Before Rome, there was no real hierarchy in the church, other than deacons and/or perhaps a bishop. Everyone gathered in each other's homes to worship and all worshippers were on the same level and equal participants. It was Rome who introduced the divide between priests and congregants. The priests now became the main worshippers and the congregation was merely a passive witness. Priests and congregants were even physically separated from one another by a railing and the altar. No longer were they meeting as equals -- a huge mistake, but a very intentional one.
Before Rome, there was no real hierarchy in the church, other than deacons and/or perhaps a bishop. Everyone gathered in each other's homes to worship and all worshippers were on the same level and equal participants. It was Rome who introduced the divide between priests and congregants. The priests now became the main worshippers and the congregation was merely a passive witness. Priests and congregants were even physically separated from one another by a railing and the altar. No longer were they meeting as equals -- a huge mistake, but a very intentional one.