The Third Rome (New Rome)

[mindlight]

Russian Orthodox believers say that Moscow is the third Rome , Constantinople being the second which lost its status when it was taken by the Turks.

The book of Acts seems to affirm Romes significance (the capital of the greatest empire on earth at the time) as the evangelistic journey leads from Jerusalem to there and indeed tradition tells us that both Peter and paul died there.

The Vatican was built on Peters tomb in Rome.

Constantine moved Rome to Constantinople calling this city the new Rome.

With the schism between orthodoxy and Catholicism many Eastern believers came to reject Romes status entirely. A lot of conceptions about church authority come down to this discussion about which city rules over the others. I wonder how much of that is deception and how much is of Gods intent?

1) Is the city important and should it be regarded as the centre of Christianity on earth?
2) Are the Orthodox believers right that the city is now Istanbul or Moscow?
3) How does this belief in the significance of Roman authority tie in with the Daniel prophecy of the fourth empire just before the coming of the kingdom
4) If this idea of an eternal city on earth is all false - should we regard Jerusalem as the actual centre e.g. from which Jesus shall reign for a thousand years on his return (premillennialism)
5) If this is all one big deception how has it damaged the witness of Christians over the last 2000 years.
6) The apocalyptic vision of Romes corruption can be contrasted with Pauls insistence that we respect earthly authorities appointed by God. Is the proper conception of Romes significance one of a harlot of Babylon at the heart of the worlds corruption, or as a centre of the church , sanctified by martyrs blood from which the whole world is blessed by Gods appointed authority structures.


Many of these questions were inspired by an excellent new book I am reading at the moment by Victor Petrenko on Russian Orthodoxy and authority but I think this is a broader discussion than just that of Orthodoxy and historical in character which is why I have posted in this forum:

http://www.peterlang.com/index.cfm?...uktur.detailseiten&seitentyp=produkt&pk=50335

 

[Jpark]

Rome's successor could be one of the current great powers but we should all remember what happened with Germany. Notice a lot of nations have lost the 'Empire' part, being known by it's mere name or by it's ideals (Soviet Union, Nazi Germany).

Rome's successor will be a nation that embraces ancient Rome's ideals.

 

[mindlight]

Rome's successor could be one of the current great powers but we should all remember what happened with Germany. Notice a lot of nations have lost the 'Empire' part, being known by it's mere name or by it's ideals (Soviet Union, Nazi Germany).

Rome's successor will be a nation that embraces ancient Rome's ideals.

In the Orthodox tradition as in the Anglican there is no separation between church and state. Thus in both ecclesiastical and secular power are intertwined. This may be slightly alien to an American where politics and religion are supposed to belong to different realms.

Its true that atheistic Communist USSR and Nazi Germany both played on Roman imagery but prior to both was the strong Christian conception of a holy city allied to the notion that the church had in some sense replaced Israel. So whereas Jerusalem was the capital of Jewish Israel Rome became the capital of the new people of God. As Rome fell to barbarians and then Constantinople, Moscow considered itself the inheritor of the title. Similarly the Anglican tradition considered itself in the apostolic succession and so Cantebury replaced Rome in spiritual authority. And so also the Holy Roman Empire which included the original Rome in its territories.

This is a powerful conception which contributed to the growth of Russian imperial confidence for example (not to mention the imperial pretensions of a great many others also) and this conception also arguably preceded more well known divisions between East and West e.g. the schism and the differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism/Protestantism for instance. But of course it may well be a great big lie?