Evidence of Early Christianity on the Danube Limes, from Singidunum to Aquae

Abstract

This paper studies historical sources combined with archaeological data on traces of early Christianity in the middle section of the Roman Danubian Limes. Thanks to the results of archaeological researches and accidental findings, a picture was obtained, although still insufficiently clear, on the development of Christianity in this area in the period from the 4th up until the end of the 6th century. Historical sources note the existence of an organized Christian community at the Limes in the end of the 3rd and the beginning of the 4th century. The oldest archaeological traces come from the mid–4th century and they are mostly linked to the findings of painted tombs or stone and lead sarcophagi with distinct Christian symbolism. In large urban centres, Singidunum and Viminacium, parts of buildings which can be possibly defined as churches were discovered, from the 4th–5th century. Most of the ecclesiastic buildings discovered along the Limes belong to the period of the 6th century. They were built within military encampments and they bear witness of the high degree of Christianization not only of military crews but also the civilian population which lived in those fortifications and their immediate vicinity.