The Truth About Christianity's Origins In Europe | Secrets Of Christianity | Parable

In this segment, investigative journalist Simka Yakubovic embarks on a journey to uncover the historical truth behind the origins of Christianity. The narrative begins with the persecution of early Christians, who were fed to wild animals for Roman entertainment. It then shifts to the controversial conversion of Emperor Constantine, who, after a vision of the cross, adopted Christianity and made it the official religion of the Roman Empire. The summary explores the question of whether Constantine's conversion was genuine or if modern Christians are worshipping a version of Jesus created by a pagan. Simka's investigation takes her to various historical sites, including Istanbul, once the capital built by Constantine, and the Arch of Constantine in Rome, which might hold clues to the emperor's true beliefs.

This paragraph delves into the historical account of Emperor Constantine's battle against Maxentius and the controversy surrounding his conversion to Christianity. It discusses the traditional narrative of Constantine's vision of the cross and the subsequent Christian victory, as depicted in Raphael's frescoes. However, the summary points out the absence of Christian symbolism on the Arch of Constantine, suggesting a different story. The investigation also explores the possibility of Christians being part of Constantine's and Maxentius's armies, challenging the notion of a clear-cut religious conversion and raising questions about the role of the Roman military in the spread of Christianity.

The summary examines the potential blending of Mithraism, an ancient mystery religion, with Christianity during Emperor Constantine's reign. It explores the similarities between the two faiths, such as the depiction of Mithras and Jesus with halos, the ritual of communion, and the concept of resurrection. The narrative suggests that Constantine may have merged elements of Mithraism with Christianity to consolidate his power and gain the support of the Roman elite. The investigation also considers the significance of the date December 25th, which was celebrated by Mithraists as the birth of their sun god and later adopted by Christians as the birth of Jesus.

This segment discusses the evolution of Christian iconography and the potential influence of Roman paganism on the depiction of Jesus Christ. The summary highlights the discovery of a 6th-century mosaic in Ravenna, Italy, which portrays Jesus in the attire of a Roman emperor, suggesting a deliberate effort to associate Christ with imperial imagery. It also explores the possibility that Constantine used Christian iconography to present himself as a divine figure, further blurring the lines between pagan and Christian symbolism.

The focus of this paragraph is on Emperor Constantine's self-representation as a divine figure, particularly in relation to the sun god Apollo. The summary describes the archaeological evidence, including a colossal statue of Constantine with a halo, reminiscent of solar imagery. It also discusses the inscription on Constantine's arch, which describes him as 'instinct to divinitatis' or divinely inspired, and the potential implications of this for understanding his religious beliefs and the fusion of pagan and Christian elements in his self-presentation.

This segment explores the strategic positioning of Constantine's arch in relation to the Colossus of Apollo and the significance of this architectural arrangement. The summary explains how the arch was built off-center to frame the statue of Apollo, creating a visual narrative that positions Constantine above the sun god, suggesting his superiority. It also discusses the broader context of Constantine's association with the Flavian dynasty, which destroyed the Jewish Temple, and the implications of this connection for understanding Constantine's religious and political strategies.

The summary investigates the possibility that the Roman army, which initially persecuted Christians, may have also played a role in spreading Christianity. It discusses the discovery of early Christian symbols in military contexts, such as a cave near Jericho and a mosaic in Megiddo, suggesting that some Roman soldiers were secret Christians. The narrative challenges the traditional view of the Roman army as solely oppressive to early Christians and presents the idea that they may have facilitated the religion's dissemination.

This paragraph examines the discovery of the ancient city of Dura Europos and its significance for understanding the early spread of Christianity. The summary describes the unearthing of the world's oldest Christian church and frescoes, indicating that Christians were not only tolerated but also thriving in this Roman garrison city. It also discusses the presence of a temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis, suggesting a coexistence of pagan and Christian practices, and the discovery of the 'Satyr Square' or 'Sator Square', a cryptic symbol that may hold a secret Christian message.

The focus of this segment is on the Sator Square, an ancient Latin palindrome that may contain a hidden Christian code. The summary explores the various interpretations of the square's meaning, from a simple word game to a meaningful religious symbol. It discusses the efforts of scholars and experts to decipher the square, including computer analysis that suggests it was not a random invention but likely had a specific purpose or message, potentially related to the spread of Christianity within the Roman army.

This paragraph discusses the potential spread of Christianity to the farthest reaches of the Roman Empire by soldiers who may have been secretly practicing the faith. The summary highlights the discovery of military discharge diplomas and a tombstone in Roman Britain that suggest the presence of Christian soldiers from the Holy Land. It also describes the finding of a Sator Square in Manchester, which could be the oldest Christian artifact in Britain, further supporting the idea that Christianity spread along the Roman military network.

The summary delves into the ongoing quest to decipher the Sator Square and its potential connection to the spread of Christianity. It discusses the discovery of the square in Pompeii, alongside other Christian symbols, and the theories of experts who believe the square to be an early Christian device with a hidden message. The narrative follows the investigative journey of Simcha as he consults with scholars and researchers to unlock the meaning of the square, which is suggested to represent the Lord's Prayer and the concept of Jesus as the Alpha and Omega.

This segment explores the theory that the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. may have catalyzed the spread of Christianity within the Roman Empire. The summary discusses the discovery of a Christian cross in Herculaneum, which challenges the traditional timeline of the adoption of the cross as a Christian symbol. It also examines the presence of Jewish and Christian slaves in Pompeii and the potential influence of their beliefs on the Roman population, suggesting that the disaster may have been interpreted as divine punishment and led to a surge in conversions to Judaism and Christianity.

The focus of this paragraph is on the search for evidence of early Christians in Pompeii prior to the eruption of Vesuvius. The summary describes the exploration of the city, the discovery of graffiti that may indicate the presence of Jews and Christians, and the interpretation of these findings within the context of the eruption as a divine event. It discusses the significance of the graffiti found in a latrine, which suggests the presence of Jewish or Judeo-Christian slaves, and the broader implications of these findings for understanding the spread of Christianity.

This segment examines the overlooked evidence of early Christians in Pompeii, as revealed through graffiti and other subtle forms of expression. The summary highlights the discovery of a charcoal graffiti that may be the earliest archaeological attestation of the word 'Christian' and the interpretation of other inscriptions that suggest the presence of Christians warning their Roman masters of impending divine punishment. It also discusses the potential impact of the eruption on the spread of Christianity and the conversion of the Roman Empire.

The summary focuses on the graffiti found in Pompeii that provides evidence of the persecution of early Christians. It discusses the discovery of a sketch