From Ephesus to Antioch Early Baptism and Naming Practices in Asia Minor
Abstract
This paper examines the practice of baptism and naming patterns of Early Christianity in Asia Minor. Asia Minor was mostly a pagan world and Christianity brought new practices, rituals, and customs, yet connected to the previous religion. Baptism was a practice among them, that sealed the new religion (Christianity) on the body of the faithful. Similarly, the new names that were given to the newly baptized, or born inside a Christian family, marked the spread of Christianity, by calling a relevant name.
Keywords
References
- Anastasiadou, A (2005). Η Χορηγία στις Ανατολικές Επαρχίες της Βυζαντινής Αυτοκρατορίας: Αφιερωματικές και Κτητορικές Επιγραφές Ναών της Μ. Ασίας. Thessaloniki: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
- Brown, P. (1993). The Making of Late Antiquity. Cambridge, MA, London: Harvard University Press.
- Evans, J. A. (2005). The emperor Justinian and the Byzantine Empire. Westport, Connecticut, London: Greenwood Press.
- F. Iadevaia, Historia imperatorum liber ii (Da Diocleziano ad Anastasio), vol. 2.1, Messina: EDAS, 2005: 9–178.
- Hansen, G. C. (1995), Theodoros Anagnostes. Kirchengeschichte 2nd edn. [Die griechischen christlichen Schriftsteller der ersten Jahrhunderte. Neue Folge 3. Berlin: Akademie-Verlag: 2–95.
- Gregory Nazianzus. On Holy Baptism (Oration 40) J.-P. Migne, Patrologiae cursus completus (series Graeca) (MPG) 36, Paris: Migne, 1857–1866: 360–425.
- Guy, L. (2003). “Naked” Baptism in the Early Church: The Rhetoric and the Reality. The Journal of Religious History 27 (2), pp. 133–142.
- Gwynn & Bangert eds. (2010). Religious diversity in Late Antiquity. Leiden, Boston: Brill
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
History of Old Asia Minor , Classical Greek and Roman History
Journal Section
Theoretical Article
Authors
Zoe Tsiami
*
0009-0002-7247-7580
Greece
Publication Date
April 1, 2026
Submission Date
July 24, 2025
Acceptance Date
March 1, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Number: 2