A Time Line of Church History

Early Christianity refers to the period when the religion spread in the Greek/Roman world and
beyond, from its beginnings as a 1st century Jewish sect,[12] to the end of imperial persecution
of Christians after the ascension of Constantine the Great in AD 313, to the First Council of
Nicaea in 325. It may be divided into two distinct phases: the apostolic period, when the first
apostles were alive and organising the Church, and the post-apostolic period, when an early
episcopal structure developed, whereby bishoprics were governed by bishops (overseers).

The Apostolic Church, called by some the Primitive Church, was the community led by Jesus'
apostles and his relatives.[13] According to the Great Commission, the resurrected Jesus
commanded the disciples to spread his teachings to all the world. The primary source of
information for this period is the Acts of the Apostles, which gives a history of the Church
from the Great Commission (1:3–11), Pentecost (2) and the establishment of the Jerusalem
Church to the spread of the religion among the gentiles (10)[14], Paul's conversion (9, 22, 26)
and eventual imprisonment (house arrest: 28:30–31) in Rome in the mid-first century.
However, the historical accuracy of Acts is also disputed and may conflict with accounts in
the Epistles of Paul.[15]

The first Christians were essentially all ethnically Jewish or Jewish Proselytes. In other words,
Jesus preached to the Jewish people and called from them his first disciples, though the
earliest documented "group" of appointed evangelisers, called the Seventy Disciples, was not
specifically ethnically Jewish and the Great Commission is specifically directed at "all
nations". An early difficulty arose concerning the matter of Gentile (non-Jewish) converts as
to whether they had to "become Jewish" (usually referring to circumcision and adherence to
dietary law, see also Judaisers) as part of becoming Christian. Circumcision was considered
repulsive during the period of Hellenization of the Eastern Mediterranean[16]. The decision of
Peter, as evidenced by conversion of the Centurion Cornelius,[17] was that they did not, and the
matter was further addressed with the Council of Jerusalem, see also Primacy of Simon Peter.
See Biblical law in Christianity for the modern debate. For the parallel in Judaism, see
Noahide Law.

The doctrines of the apostles brought the Early Church into conflict with some Jewish
religious authorities. This eventually led to their expulsion from the synagogues, (see also
Council of Jamnia) Acts records the martyrdom of SS. Stephen and James the Great. Thus,
Christianity acquired an identity distinct from Rabbinic Judaism, see also List of events in
early Christianity and Christianity and Judaism. The name "Christian" (Greek Χριστιανός)
was first applied to the disciples in Antioch, as recorded in Acts 11:26.[18]

stament canon developed. Christianity also continued other Judaic practices: baptism[28],
liturgical worship, including the use of incense, an altar, a set of scriptural readings adapted
from synagogue practice, use of sacred music in hymns and prayer, and a religious calendar,
 as well as other distinctive features such as an exclusively male priesthood, and ascetic
practices (fasting etc.). Circumcision was rejected as a requirement at the Council of
Jerusalem, c. 50. Sabbath observance was modified, perhaps as early as Ignatius' Epistle to
the Magnesians 9.1[29]. Quartodecimanism (observation of the Paschal feast on Nisan 14, the
day of preparation for Passover) was formally rejected at the First Council of Nicaea.

The Apostolic Church hierarchy was organised into Overseers (Bishop, Elder, Presbyter) and
Servants (Deacons). Clement, a Bishop of Rome, refers to the leaders of the Corinthian
church as bishops and presbyters indifferently. He writes that the bishops are to lead God's
flock by virtue of the chief Shepherd - Jesus Christ.

Important bishops of the Apostolic Era include Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch,
who, along with Polycarp of Smyrna, reportedly knew and studied under the apostles
personally and are therefore called Apostolic Fathers. By the late first and early second
century, a hierarchical and episcopal structure becomes clearly visible. Post-apostolic bishops
of importance are SS Polycarp of Smyrna and Irenaeus of Lyons. This structure was based on
the doctrine of Apostolic Succession where, by the ritual of the laying on of hands, a bishop
becomes the spiritual successor of the previous bishop in a line tracing back to the apostles
themselves.

From the beginning, Christians were subject to various persecutions. This involved even death
for Christians such as Stephen (Acts 7:59) and James, son of Zebedee (12:2). Larger-scale
persecutions followed at the hands of the authorities of the Roman Empire, beginning with the
year 64, when, as reported by the Roman historian Tacitus, the Emperor Nero blamed them
for that year's great Fire of Rome.

According to Church tradition, it was under Nero's persecution that Saints Peter and Paul
were each martyred in Rome. Similarly, several of the New Testament writings mention
persecutions and stress endurance through them. For 250 years Christians suffered from
sporadic persecutions for their refusal to worship the Roman emperor, considered treasonous
and punishable by execution. In spite of these at-times intense persecutions, the Christian
religion continued its spread throughout the Mediterranean Basin.

