By Nichola
With current events sparking conversation around systemic injustices, looking to the past helps us to reflect on how earlier societies dealt with oppressive governments. The Early African church of Carthage being a prominent example.
Carthage is a city located in Tunisia with many tales of courage and imperial pursuits that date back to 200 BC. This Phoenician colony was the longest-lived republic in the ancient Mediterranean. The Battle of Cannae led by Carthaginian general Hannibal has remained a fascinating military tale. His strategic defeat of the Roman army has been memorialised through art and media till modern day. Ranging from classical literature to on-screen adaptations of the war as displayed in the episode of the Battle of the Bastards in Game of Thrones. This battle was a part of the ongoing Punic wars between the Carthaginians and their rivals: The Romans. Eventually this led to their defeat and fall to the Roman empire in 146 BC.
The collapse of the city was humiliating. It was once the centre of trade and imperial success in the Ancient Mediterranean. How would the Carthaginians cope under this new imperial government? Their city was replaced by a rival city to become the capital and the masses were shipped into slavery. These devastating losses resulted in minimal resistance from the people who wished to cling unto their remaining dignity- now merely survival. Romans justified their cruel takeover as a means to end the horrific traditions of child sacrifices that Carthaginians supposedly partook in.
In 200-300 AD, however, to the Romans' horror, Carthage rose from the ashes once again. It became the epicentre of early Christianity, resulting in the Roman Empire responding harshly to these mass conversions. They ordered all citizens to sacrifice to the Emperor and the Roman gods. Or risk losing their rights to work and basic citizenship- even worse death. These periods of persecution saw the rise of iconic defenders of the faith like Tertullian, a Carthaginian bishop who criticised these new laws. He states in one of his letters to the Roman officials: ‘ Christians do not engage in the foolish worship of the emperors, that they do better: they pray for them’. He also stated that Carthaginians had left the ‘pagan temples empty’ enlightening us on the mass conversions to the faith.
The persecutions were brutal and widespread across the empire. Other religious groups such as the Jews were not victims to such violence. Christian collectives were faced with the question to risk death for their faith or compromise to survive. Unfortunately for the church of Carthage, their stories fail to begin with legends of heroism. Under pressure, many Carthaginian Christians complied to giving sacrifices so they could obtain Roman citizenship and maintain basic rights.
The general response from other believers towards this perceived treachery was the banishment of these ‘lapsed’ Christians. However, Cyprian a prominent Christian bishop at the time pledged for the case of the Unity of the Church. For those who were repentant and wished to return to the church, he saw no problem with reintegrating them. He even challenged anyone who would consider dividing the church over this matter.
‘How can anyone think he keeps the faith, if he breaks the unity of the Church?’
The Unity of the Church
St Cyprian
In the second wave of persecution, the unity of the Carthaginian church outdid itself. With many collectively displaying courage as they offered themselves as martyrs for the faith. Choosing death over compromise with the enemy. The writings of Cyprian became foundational to the Western Theology and the Church of Carthage withstood the attacks of the Western imperialists until 7th century.
This remarkable city leaves a legacy of a fallen and redeemed population, finding liberty in a faith which is widely clamped down on. A mix response of fear and compromise, bravery and resistance. Iconic figures from martyrs to bishops, all standing in unity for their beliefs. And founding fathers of theology who would exceed their Roman oppressors themselves in historical memory.
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