History of Christianity in Romania: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:57, 29 May 2006

Revision as of 01:57, 5 July 2006

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The [[1971]] archaeological digs under the paleo-[[Christian]] [[basilica]] in Niculiţel (near ancient [[Isaccea|Noviodunum]] in [[Scythia Minor]]) unearthed an even older martyrium. Besides Zoticos, Attalos, Kamasis and Filippos, who suffered [[martyr]]dom under [[Diocletian]] ([[304]]-[[305]]), the relics of two previous martyrs, witnessing and dying during the repressions of Emperor [[Decius]] ([[249]]-[[251]]), were unearthed under the crypt.

The names of these martyrs had been placed since their death in church records, and the find of the tomb with the names written inside was astonishing. The fact that the relics of the famous Saint Sava "the Goth" (martyred by drowning in the [[Buzău River|River Buzău]], under [[Athanaric]] on [[12 April]] [[372]]) were recovered by [[Saint Basil the Great]] conclusively demonstrates that (unlike bishop [[Ulfilas|Wulfila]]) Saint Sava was a follower of the Nicene faith, not a [[heresiarch]] like [[Arius]].

Once the [[Dacia]]n-born Emperor [[Galerius]] proclaimed freedom for Christians all over the Roman Empire in [[311]], the city of [[Tomis]] alone (modern [[Constanţa]]) became [[Metropolitanate]] with as many as 14 bishoprics.