My Roman Adventure

Cory Young, third year MDiv student, in Rome

In choosing to attend Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, I never thought that I would have the opportunity to explore the early Roman Church and see the sights of Rome.  However, that is exactly what happened by taking the cross-cultural class to Rome!  To say the least, I am still in amazement of all that we did and saw.

Growing up in the Midwestern United States, it is hard to really appreciate the age of the city of Rome.  It has been around for more than two thousand years (which is hard to fathom in my mind when some of the “old” parts of American history are only 200 years old).  The fact that you are walking where the birth of the Western Church took place is something amazing.

Taking a two-week trip to Rome was something that I had always wanted to do, and the added bonus of going to Rome while attending Garrett is that it was not just a “tourist trip,” it was a religious pilgrimage.  Of course, when in Rome there are some things that you MUST see even if you are there to study the early church, the Sistine Chapel for example, and seeing many churches that were built during the Middle Ages.

            

One of the most powerful moments for me was being able to go into the catacombs that many early Christians (and non-Christians) were laid to rest.  The first thing that should be known about the catacombs is that these were not hiding places for the early Christians.  In fact, the catacombs were very well known.  Christians did go often to these burial sites to hold worship, pray for those who have departed, and they even had meals among the departed, but hiding out in the catacombs really did not happen.

             

The Catacomb of Priscilla is where I felt a true connection to the early Christian worshippers.  It was there that many early Christians wanted to be buried next to (or as close as they can be buried) to the early Saints and Martyrs of the Church.  Walking through these tunnels and knowing that even when Christianity was being persecuted, the faith of many believers continued to support their faith.  It was an experience that I cannot really explain; it was almost like seeing the entire Western Church's history unfold in a long line back to the earliest believers.

            

The inside of St. Peter's Basilica

Something that has been asked of me several times by others is why I wanted to go on such a trip.  The answer is two fold.  The first answer is that I wanted to visit Rome, and have a trip that will last me my lifetime.  Seeing things that are world famous (The Colosseum, The Roman Forum, The Vatican, etc.) was a major part of my wanting to go to Rome.  The second answer is a bit more personal.  It is hard for me to understand the modern Church without looking back to what has come before.  Seeing the history of the Church from some of its earliest days, traveling forward to the Reformation, and than coming into the modern times - this is why I went to Rome. I went to see our collective past.  It is not about it being Catholic or Protestant history, it is about being Christian.

             

There are many other things I can say about this trip to Rome, but the experience is something that I would suggest each person take advantage of.  Rome is a great city that is steeped in history, yet it is also very modern and welcoming.  Out of many places I have been in the world, Rome is one of my favorite places, and to see Rome with an experienced and knowledgeable leader, like Dr. Papandrea, made the experience something that I would suggest everyone take part in.            

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Cory Young is at third year MDiv student at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.