Phrygia
Source: Wikipedia
Area where Colossae was located. Most famous for their legendary warrior kings of Greek mythology:
Gordias (Gordian Knot, untied by Alexander the Great)
Midas (whatever he touched turned to gold)
Mygdon (warred with the Amazons)
Close allies of the Trojans, fought against the Achaeans.
Power waned in 695BC, when they became subject to Lydia, then
Persian, Alexander, Greeks, Romans, Byzantium.
Originally of European descent, Phrygians are thought to have migrated from the Balkans. Their
language was similar to Greek, spoken until 6th century AD. Josephus called the
land Togarmah (Gen 10:3, Ezek 27:14, 38:6). Later, possibly the foundation of
the Armenian nation.
Cybele, The uncreated Great Mother (of all) goddess, was originally worshipped
in the mountains of Phrygia (”Mountain Mother”). She was considered to be the
mediator between the boundaries of the known/unknown or the civilized and the
wild or the worlds of the living and the dead. She was thought to protect the
walls of cities, but could speak directly to her followers from all walks of life. She
was the virtuous mother of Sabazios (Zeus), the sky and father-god depicted on horseback. Her
priests, Galli, voluntarily emasculate themselves, in order to receive the power of prophecy and
dressed in ridiculously effeminate robes. Augustine saw some Galli parading through the streets of
Carthage, with oiled hair, powdered faces, languid limbs, and feminine gait, demanding even from the
tradespeople the means of continuing to live in disgrace”. St Peter’s basilica in build over a shrine(s)
dedicated to Cybele by high-status Romans.
The “Phrygian cap” was worn by Mithras (powerful, unconquered creator sun-god,
head of Roman mystery religions, born of a virgin, popular in the Roman military in 1st
century: 7 grades of secret initiation, ritual meals involving feasting, secret handshakes,
underground temples, sacred day was Sunday, leaders were called pater/father and
had its center in Rome. Moral demands of purity were placed upon its membership as
they participated in the cosmic struggle of the good creation against the forces of evil. A
rival of early Christianity, its name (but not its practice) had its roots in Persia and likened to the
constellation of hero Perseus, its leadership guided by astrology and influenced by gnostic ideas).
Early Christian apologists bemoaned its syncretism, borrowed from Christian traditions: initiation
consisted of a ritual bath and communion of bread and cup of wine, while Mithras, like Jesus Christ,
was considered a “being from beyond the universe”. By the 5th century, Christian churches were often
built above the mithraeum (underground temples) to reflect their dominance. The Phrygian cap came
to signify freedom and liberty, similar to emancipated slaves of ancient Rome, who comprised the
largest membership of this cult. It survived as the “Liberty cap” of the American and French
revolutionaries.
A Christian movement developed in Phrygia in 2nd Century known as “Montanism” (founded by
Montanus) or “the New Prophecy”, is still identified in orthodoxy as the “Phrygian heresy”.
Distinguished by ecstatic spirituality and women priests, it relied on the spontaneity of the Holy Spirit,
emphasized visions, and held a more conservative personal ethic such as ascetic requirements.
Similarities exist to Pentecostalism, charismatic movement, and the New Apostolic Reformation. It
spread rapidly throughout the Roman Empire.
Irenaeus (Bishop of Lyon, 202, possibly born in Smyrna Turkey became student of Polycarp/ who
was student of apostle John) wrote Against Heresies (180) a detailed attack o Gnosticism which was
then a serious threat to the Church. He called them followers of “Magus the Magician”. However, In
vain, he warned his contemporaries against driving the true prophecy out of the Church because they
were anxious over the false. He maintained that bishops provided the only safe guide to the
interpretation of Scripture. His tomb was destroyed in 1562 by the Hugenots
(French protestants).
A lawyer by training, Tertullian, after converting to Montanism (207), first used the
term “trinity” (three persons: one substance). In spite of his schism from the
Church, he continued to write against heresy, especially Gnosticism. Became the
teacher of Cyprian, who later taught Augustine (chief founder of Latin theology).