Transcript Episode 2 Cenacle

Episode 2:
Waypoints in Church History
The Cenacle, Jerusalem
Acts 2:1-4
Waypoint timeline
• Music: ancient Jewish hymn??
• Theme: begin the story of the Church’s
history
Cenacle Introduction
• Waypoint: Cenacle in
Jerusalem
• Emphasize importance of
events at Cenacle
• Evangelist and historian: St.
Luke
• Destruction of Jerusalem and
the Cenacle
• Rebuilding of Cenacle
What is the Cenacle
• Cenacle is from Latin,
cenaculum (coenaculum), for
upper room or attic
• An ancient site in old
Jerusalem near the Zion Gate
• Revered in Judaism as the site
of King David’s tomb
– Ancient synagogue on first
floor
• Revered in Christianity as site
of ‘birth place’ of the Church
– The first waypoint for pilgrim
Church
– Sometimes referred to as the
first Church
St. Luke
• Author of Gospel and Acts of
the Apostles
– Two books about the
foundation of Christianity
– First Book (Gospel) is about
Jesus
– Second (Acts) Book covers
missionary work of apostles
• Luke was a disciple of Paul
who travelled with him to
Rome
• He was a very learned man, by
tradition a physician and artist
• Why does he write these
Books?
– See Luke 1:3-4
Important Events at Cenacle
• Last Supper and First
Eucharist
– Luke 22
• Some resurrection
appearances of Jesus
– Luke 24
• Election of St. Matthias to
replace Judas among
apostles
– Acts 1
• Pentecost and first public
sermon by St. Peter
– Acts 2
First Century Roman Palestine
First Century Roman Empire
Herod the Great (73 to 4 BC)
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His father, Antipater, was placed
in power by Romans
Herod grew up (‘hostage’) in
Rome
Friend with both Ceaser Augustus
and Mark Antony
Becomes Roman client king of
Romans
Exerts great power in Palestine,
including massive building
projects
– Second Temple precinct
– Cities of Caesarea and Tiberius
– Palaces in Jerusalem, Masada
•
When he dies, Romans divide his
kingdom among his sons with a
Roman administrator
Brief History of First Century AD
Roman Provence of Palestine
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Friction among Herod’s sons
Friction among various Jewish
groups over relation with Rome
– Priests and Sadducees in
Jerusalem
– Pharisees
– Essenes
– Zealots
•
Frictions make Palestine a
contentious place, with several
localized tax rebellions
–
•
Jesus crucified by Romans as an
insurrectionist in 33 AD
One major First Century War: First
Jewish War 66 – 73 AD
– Starts in Galilee, but spreads
throughout Palestine
– Nero appoints Vespasian and his
son Titus as Roman generals
– Destruction of Second Temple in
70 AD
– Fall of Masada in 73 AD
Roman Destruction of
Jerusalem
• In 70 A.D. Romans lay siege to
Jerusalem
• Eyewitness account from the
historian Josephus
– Jew who defected to Romans
– After the War, he writes about
Judaism
• A great fire destroyed the
Temple, and much of
Jerusalem, including the
original Cenacle
– Western Wall is one of the few
things not destroyed
Later History of Cenacle
• After time of persecution
by Romans, a great
basilica was built in 4th C
at the Cenacle
– Becomes an important
pilgrimage site
• This building was
destroyed by Muslims in
11th C
• Rebuilt by Crusaders in
12th C
Cenacle Summary
• Cenacle as model for our
liturgical life
– Each local Church place
where Eucharist is
celebrated
– Word preached
– Sacraments administered
• Also a model for patient
endurance of pilgrim
Church during difficult
times
– After crucifixion
– Destruction of Jerusalem
Next Waypoint: The Coliseum