Herod and the Romans
The Romans Are Coming The last great Hasmonean king was Alexander Jannaeus. He made an alliance with the Sadducees and killed Pharisees who tried to rebel against him. Alexander crucified…
Late Second Temple Period
The Essenes on Mount Zion In the 2nd century BCE a crisis erupted among the priestly circles in the Temple, with the termination of the high-priestly line of the sons…
King Herod’s Temple
Herod’s Vision for the Temple Herod wanted to build in Jerusalem a Temple that would amaze all who saw it—a world wonder that would stand alongside the other wonders of…
Aelia Capitolina
Aelia Capitolina in Jerusalem After the destruction of Jerusalem in the Great Revolt and leading up to the Bar Kokhba revolt, one of the greatest emperors and builders in Roman…
Crucifixion and Resurrection Mystery
Crucifixion and Resurrection Mystery Orthodox Christianity is characterized by a mystical, allegorical interpretation of the Christian story and a view of the various events as mysteries[1]. Without a doubt, the…
Early Christianity in Jerusalem
Christians in Aelia Capitolina After the destruction of the Temple during the Great Revolt, the city of Jerusalem was in ruins, but this probably did not prevent Jews and Christians…
Jerusalem Becomes Christian
The Romans Become Christians In 310 CE, Constantine the Great (reigned 310–337) ascended to power in Rome with the blessing of Jesus, who revealed the symbol of the cross to…
Byzantine Jerusalem
From Temples to Churches In the 4th century CE, the Romans converted to Christianity and began building churches instead of temples. Until then, Christianity had been a persecuted religion with…
Early Christian Saints
Monastic Life Christian mysticism was prominent in Cappadocia and Alexandria in the fourth century, in the monasteries on Mount Sinai in the sixth century, and in Byzantium and on Mount…