The Penetration of Christianity in Diocleatianopolis Cover Image

Навлизане на християнството в Диоклецианопол
The Penetration of Christianity in Diocleatianopolis

Author(s): Violina Traycheva
Subject(s): History, Ancient World, Theology and Religion, History of Religion
Published by: Великотърновски университет „Св. св. Кирил и Методий”
Keywords: Christianity; Christian basilica; Late Antiquity; Diocletianopolis
Summary/Abstract: The present paper research the question of the penetration of the Christianity in Diocletianopolis. The period concerns the time between the emergence of the late antique city of Diocletianopolis and the middle of V c. The study is realized by using the references of the Christian temple architecture of the city. The author discusses the information of the emergence of the Christian temples in the late antique city, some problems in the historiography and in addition provides new questions and views. The high concentration of the Christian basilicas in the territory of one city makes it possible to be concluded that there was a highly developed Christian community in Diocletianopolis. In summary, it could be written that one of the earliest basilicas in the late antique city is Basilica No. 4a, as the primary building is dated in the middle of/the second half of IV c. Another basilica, which is a part of this period, is the primary building of Basilica No. 3. Basilicas No. 2, 5 and 8 are dated in the first half of V c. It could be noted that the earliest Christian temple of the interior of the city is Basilica No. 2.