DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26747#0545
Ohap. II.
BASILICAS.
481
CHAPTER II.
ROMANESQUE STYLE.
CONTENTS.
Basilicas at Rome —■ Basilica of St. Peter — St. Paul’s — Basilicas at Ravenna —
Piacenza — Florence — Cathedral of Pisa — Torcello.
CHRONOLOGY.
DATES.
Hoaorius..a.d. 395
Valentinian. 425-435
Theodorio, King of the Ostrogoths . . . 493-525
Justinian.527
Alboin Longimanus, King of Lombardy . . 568
Liutprand, King of Lombardy
Astolphus.
Desiderius.
Conquest by Chariemagne .
DATES.
, A.D. 712
. . 749
. . 756.
. . 774
Basilicas.
One of the most remarkable facts connectecL with the early history
of the Christian religion is, that neither its fonnder nor any of his
more immediate successors left any specific directions either as to the
liturgical forms of worship to he observed by his followers, nor laid
down any rules to be observed in the government of the newly esta-
blished church. Under these circumstances it was left almost wholly
to those to wliose care the infant congregation was entrusted, to frame
such regulations for its guidance as the exigencies of the occasion
might dictate, and gradually to appoint such forms of worship as
might seem most suitable to express the purity of the new faith, but
at the same time with a dignity befitting its high mission.
In Judea these ceremonies, as might naturally be expected, were
strongly tinctured with the fonns of the Mosaic dispensation; but it
appears to have been in Africa, and more especially in the pomp-loving
and ceremonious Egypt, that fixed liturgies and rites first became an
integral part of the Christian religion. In those countries far from the
central seat of government, more liberty of conscience seems to bave
been attained at an early period than would have been tolerated in
the capital. Before the time of Constantine they possessed not only
churches, but a regularly established hierarchy, and a form of worship
similar to what afterwards obtained throughout the whole Christian.
world. The form of government of the churcli, however, was long
unsettled. At first it seems merely to have been, that the most re-
spected jndividuals of each isolated congregation were selected to form
a council to advise and direct their fellow-Christians, to receive and
dispense their alms, and under the simple but revered title of Pres-
2 T
BASILICAS.
481
CHAPTER II.
ROMANESQUE STYLE.
CONTENTS.
Basilicas at Rome —■ Basilica of St. Peter — St. Paul’s — Basilicas at Ravenna —
Piacenza — Florence — Cathedral of Pisa — Torcello.
CHRONOLOGY.
DATES.
Hoaorius..a.d. 395
Valentinian. 425-435
Theodorio, King of the Ostrogoths . . . 493-525
Justinian.527
Alboin Longimanus, King of Lombardy . . 568
Liutprand, King of Lombardy
Astolphus.
Desiderius.
Conquest by Chariemagne .
DATES.
, A.D. 712
. . 749
. . 756.
. . 774
Basilicas.
One of the most remarkable facts connectecL with the early history
of the Christian religion is, that neither its fonnder nor any of his
more immediate successors left any specific directions either as to the
liturgical forms of worship to he observed by his followers, nor laid
down any rules to be observed in the government of the newly esta-
blished church. Under these circumstances it was left almost wholly
to those to wliose care the infant congregation was entrusted, to frame
such regulations for its guidance as the exigencies of the occasion
might dictate, and gradually to appoint such forms of worship as
might seem most suitable to express the purity of the new faith, but
at the same time with a dignity befitting its high mission.
In Judea these ceremonies, as might naturally be expected, were
strongly tinctured with the fonns of the Mosaic dispensation; but it
appears to have been in Africa, and more especially in the pomp-loving
and ceremonious Egypt, that fixed liturgies and rites first became an
integral part of the Christian religion. In those countries far from the
central seat of government, more liberty of conscience seems to bave
been attained at an early period than would have been tolerated in
the capital. Before the time of Constantine they possessed not only
churches, but a regularly established hierarchy, and a form of worship
similar to what afterwards obtained throughout the whole Christian.
world. The form of government of the churcli, however, was long
unsettled. At first it seems merely to have been, that the most re-
spected jndividuals of each isolated congregation were selected to form
a council to advise and direct their fellow-Christians, to receive and
dispense their alms, and under the simple but revered title of Pres-
2 T