Dedication

The first Christians had specific places for worship. The faithful people from Jerusalem used to visit the temple before its destruction in the year 70. Before and after the destruction of the Temple the Jews and other people that joined the Christian faith used to go to the synagogues to pray. From the beginning there was a total break with the pagan temples with its sacrifices and sacred meals. For the common prayer and breaking of bread all that was needed was the house of a brother in faith so that a small community called Church could congregate. Each one of its members recognised that the true temple is the Body of Christ, identified with the local and universal community of believers.

After more than two centuries the atrocious persecutions finished with the peace of Constantine. This was the reason why Christian basilicas emerged everywhere, consecrated with a solemn rite called the Dedication so that they could celebrate the holy mysteries. The name in Greek is Enkáinia and it has its roots in the Old Testament; they were the feasts on inauguration of a new temple; and it has to be called the new temple because it is assigned for the manifestation of the newness of Christ. The historian Eusebius of Caesarea points out that there were feasts of dedication in each city. There were consecrations of new built churches with the presence of bishops, and people from many other and faraway places. In these assemblies there were feelings of friendship between the different people from different places, they were the members of the Body of Christ united in harmony. This same author describes the joyfulness of these feasts of the people of God: men and women from all ages, with all their energy, smiling in spirit and soul, were glorifying the Lord with prayers and thanksgiving actions (Hist. Ecles. X, III, 1, 4; IV, 71).

The joy of the dedication of a church is extended and actualized in the celebration of its anniversary.