Omniscience in Marvel 94

Title - History 101

…

Byzantine Period

The year was 325 AD, and the Roman Empire was at a crossroads. Constantine the Great, the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, had called for a grand assembly of bishops to settle a theological dispute that threatened the unity of his empire.

The controversy revolved around the teachings of Arius, a priest from Alexandria, who argued that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was not co-eternal with the Father but a created being.

This Arian controversy was dividing the Christian community and undermining the cohesion of Constantine's realm.

The city of Nicaea, that'll later be known to be the modern-day İznik in Turkey, was chosen as the venue for this historic council. Bishops from all corners of the empire gathered, bringing with them their local traditions, theological perspectives, and, often, their own conflicts.

Constantine himself attended the sessions, not as a participant but as an overseer, emphasizing the importance of unity and the need to resolve the doctrinal rift.

Funnily enough, amongst the participants were the Eternals, Leucadius, Yeshua himself and Aspect, however, different from the Eternals who could be here due to their mission, Leucadius felt that it would be better to participate in such a historic event in person rather than observing from Heaven.

The debates were so intense and often heated that the Eternals feared that there might be a riot. "Aren't you gonna do something about this?" Ajak, unable to bear the sight confronted Leucadius.

Leucadius looked at her for a few seconds with an appraising look before asking. "Why?"

"You… What do you mean, 'Why'? They're basically trying to prove that your son over there is either Eternal or not." Ajak remarked angrily while pointing at Yeshua who was calmly sitting by the side with his eyes closed.

Leucadius looked at Yeshua and then at Ajak and then at Aspect, "Do we all…share the same origin?"

"That we do." Aspect replied curtly.

"So…we're basically Eternal..?"

"That we are." Aspect replied.

"Then why should we be bothered when they try to proof otherwise?" Leucadius asked, this time to Ajak.

"Because…" Ajak nearly screamed as she turned to the humans who all looked to be at their breaking points. "They're-"

"Come now." Leucadius interrupted before she could reply. "You've been observing humanity for over three millennia now and you fail to understand something so fundamental about them…"

"Wha- What are you talking about?"

"When a Human falls sick, even without a proper medication, their…white blood cells combats said dis-ease. This will lead to a…sort of adaptation.+

"Why does it seem you're trying to explain something to a child." Ajak asked with an irritated expression.

"Cause I fear you might be one." Leucadius said offhandedly. "Anyways, when it comes to ideology, humans of this era fail to actually understand that whether it's right or wrong, it's never bad. All form of ideas, right or wrong, are good."

"So this is good?"

"Basically." Leucadius nodded and looked down from their separate chamber. "At the end of this meeting, there'll be…something new for the church to propagate on."

"You…" Ajak began but sighed in resignation. She could never understand the human mind, and to her, Leucadius was far more Human than any human she'd ever come across.

Trying to understand him was akin to trying to understand why and how the universe was formed.

…

Arius and his supporters argued passionately for their interpretation, but they faced strong opposition from figures like Athanasius, who defended the orthodox view that Christ was of the same substance (homoousios) as the Father.

This council took months on end, and after months of discussion, a consensus was reached, and the Nicene Creed was formulated. This creed affirmed the divinity of Christ and condemned Arianism, establishing a foundation for Christian orthodoxy.

The council also addressed other important matters, such as the date of Easter and various ecclesiastical disciplines, setting a precedent for future councils to resolve theological and administrative issues.

This First Council of Nicaea became a turning point in the history of the church, marking the beginning of the formalization of Christian doctrine and the church's integration into the Roman state.

…

As the empire grappled with doctrinal unity, a different kind of spiritual movement was taking root in the deserts of Egypt and spreading across the empire. Monasticism, characterized by a life of asceticism, prayer, and communal living, offered an alternative path to spiritual fulfillment.

It was a response to the perceived moral decay of urban life and the increasing institutionalization of the church.

Monasticism began when Anthony the Great, who retreated into the Egyptian desert to live a life of solitary devotion. His example inspired many others to follow suit, and soon, the desert was populated with hermits and small communities of monks dedicated to a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

One of the most influential developments in monasticism was the establishment of communal monasticism by Pachomius, who founded the first cenobitic monastery.

Unlike the solitary hermits, Pachomius' monks lived together in a structured community, following a strict rule of life that included prayer, manual labor, and communal worship. This model of monasticism spread rapidly and became the dominant form in the Byzantine Empire.

Monasteries became centers of spiritual life, learning, and social welfare. They preserved and copied manuscripts, provided education, and offered hospitality to travelers and the poor.

The monastic movement attracted people from all walks of life, including many who would go on to become influential theologians and church leaders.

…

"These guys remind me of that kid Siddhartha Gautama." Leucadius commented as he, Phastos and Kingo were amongst a group of monks.

"Ah? The Human kid who tapped into divinity? He was a good student." Kingo said while looking reminiscent.

"You only taught him for a day, and it was basically him asking questions and you answering." Phastos sniggered in jest.

"Now you're just being mean. There's a saying amongst the people of Ta-Lo; A teacher for a day, a parent for a lifetime. So as long as we're both alive, he's my son and I'm his father."

"Keep telling yourself that." Phastos rolled his eyes at his sibling and turned to Leucadius. "You're uncharacteristically quiet."

"Hmm, Buddha…I'm conflicted on whether it was right to actually accept him into the council." Leucadius said but then shook his head. "Forget It, it has nothing to do with me."

"Huh?" Phastos let out in confusion but Leucadius had already moved from his prior location.

As he walked, he pondered on whether the events of Journey to the West would take place as it was supposed to be or whether, like most of the Divine characters, He'd be similar to hus Record of Ragnarok counterpart.

Leucadius had never had a reason to actually confront Buddha so he didn't know how strong he was, but for someone who understands the principles of the universe so much so that he ascended to Divinity…Taking him lightly would be the last thing Leucadius would do

…

In 380 AD, the Roman Empire experienced another significant shift with the reign of Emperor Theodosius I. A devout Christian, Theodosius was determined to establish Christianity as the state religion and suppress pagan practices. His efforts culminated in the Edict of Thessalonica, which declared Nicene Christianity as the official faith of the empire.

This edict marked the beginning of a period of intense religious transformation. Pagan temples were closed, sacrifices were banned, and pagan festivals were abolished.

(A/D: I'm not being overly supportive of Christianity here. It's just how my research on the matter came out.)

Theodosius' policies were met with resistance from those who still adhered to the old ways, but the emperor's determination and the support of the church ensured that Christianity became deeply entrenched in the fabric of the state.

To Leucadius, this action wasn't a matter of religion any longer, but an act similar to the Churches or Magic Towers in certain Manhwas trying to establish themselves in a region.

It was comical seeing it happen in front of him, and even more hilarious that the future church wouldn't see it the way he's seeing it.

…

Theodosius also took steps to consolidate Christian orthodoxy and suppress what was termed 'heretical movements'. The Arian controversy, though addressed at Nicaea, continued to simmer, and Theodosius worked to root out Arianism and other heresies.

This act was frowned upon by Leucadius, but he still didn't interfere since every action made in the past would see its resultant reaction in the future.

He convened the First Council of Constantinople in 381 AD, which reaffirmed the Nicene Creed and expanded on the doctrine of the Trinity, further solidifying the theological foundations of the church.

The integration of Christianity into the state apparatus had far-reaching implications. Bishops and other church leaders gained significant influence in political matters, and the church became a key player in the governance of the empire.

Theodosius' reign marked a turning point in the relationship between church and state, setting a precedent for the close cooperation and mutual support that would characterize the Byzantine Empire.

…