’re some differences between these versions in the dating and circumstances, and Palladius said nothing about Basilides. Despite Palladius’ indication of the IV century, we think that both authors reported on the same Alexandrian martyr of the beginning of the 3rd century. These events could occur between 206 and 210; this is indicated by the name of the prefect of Egypt. The cruel execution of Potamiaena — her body was burned with boiling tar — although not characteristic for early martyrdoms, but it is not impossible. Neither Potamiaena nor Basilides were directly connected with Origen, but Eusebius included this story in his narrative about the youth of Alexandrian theologian. Particular attention was paid to the history of Basilides’ conversion and its comparison with a similar story in the Martyrdom of Perpetua. The history of Basilides’ conversion under the influence of a dream, when Potamiaena appeared to him, looks quite organic not only for the Christian, but also for the pagan tradition of that time. The voluntary confession of Christianity by Basilides wasn’t indicate of Montanism. This story is the first significant testimony of the martyrs of Alexandria and one of the few authentic narratives of the persecution of Christians before the start of the persecution of Decius.

Key words: early Christianity, hagiography, persecutions, Alexandria, Eusebius of Caesarea

Permanent link: //rcs-almanac.ru/panteleev-a-d-2012-en/