The Council of Arles
(August 1, 314) — World War I (August 1, 1914)
Starting in the 1880s, the brethren expected that in 1914, a Great War would bring down the failed Church‑ State systems of Christendom. This dating was later refined to begin with the Civil Year (Rosh Hashanah) in October. However, hostilities for the Great War broke out two months earlier on August 1, not October 1. One possible reason was that this date of August 1, 1914 is significant to the Jews since that was observance of the 9th of Av during for 1914. (See “The 9th of Av,” Beauties of the Truth, November 2006.)
The chronology link suggested in this article raises another fascinating correlation. The 1600 furlongs as the square of 40 x 40 is examined, but if the dating starts with the Edict of Milan in 313, the ending date is 1913. The Edict of Milan of itself freed Christians from the horrific attacks by the Civil Roman Dragon. Of itself, this edict only set forward a sensible policy for freedom of worship that today would be claimed as a “human right.”
PEACE DID NOT REIGN IN THE CHURCH
In the way of background, as soon as the Diocletian persecution ceased, the Church Hierarchy continued its internal arguments in the Donatist controversy. The following is an accurate summation from Wikipedia:
“Donatism was a schism in the Church of Carthage from the fourth to the sixth centuries AD. Donatists argued that Christian clergy must be faultless for their ministry to be effective and their prayers and sacraments to be valid. Donatism had its roots [when] … The Roman governor of North Africa, lenient to the large Christian minority under his rule throughout the [Diocletian] persecutions, was satisfied when Christians handed over their scriptures as a token repudiation of faith. When the persecution ended, Christians who did so were called traditors — ‘those who handed (the holy things) over’ — by their critics (who were mainly from the poorer classes).”
Arles, in southern France, with its ancient amphitheater
The Church Hierarchy argued that the holy sacraments were sufficient to effect forgiveness and reconciliation of the traditors. The Donatists wanted to either exclude these from service, or extract a great deal more penitence. After a failed attempt by Constantine in October 313 to bring peace by calling together a handful of the chief bishops from North Africa and their opponents, in the presence of the Bishop of Rome (there was no title of “Pope” at this historical time), the first general synod of the Church was commanded by the Roman Civil Government. This seems to be the start of formal Church‑State linkage. The date was August 1, 314. How remarkable that the Council of Arles was 1600 years to the very day 1 when Great War broke out!
Following is a relevant extract about these times, from Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 10.5.21‑24 (www.newadvent.org/fathers/250110.htm).
(21) Constantine Augustus to Chrestus, bishop of Syracuse.2 When some began wickedly and perversely to disagree among themselves in regard to the holy worship and celestial power and Catholic doctrine, wishing to put an end to such disputes among them, I formerly gave command that certain bishops should be sent from Gaul, and that the opposing parties who were contending persistently and incessantly with each other, should be summoned from Africa; that in their presence, and in the presence of the bishop of Rome, the matter which appeared to be causing the disturbance might be examined and decided with all care.
(22) But since, as it happens, some, forgetful both of their own salvation and of the reverence due to the most holy religion, do not even yet bring hostilities to an end, and are unwilling to conform to the judgment already passed, and assert that those who expressed their opinions and decisions were few, or that they had been too hasty and precipitate in giving judgment, before all the things which ought to have been accurately investigated had been examined — on account of all this it has happened that those very ones who ought to hold brotherly and harmonious relations toward each other, are shamefully, or rather abominably, divided among themselves, and give occasion for ridicule to those men whose souls are aliens to this most holy religion. Wherefore it has seemed necessary to me to provide that this dissension, which ought to have ceased after the judgment had been already given by their own voluntary agreement, should now, if possible, be brought to an end by the presence of many.
(23) Since, therefore, we have commanded a number of bishops from a great many different places to assemble in the city of Arles, before the kalends of August [Note: August 1 — with the uncertainties of travel, a date was set by which the meeting needed to start even if all had not arrived], we have thought proper to write to you also that you should secure from the most illustrious Latronianus, corrector of Sicily, a public vehicle, and that you should take with you two others of the second rank, whom you yourself shall choose, together with three servants who may serve you on the way, and betake yourself to the above‑mentioned place before the appointed day; that by your firmness, and by the wise unanimity and harmony of the others present, this dispute, which has disgracefully continued until the present time, in consequence of certain shameful strifes, after all has been heard which those have to say who are now at variance with one another, and whom we have likewise commanded to be present, may be settled in accordance with the proper faith, and that brotherly harmony, though it be but gradually, may be restored.
(24) May the Almighty God preserve you in health for many years.
— Br. Richard Doctor
(1) Adjustments to the Roman calendar over the centuries would shift dates. However, we remember and celebrate anniversaries on the same month day, not withstanding such adjustments. The assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC will always be “the ides of March” (March 15).
(2) The bishop of Rome, Miltiades, died in January 314 and was succeeded by the more famous Sylvester, however, Sylvester may not have succeeded to the appointment as bishop of Rome at the time the synod was called, or was too new to the office to be entrusted with this delicate task.