2/22/11

The physical importane of the Temple was being diminished, as Jesus "predicts" its destruction, and its spiritual aspects were growing in significance.  Revelation 21-22 describes a "new" Jerusalem, as the nature of religion in the city was transforming.  Jerusalem is said to be the location of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, and some Christians interpret Matthew 27's statement about "destroy[ing] the temple and build[ing] it in three days" refers to Jesus' resurrection.  And in 285 CE, emperor Diocletian instituted the tetrarchy of power, eventually resulting in Constantine's rise to power.  He legalized Christianity in the Edict of Milan in 313 CE, although some believe he used religion as a method of uniting his empire.

Helena, Constantine's mother, came to Jerusalem in 324 CE, and her rededications established the Church of the Holy Sepulcher as a new "axis mundi."  In 391, Theodosius established Christianity as the state religion, and Justinian expanded the city and built the Nea (New) Church.  People began making both Jewish and Christian pilgrimages to Jerusalem.  People began relating the myths from the Temple to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  Also, the Nea Church had a lot of physical similarities to Solomon's temple.