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The Christianization of Europe: Boniface, Willibrord, and the Rise of Christianity

This overview explores the Christianization of Europe, focusing on key figures like Boniface and Willibrord. Boniface was martyred in Dokkum while attempting to convert the Frisians in 754. The introduction of Christianity faced resistance, as many perceived missionaries as intruders. Willibrord, appointed archbishop of the Frisians, established a church in Utrecht and worked tirelessly to spread Christianity. By 1000 AD, most of Europe was Christian, blending old Germanic traditions with new Christian practices, leading to the rich, hierarchical structure of the Church.

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The Christianization of Europe: Boniface, Willibrord, and the Rise of Christianity

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  1. Paragraph 5.2 The christianisation of Europe

  2. Bonifacekillednear Dokkum • A Frisiantown Dokkum in 754: • PriestscametheretotrytoconvertpeopletoChristianity. • Boniface was one of them. • Theywerekilledby a group of robbers. • Bonifacedied a martyr.

  3. Wilibrord • For centuriespeoplewerealready Christian. • The Franks were Christian. • Monksbrought the religionto Ireland and England. • But the Netherlands and Germany stayedheathens. • In 690, English monk Willibrord cameto Katwijk withothermonks.

  4. Theyweremissionaries, whocameto the Netherlands toChristianise the Frisians. • ( = allpeople in the northwerecalledthis) • He planned his mission well; • He had permissionfrom the FrankishkingPepin ( Charlemagne’sgrandfather). • The pope in Rome had made Willibrord archbishop of the Frisians.

  5. Willibrord built a big church in Utrecht. • Fromthere, he triedtoconvertpeople.

  6. Christian Europe • ConvertingpeopletoChristianity was not easy. • Manysaw the missionaries as intrudersthatjustwantedto take over the Netherlands. • ManyFrisianstriedtoburn down churchesandkill the missionaries.

  7. WhenCharlemagneconquered the area, allpeoplebecame Christian. • Around the year 1000, all of Europe was Christian.

  8. Mixing cultures • The oldGermanictraditionsdidnotdisappearcompletely. • To make the transitiontoChristianityeasier, the churchadoptedGermanicfeasts, andstartedtocelebratethem as Christian holidays. • Examples:

  9. Christmas: birth of Christ. It was the samedaythatGermanicpeoplecelebrated Midwinter: • Use of trees, mainlyneedles, represented the return of spring. • Easter: Christs’sresurrection. Same day as Germanic Spring festival. Use of firetochase the winter away.

  10. Influentialclerics • There was a ranking in the church: hierarchy. • First: the pope. • Then: archbishops • Lower: bishops • Followedby: clerics, likeparishpriestsin villages.

  11. The clergy was veryinfluential. • People went tomass ( church service) on Sunday, andtheyweretoldwhattheyshouldandshouldn’t do: • What is allowed, andwhat is notallowed!

  12. Only the clergycouldreadandwrite • Sothey had important jobs as advisersforkingandlaw makers.

  13. Monksandnunswere special clergy. • Theylivedisolatedfrom society, in monasteries. • TheylivedwithstrictrulesfromanoldItalian monk Benedict, from the 6th century:

  14. Monkscouldn’tleave the monastery, • Couldn’t have possessions • Had toobey the head of the building: abbot. • Theyonlyworkedandprayed: • Ora et labora

  15. The richchurch • Manykingsandnobles made donationsto the churchto secure a place in heaven. • Or lefttheirpossessionto the churchafterthey had died. • The churchgot a lot of land because of this. • Theyalsobecameincrediblyrich. • Also, becausetheydidn’tpayanytaxes.

  16. Youcouldalso help the churchby building a monasteryor anabbey.

  17. The end.

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