The reasons for the appearance and spread of heresies in Palestine of the IV–VI centuries A. D.

Abstract

Palestine is the area of the Syro-Aramaic cultural area, which from the fourth century to the middle of the seventh century were part of the Byzantine Empire. The city of Gaza is interesting for researchers because it has absorbed the features of various cultural layers, starting from the ancient Semitic tribes, passing through Hellenistic traditions and completing its path of cultural development in Christianity. Byzantine Gaza really occupied a prominent place in the empire. The monasteries of Mar-Saba (the Lavra of Sava the Consecrated) and the New Lavra in Fekoe near Bethlehem were the most violent followers of Origenism in the territory of Ancient Palestine. Various heresies are emerging in Syria, Egypt and Palestine, and many religious disputes are beginning to require state intervention. More and more clerics began to treat many important doctrinal issues differently. The authors assume the next reason is the nationality belonging of different groups of the population. The third reason for this spread of heresies may be the monastic movement that became more intensive in the fourth century.