CROSSING ROME
1x30'
ITV1
April 1999
In the 'pagan' Roman world of two thousand years ago, worshipping a crucified man as 'saviour' would have been thought of as very odd, even verging on the ridiculous. Crucifixion was how criminals were put to death.
On Good Friday, the anniversary of the crucifixion, journalist and broadcaster, Paul Heiney journeys to Rome, the crossroads of Christianity. He takes a historical look at the events which shaped Christianity and uncovers remarkable archaeological evidence about the evolution of the Christian communities.
As Paul Heiney journeys through Rome, he shows how the early Christians, the first 'cross bearers' confronted ridicule and sporadic persecution for their beliefs. He visits the Colosseum, the traditional site of martyrdom for many Christians and the fascinating Catacombs where they met to honour their dead.
Crossing Rome is an intriguing journey taking in the sites of ancient Rome such as the Forum and the Palatine Hill, where the earliest and possibly the most important Christian community developed.
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