What is the history of the Vatican ? Ever heard of the state-sponsored pogrom against Christians following the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD? Emperor Caligula built a circus in the area of the Vatican in 40 AD, and after the martyrdom of Saint Peter in 64 AD, the area became a necropolis. Nero then expanded and modified the venue into a circus (Circus of Nero), notably widening the turning points and integrating it into his private gardens, the Horti Agrippinae. In 64 AD following the Great Fire of Rome, Nero used the circus grounds to persecute Christians accused as scapegoats of the fire itself, who were crucified or used as living torches to illuminate night spectacles. It’s unknown how many Christians were killed for the amusement of the Roman emperors. Some estimates say in the 1000s. Among the murdered per Christian tradition was Saint Paul and the Apostle Peter who were martyred in the year 64 or 67 during the reign of Emperor Nero. Peter is said to be buried in the necropolis because of its proximity to the Circus of Nero where he was martyred. What was happening in Egypt while Christians were being massacred for 3 centuries by the Romans? They built a church and celebrated Christianity! The Coptic Orthodox Church is recognized as the first Christian church in Egypt, established in Alexandria by Saint Mark the Evangelist in the mid-1st century (traditionally dated to 42–44 AD). I This is one of the earliest Christian communities in the world, founded just over a decade after the death of Jesus. While the Romans were systematically massacring Christians for centuries, Egypt and Syria were giving them refuge. Who would finally put a temporary end to Christian massacres by Europeans? A pagan worshipper, Emperor Constantine invoked the Edict of Milan in 313 CE, which granted religious tolerance and restored confiscated Christian property. Still not the state religion. Constantine then built the first St. Peter’s Basilica over his tomb in and around 318-324 AD, establishing the area as a major Christian pilgrimage center. Idol worship. Yes he built a mausoleum on top of the bones of murdered Christians. In 325 pagan worshipper Constantine Convened the Council of Nicaea to resolve theological disputes, resulting in the Nicene Creed which affirmed the divinity of Christ. It is 300 bishops would decide which of the 50 apostles would be included in the New Testament. They burned such gospels of Mary, Philip, Thomas, etc. Constantine also kept the pagan holiday of East tar (Easter), the festival of fertility. •Eggs and bunnies are symbols of fertility. •Goddess Aphrodite is east tar with another name. She’s the goddess of love and fertility, nothing to do with the resurrection. Christmas derives from Soul invictus - The holiday originates from saturnalia, a pagan holiday. Romans were celebrating Apollo, God of the son. Note: these are controversial claims! I wonder why? Constantine killed his own son a year earlier. He never converted until before he died 12 years later in 337AD. Council of Rome (382 CE): Presided over by Pope Damasus I, this council promulgated the first official list of the 73-book scriptural canon (46 Old Testament, 27 New Testament (13 written or authored by Paul)). This is 8 short of the Ethiopian Orthodox version at 81. Other fun facts on the Vatican: 846: Pope Leo IV built the Leonine Walls to protect against Saracen raids. 1870: Italy annexed the Papal States, leaving the Pope as a "prisoner in the Vatican." Oyyy veyyy 1929: The Lateran Treaty granted the Vatican its current sovereign status. 1962–1965: Pope John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council to “modernize”, undermine, Church practices.