"When you are in Rome, do as Rome does."
Ambrose, the celebrated bishop of Milan
gave rise to this proverb by stating that when he was in Milan
he observed Saturday, but when in Rome he observed Sunday.
(See page 70 in this Online
version of Truth Triumphant)
Italy AND EAST-C 4th
"It was the practice generally of the Easterne Churches; and
some churches of the west...For in the Church of Millaine (Milan);...it
seems the Saturday was held in a farre esteeme... Not that the Easterne
Churches, or any of the rest which observed that day, were inclined
to Iudaisme (Judaism); but that they came together on the Sabbath
day, to worship Iesus (Jesus) Christ the Lord of the Sabbath."
"History of the Sabbath" (original spelling retained), Part
2, par. 5, pp.73, 74. London: 1636. Dr. Heylyn.
Italy - Milan
"Ambrose, the celebrated bishop of Milan, said that when he was
in Milan he observed Saturday, but when in Rome observed Sunday. This
gave rise to the proverb, 'When you are in Rome, do as Rome does.'"
Heylyn, "The History of the Sabbath" (1612)
Orient And Most Of World
"The ancient Christians were very careful in the observance of Saturday,
or the seventh day...It is plain that all the Oriental churches, and the greatest
part of the world, observed the Sabbath as a festival...Athanasius likewise tells
us that they held religious assembles on the Sabbath, not because they were infected
with Judaism, but to worship Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, Epiphanius says
the same." "Antiquities of the Christian Church," Vol.II Book
XX, chap. 3, sec.1, 66. 1137,1138.
Abyssinia - Remnants of Philip's Evangelism
"In the last half of that century St. Ambrose of Milan stated officially
that the Abyssinian bishop, Museus, had 'traveled almost everywhere in the country
of the Seres' (China). For more than seventeen centuries the Abyssinian Church
continued to sanctify Saturday as the holy day of the fourth commandment." Ambrose,
DeMoribus, Brachmanorium Opera Ominia, 1132, found in Migne, Patrologia Latima,
Vol.17, pp.1131,1132. Arabia, Persia, India, China
"Mingana proves that in 370 A.D. Abyssinian Christianity (a
Sabbath keeping church) was so popular that its famous director,
Musacus, travelled extensively in the East promoting the church
in Arabia, Persia, India and China." "Truth Triumphant,"p.308
(Footnote 27). (Page numbers vary in this Online
version)
Spain - Council Elvira (A.D.305)
Canon 26 of the Council of Elvira reveals that the Church of Spainat
that time kept Saturday, the seventh day. "As to fasting every Sabbath:
Resolved, that the error be corrected of fasting every Sabbath." This
resolution of the council is in direct opposition to the policy the church
at Rome had inaugurated, that of commanding Sabbath as a fast day in
order to humiliate it and make it repugnant to the people.
Spain
It is a point of further interest to note that in north-eastern Spainnear the city of Barcelona is a city called Sabadell, in a district originaly
inhabited. By a people called both "Valldenses" and Sabbatati."
Persia-A.D. 335-375 (40 Years Persecution
Under Shapur II)
The popular complaint against the Christians-"They despise
our sungod, they have divine services on Saturday, they desecrate
the sacred the earth by burying their dead in it." Truth Triumphant,"
(Online
Version p. 261)
Persia-A.D.335-375
"They despise our sun-god. Did not Zorcaster, the sainted founder of our
divine beliefs, institute Sunday one thousand years ago in honour of the sun
and supplant the Sabbath of the Old Testament. Yet these Christians have divine
services on Saturday." O'Leary, "The Syriac Church and Fathers," pp.83,
84.
Council Laodicea - A.D.365
"Canon 16-On Saturday the Gospels and other portions of the
Scripture shall be read aloud." "Canon 29-Christians shall
not Judaize and be idle on Saturday, but shall work on that day;
but the Lord's day they shall especially honor, and as being Christians,
shall, if possible, do no work on that day." Hefele's "Councils,"
Vol. 2, b. 6. (See an online version of this council on the Roman
Catholic New Advent website - see Canon 29)
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