Fitz Jenő (szerk.): Religions and Cults in Pannonia. Exhibiton an Székesfehérvár, Csók István Gallery 15 May - 30 September 1996 – Szent István Király Múzeum közleményei: A. sorozat 33. (1998)

things. Not the declaration of doctrine is important but the transformation of Fate, the metanoia. According to Heraclite, Plato and other ancient people the aim is not the increasing of factual knowledge but the raising of the level of personal life, in relation of psychical and spiritual things. If only factual knowledge increases, the level of the Ego decreases. If, on the other hand, the level of Ego increases, factual knowledge does not decrease but is enlightened. "The Knowledge of fact has, beyond some scientifical applications, no importance in itself: or we can progress to the cognition of absolute truth even if no "facts" existed for us, or - as present times prove it éclatantly, a total ignorance can occur in spite of a thorough knowledge of facts" (BURCKHARDT 1946,21 ).17 Life

is not decided by factual knowledge but by the clearness of sight. Human life is sacral in the meaning of sacer devoted (WILLIGER 1922, 63). According to this sanctity - if we would employ a Christian wording - is the aim of life. In consequence lie, cheat, violence against human beings is not permitted for man. These all belong to this world - or better to the Underworld. Initiation is a descent, because only Death can bring a rebirth. Baptism is descending to water, purification, from whence man reborn emerges. Scrutinizing the existing representations of different mystery religions we can conclude that dress resp. nudity have a symbolic meaning. Nudity is in initiation a ritual nakedness, reflecting Paradise, where there are no clothes because no corruption exists. This is symbolized by the submerging in water unclothed (KITTEL 1931; LEASE 1980). Maybe we succeeded in demonstrating that in the Roman Empire so colourful as for its religions, Christianity could be easily treated indiscriminately with any other mystery religion. And if I stressed the notion that knowledge is useful, and not factual knowledge for that, now considering the reverse of the medal I have to confess that the Knowledge of knowledges' can be exaggerated as well. Such an exaggeration can be stated in different gnostic heresies and the doctrines of gnostic sects, which profess that for salvation Knowledge is sufficient (SARTORI1855, No. 811 ; SCHAEDER 1927, 65-157; HEUSSI 1958, 45-90; GRANT 1959). Orthodoxy was compelled by the incomprehension of the pagan philosphical schools and the anti-gospel doctrines of Gnosticism to formulate and describe its truthful doctrines clearly. The result of this striving is theology developing in the course of the 2nd century and the stating which was held in these times for "according to measure", i.e. canonic. If somebody submitted himself to the mysteries of Mithras, this did not exclude his being an initiate of other mysteries as well. A common and esoteric symbol of the mysteries is the world cross, symbolizig immortal soul, eternal life, rebirth coming from submerging, the Cosmos and together the rotation of the Cosmos. The aim here as there was the victory over sin, the powers of darkness in the service of Light. Christianity did not know, however, other gods and revering this only One it terminated at the same time the Eternal Return (ELIADE 1933, 141-202). Rotation ceased and a wandering in a straight direction begun, with the sole aim of becoming saints. If there is no other way, by suffering martyrdom. Cross means suffering, means death but all the same it means Life. The cross is the Tree of Life. The emperors did not know what was the wrong with these people. Why did they refuse praying to the gods in the times of disaster, as they had the best intentions with the Empire. They did not understand the perseverance, the obstinacy. (BERWIG 1970). They supposed that perhaps the God of the Christians was hostile towards Rome. Christians were condemned as atheists, as they - seemingly - had no faith, no reverence for them. People who became Christians, as e.g. Cyprian, wanted to "make amends" for their own errors in deprecating pagan cults, reviling the gods. That was why posterity - especially the 20th century - painted a filthy picture of them. This is, though, not so simple at all. Folklore, the traditions guard the non-Christian customs which were "redeemed" and handed down by Christianity the contemporaneous uglification was meant for their own age. For Christianity Mithras, Sol Invictus, Isis or some other mystery would have meant a dangerous competition. We have no reason to be afraid that somebody would become a devotee of Mithras instead of being a Christian. In these times, though, this meant a real menace, that is the reason of the "uglification". Parallelly with this - made possible by the authorization of Constantine - the elevation, exaltation of Christianity began. For that time it became clear both for enemy and friend that Christianity was something different from any religions known. Constantine I was who quasi introduced Christianity into politics and it was only the consummation of this when Theodosius the Great made the necessary steps for making it a state religion. The removing of the statue of Victoria from the session-room of the Senate and the demolition of the Serapeion of Alexandria were symbolic expressions of this. All that was, though, only a political victory, we could even say that perhaps a dubious victory. In politics religion, even the Christian religion, used to be many times only means for reaching a mortal aim and not the ultimate aim, i.e. salvation. We often read as a reason given for the spreading of Christianity that the poor had no solace but the future remuneration. Expressed thus it is the shallowing of the idea which was demonstrated in the early times in good and bad as well. They confessed with a convinction that fear would be a sign of lack of faith and infidelity. A miles Christi cannot be diverted 17 Perhaps this quotation throws a light upon my previous arguing according to which we cannot forget the metaphysical roots of religion, as well as we cannot forget that this was confessed with a conviction by the ancients. Displaying mere data, a rational criticism may mislead our thinking, therefore also our results. 46