Page 55 - A Walk to Caesarea / Joseph Patrich

A Walk to Caesarea: A Historical-Archaeological Perspective 41

copying manuscripts) for the Holy Writ, which became known for its meticulous Fig. 44
workmanship. In c. 325, at the request of Constantine, Eusebius sent fifty copies
of the Bible to Constantinople in the form of a book of bound parchment pages Martyrs’ chapel installed
(a codex). Caesarea maintained its status as an academy of theology, rhetoric, and in the early fourth century
law until the sixth century. In this lively intellectual center Procopius of Caesarea in the hippo-stadium that
received his early education. was converted into an
amphitheater. Proposed
The sacellum to the goddess Kore in the stadium was converted in the fourth reconstruction, view from
century, so it seems, into a martyrs’ chapel (Fig. 44). From literary sources, we northwest
know the names of ten churches in Caesarea, dedicated to the following saints:
Cornelius – the centurion of the Italian cohort who was baptized by Peter; Philip
the Apostle and his four daughters, who were prophetesses; Pamphilus; Euphemia;
Mary Theotokos; the “new” church of Mary; Anastasius the Persian – a chapel set
in the tetrapylon; Procopius; the apostles; Jesus Christ. Thus far, remains of only one
of the city’s churches have been exposed – the octagonal church built on the hill
overlooking the city and the harbor, over the ruins of the temple to Augustus and
Rome. There was also a private chapel dedicated to St. Paul and perhaps another
one in the adjacent wealthy mansion.

In the northern part of the city a synagogue operated during this period. After
the passing of Rabbi Abbahu in 309, no other leader of similar stature arose in
the Jewish community. Perhaps the quashing of the Jewish revolt against Gallus in
351/52 was one of the factors for the decline in status of the Jewish community in the
city. A second uprising by the Jews of Palaestina, especially in Caesarea, in which a
number of Christians were killed, took place in 439, during the reign of Theodosius
II (408–450) and Pulcheria. The Jews also joined the Samaritans in the revolt