The Mystery of Julia Episcopa by John Rigoli

Author:John Rigoli [Cummings, John I. Rigoli Diane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: John Rigoli
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Thirty-three

Rome, AD 64

It was the year of the great fire in Rome, the fire that raged for more than six days. When the smoke cleared, much of the city of two million lay in ruins. Many blamed Nero for the fire. It was known that he wanted the land cleared so that he could construct extravagant new palaces, but he had been denied permits that would have torn down most of Rome. Nero, in turn, blamed the Christians. Vexed by their growing influence, he used the fire as an excuse to exterminate them. He arrested, tortured, and crucified Christians by the hundreds.

The Aquillii returned to Rome only to find their home on the Capitoline Hill burnt to ashes. Just as Nero was building Domus Aurea, his new palace in the burned-out center of Rome, Marcus bought one of the homes still standing near the Forum, and then he went to work as a new elected magistrate.

Raising Livia and Flavia and managing the house kept Julia busy, but she no longer played hostess to the political leaders Marcus had previously tried to impress, largely because he was out night after night as the coveted guest at others’ banquets, and he never invited his wife along. Of course, as a magistrate’s wife, she was invited to ladies’ banquets and luncheons, but found that the company of Roman matrons bored her silly. They talked incessantly of nothing other than men, children, and the latest hairstyles.

Though she had distanced herself from the Christian communities and their endless quarrels after Laodicia, she found herself missing the company of people who discussed ideas and concerned themselves with more than idle gossip and the frivolities of noble life. Making subtle inquires, she began to cultivate new friends among the followers of the way.

“Peter is speaking tonight,” Milo whispered, finding Julia in the kitchen, conferring with Cook about devising some simpler meals, what with Marcus out all the time.

“We don’t need so much rich food,” she was saying before turning around and seeing Milo.

“He’s just arrived in Rome,” Milo said.

“Who?” Julia wiped her hands dry with a towel after putting some vegetables into a terra-cotta bowl.

“Peter. Yeshua’s apostle.”

“Indeed,” Julia said.

“Yes. And people are flocking to hear him. Would you like to go?”

Julia thought for a moment. “Yes. I would like to.”

Milo was surprised because, while Julia was making new friends among the followers, she had kept her distance from discussions of doctrine or the Jewish notion of one God. Moreover, she still maintained her family shrine to Janus and Vesta, as all Roman homes must.

However, she loved these people for their imaginings of a new world, where all stood in spiritual equality, where the poor were as beloved as the wealthy, and where the central command of their faith was that they were to love one another.

At sunset, as Julia stepped out with Milo and neared the house where the meeting would take place, they found a crowd waiting outside. Milo scanned the gathering, looking for Roman soldiers.

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