An important subtopic in this thread is that the Christian Church (Vatican) was founded by Roman Emperor Constantine who als had the Bilble compiled and declared the "Word of God" in 325, at the Council of Nicaea.
So now the strange thing is that according to the same history falsifiers that write that all Roman Emperors before Emperors Galerius (until 311 AD), apparently persecuted "Christians" (or the followers of Joshua of Nazareth), also write about popes (bishops of Rome) before the Vatican was founded by Constantine.
It doesn't make sense at all. If these popes would openly proclaim to be the leader of the "Christians", they would be sentenced to death. It seems obvious that "Christianity" started in Israel, so it also doesn't make sense that the leader of this religion would be in the centre of the enemy of "Christianity" - Rome.
It is even claimed that there were many (hundreds of) bishops in the Roman Empire before the Council of Nicaea. These would have kept this a secret to prevent being executed (martyred), so how could these historians "know"?
Needless to say the evidence on the existence of these popes (bishops of Rome) is dubious at best.
St. Peter was the supposed "first pope".
Of the first 31 popes, 28 died as martyrs (that is they were executed).
That is until 31th pope St Eusebius (309 – 310). These were the popes until the Edict of Milan (313 AD) issued by Emperor Constantine that made an end to the persecution of Christians:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_popes
One of the supposed early "popes" (bishop of Rome from 88 AD to his death in 99 AD) is Clement. Clement is interesting as it is claimed that he wrote one of the early "Christian" documents (besides the Didache and the Book of Matthew). There were first claims of 2 letters, but it has since been admitted that one of these is fake.
I believe that also the "only genuine extant writing" of Clement is as fake as the "Donation of Constantine". This letter is to the church at Corinth in response to a dispute in which certain presbyters of the Corinthian church had been deposed.
This letter was supposedly written by Clement c. 96 AD, but first published in 1592.
The letter is anonymous (it doesn't include Clement's name), and I really don't understand how any "scholar" could consider it genuine:
https://www.christianity.enterprises/20 ... hians.html
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https://archive.ph/lltyO)
See some in my opinion suspicious quotes from the supposed "Letter to the Corinthians" of Clement, including "Holy Spirit", "Jesus Christ", doctrines that I believe were only implemented in Christian doctrine much later, and bizarrely a reference to the rising "Phoenix" bird...
See some excerpts from various chapters from this letter.
.
Chapter 2 - Thus a profound and abundant peace was given to you all, and you had an insatiable desire for doing good, while a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit was upon you all.
Chapter 13 - Let us therefore, brethren, be of humble mind, laying aside all haughtiness, and pride, and foolishness, and angry feelings; and let us act according to that which is written (for the Holy Spirit says, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, neither let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glories glory in the Lord, in diligently seeking Him, and doing judgment and righteousness ), being especially mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus which He spoke teaching us meekness and long-suffering.
Chapter 16 - Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Sceptre of the majesty of God, did not come in the pomp of pride or arrogance, although He might have done so, but in a lowly condition, as the Holy Spirit had declared regarding Him.
Chapter 25 - Let us consider that wonderful sign [of resurrection] which takes place in eastern lands, that is, in Arabia and the countries round about. There is a certain bird which is called a phœnix. This is the only one of its kind, and lives five hundred years.
Chapter 45 - You are fond of contention, brethren, and full of zeal about things which do not pertain to salvation. Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit. Observe that nothing of an unjust or counterfeit character is written in them.
Chapter 63 - Joy and gladness will you afford us, if you become obedient to the words written by us and through the Holy Spirit root out the lawless wrath of your jealousy according to the intercession which we have made for peace and unity in this letter.
Chapter 47 - Take up the epistle of the blessed Apostle Paul. What did he write to you at the time when the gospel first began to be preached? Truly, under the inspiration of the Spirit, he wrote to you concerning himself, and Cephas, and Apollos, because even then parties had been formed among you.
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1010.htm
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https://archive.ph/ECPK)
Here's an interesting early icon of St. Theodore and St. George as warriors on horse, 9th-10th century, Sinai.
The Two Babylons by Rev Alexander Hislop - 1871 (7th_Edition) by Prince Arthur, on Flickr
Coronation of the Virgin Velasquez and Rubens 17th C by Prince Arthur, on Flickr
Coronation of the Virgin Fabriano and Bartolomeo 15th C by Prince Arthur, on Flickr
Coronation of the Virgin Quarton 15th C by Prince Arthur, on Flickr
