In the 2nd and 3rd Centuries a practice developed in the churches of Asia Minor whereby the forgiveness of sins, or ecclesiastical peace, was granted by martyrs. The practice had its origin in the persecutions of Christians. As martyrs participated in the Passion of Christ, and were thus united to Him in a unique way, they were able to uphold those who renounced their faith in the midst of persecutions, welcoming them back to the Church. The peace granted by martyrs was approved by bishops. The practice was also familiar to Tertullian, who, being a Montanist, pointed out that it was generally the „people of the Spirit” who had the power to forgive sins, which included prophets as well as martyrs. Tertullian claimed that the power to forgive sins was not related to the Apostolic succession. The above-described practice was opposed by St. Cyprian of Carthage who, in 250 A.D., following the persecutions under Decius, put penitential practice in order, subordinating it to the power of the bishop.
The article presents the complex symbolism of salt that was strongly influenced by the rites and beliefs of the pagan and the biblical world as well as early Christian literature. The salt is an element present in every aspect of human life (food, medicine and religious cults). It played an important role in sacrifices and offerings of Old Testament. For this reason, Jesus’ use of this metaphor was extremely familiar to His followers. On the biblical bases the various allegorical motifs of salt were present in Christian authors. Metaphors associated with the salt became precise and rich. Salt was a symbolic figure of wisdom, moral cleanness and incorruptibility. God’s salt enabled one to triumph over the spiritual enemy. The Fathers taught to point others to the way of life, to show how they might be preserved from death and destruction. They pointed out how the purpose of Christian life depended on their spiritual saltiness.
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