Ep 14. The Early Christian Underground

The Naked Archaeologist season 2 episode 14, titled "The Early Christian Underground," explores the hidden history of Christianity in the first few centuries AD. Host Simcha Jacobovici travels to the ancient city of Rome, where he visits the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian and witnesses evidence of the early Christian burial practices. He also meets with Father Jan Michael Joncas, who explains the significance of early Christian hymns and how they were used to convey hidden messages during a time when Christianity was still a secretive and persecuted faith.

Simcha's journey takes him to the city of Naples, where he visits the Catacombs of San Gennaro and discovers an underground community of early Christian believers. Here, he finds evidence of hidden Christian symbols, such as the fish and the anchor, which were used as secret codes between believers. Simcha also discovers evidence of gruesome early Christian martyrdoms, including the story of Saint Gennaro, who was thrown into a fiery furnace by Roman authorities.

As Simcha continues his exploration, he delves into the hidden world of early Christian manuscripts and the challenges involved in deciphering them. With the help of Dr. Michael Langlois, an expert in ancient manuscripts, he examines a fragment of parchment that is said to be from the original Gospel of Matthew. Through the process of palaeography, they are able to date the fragment to the 2nd century AD, making it one of the oldest known copies of the New Testament.

Simcha's final stop on his journey is to the island of Malta, where he investigates the claim of early Christian artifacts that suggest the existence of a secret underground church. He meets with local historian Dr. Albert Ganado, who reveals that during the Roman era, Malta was a safe haven for early Christians fleeing persecution. Together they explore the ancient site of the Catacombs of St. Paul, where they find evidence of early Christian prayer and worship.

In conclusion, "The Early Christian Underground" takes viewers on an immersive journey into the hidden world of Christianity in its earliest stages. Through ancient manuscripts, underground communities and gruesome martyrdoms, the episode helps to shed light on the struggles and challenges faced by early Christian believers as they worked to establish their faith in a world that was often hostile and unwelcoming.