The Rise of the Cult of the Madonna: A Roman Bronze Coin (One-Coin Box)

This is a genuine ancient bronze coin from the reign of the Eastern Roman Emperor Arcadius (A.D. 395-408), son of Theodosius the Great, the last man to rule both the Eastern and Western halves of the empire. As such, Arcadius is considered by some to be the first Byzantine emperor. This duality is reflected in his coinage; some portraits are in profile, in the Roman style, while others feature the emperor's face to the front, a Byzantine innovation. Reverses vary, often depicting religious and military themes. –Christianity, the Jewish breakaway cult that Constantine the Great elevated to the official state religion of the mighty Roman Empire, replaced old pagan beliefs in the same way Rome itself expanded its empire: by assimilating them into the new faith. Worship of various local gods and goddesses continued in modified form as veneration of the saints. And no saint was venerated more than Mary, the Virgin Mother of Jesus Christ. She represented the female in an otherwise male-dominated trinity. –Her cult was relatively small until the reign of the Emperor Arcadius (A.D. 395-408). His eldest daughter Pulcheria dedicated herself to Mary at a young age, inspiring her father to build a number of churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Their enthusiastic involvement with Marian veneration transformed what was a fledgling cult into arguably the most popular in Christendom. Pulcheria spearheaded the movement to proclaim Mary as the Mother of God (as opposed to just the mother of the human Jesus), which was formally achieved at the Council of Ephesos. Arcadius, for his part, conceded to his daughter's every request, and was thus the earliest and most influen¬tial Marian benefactors. With¬out Arcadius, Mary may never have become the Madonna, and would not have the prominence she now enjoys.