As Christianity spread, it acquired certain members from well-educated circles of the

Hellenistic world; they sometimes became bishops but not always. They produced two sorts
of works: theological and "apologetic", the latter being works aimed at defending the faith by
using reason to refute arguments against the veracity of Christianity. These authors are known
as the Church Fathers, and study of them is called Patristics. Notable early Fathers include
Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus of Lyons, Tertullian, Clement of
Alexandria, Origen of Alexandria, etc

The Emperor Constantine I was exposed to Christianity by his mother, Helena. There is
scholarly controversy, however, as to whether Constantine adopted his mother's humble
Christianity in his youth, or whether he adopted it gradually over the course of his life.[55]
Christian sources record that Constantine experienced a dramatic event in 312 at the Battle of
Milvian Bridge, after which Constantine would claim the emperorship in the West. According
to these sources, Constantine looked up to the sun before the battle and saw a cross of light
above it, and with it the Greek words "ΕΝ ΤΟΥΤΩ ΝΙΚΑ" ("by this, conquer!", often
rendered in the Latin "in hoc signo vinces"); Constantine commanded his troops to adorn their
shields with a Christian symbol (the Chi-Ro), and thereafter they were victorious.[56] How
much Christianity Constantine adopted at this point is difficult to discern; most influential
people in the empire, especially high military officials, were still pagan, and Constantine's
rule exhibited at least a willingness to appease these factions. The Roman coins minted up to
eight years subsequent to the battle still bore the images of Roman gods.[57] Nonetheless, the
accession of Constantine was a turning point for the Christian Church. After his victory,
Constantine supported the Church financially, built various basilicas, granted privileges (e.g.,
exemption from certain taxes) to clergy, promoted Christians to high ranking offices, and
returned property confiscated during the Great Persecution of Diocletian.[58] Between 324 and
330, Constantine built, virtually from scratch, a new imperial capital at Byzantium on the
Bosphorus (it came to be named for him: Constantinople)–the city employed overtly Christian
architecture, contained churches within the city walls (unlike "old" Rome), and had no pagan
temples.[59] In accordance with the prevailing customs, Constantine was baptised on his
deathbed.

Constantine also played an active role in the leadership of the Church. In 313, he issued the
Edict of Milan, legalising Christian worship. In 316, he acted as a judge in a North African
dispute concerning the Donatist controversy. More significantly, in 325 he summoned the
Council of Nicaea, effectively the first Ecumenical Council (unless the Council of Jerusalem
is so classified), to deal mostly with the Arian controversy, but which also issued the Nicene
Creed, which among other things professed a belief in One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church,
the start of Christendom. The reign of Constantine established a precedent for the position of
the Christian Emperor in the Church. Emperors considered themselves responsible to God for
the spiritual health of their subjects, and thus they had a duty of maintain orthodoxy.[60] The
emperor did not decide doctrine — that was the responsibility of the bishops — rather his role
was to enforce doctrine, root out heresy, and uphold ecclesiastical unity.[61] The emperor
ensured that God was properly worshiped in his empire; what proper worship consisted of
was the responsibility of the church. This precedent would continue until certain emperors of
the fifth and six centuries sought to alter doctrine by imperial edict without recourse to
councils, though even after this Constantine's precedent generally remained the norm.[62]

The reign of Constantine did not bring the total unity of Christianity within the Empire. His
successor in the East, Constantius II, was an Arian who kept Arian bishops at his court and
installed them in various sees, expelling the orthodox bishops.

Constantius's successor, Julian, known in the Christian world as Julian the Apostate, was a
philosopher who upon becoming emperor renounced Christianity and embraced a Neo-
platonic and mystical form of paganism shocking the Christian establishment. Intent on re-
establishing the prestige of the old pagan beliefs, he modified them to resemble Christian
traditions such as the episcopal structure and public charity (hitherto unknown in Roman
paganism). Julian eliminated most of the privileges and prestige previously afforded to the
Christian Church. His reforms attempted to create a form of religious heterogeneity by,
among other things, reopening pagan temples, accepting Christian bishops previously exiled
as heretics, promoting Judaism, and returning Church lands to their original owners.
However, Julian's short reign ended when he died while campaigning in the East.
Christianity came to dominance during the reign of Julian's successors, Jovian, Valentinian I,
and Valens (the last Eastern Arian Christian Emperor). On February 27, 380, Theodosius I
issued the edict De Fide Catolica establishing "Catholic Christianity"[63] as the exclusive
official state religion, outlawed other faiths, and closed pagan temples.(Theodosian Code
XVI.1.2; and Sozomen, "Ecclesiastical History", VII, iv.[64])[65] Additional prohibitions were
passed by Theodosius I in 391 further proscribing remaining pagan practices.

After legalisation, the Church adopted the same organisational boundaries as the Empire:
geographical provinces, called dioceses, corresponding to imperial governmental territorial
division. The bishops, who were located in major urban centres as per pre-legalisation
tradition, thus oversaw each diocese. The bishop's location was his "seat", or "see"; among the
sees, five held special eminence: Rome, Constantinople, Jerusalem, Antioch, and Alexandria.
The prestige of these sees depended in part on their apostolic founders, from whom the
bishops were therefore the spiritual successors, e.g., St. Mark as founder of the See of
Alexandria, St. Peter of the See of Rome, etc. There were other significant elements:
Jerusalem was the location of Christ's death and resurrection, the site of a first century
council, etc., see also Jerusalem in Christianity. Antioch was where Jesus' followers were first
labelled as Christians, it was used in a derogatory way to berate the followers of Jesus the
Christ. Rome was where SS. Peter and Paul had been martyred (killed), Constantinople was
the "New Rome" where Constantine had moved his capital c. 330, and, lastly, all these cities
had important relics.

33 Pentecost (A.D: 29 is thought to be more accurate).

49 Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15) establishes precedent for addressing Church disputes in
Council. James presides as bishop.
69 Bishop Ignatius consecrated in Antioch in heart of New Testament era--St. Peter had been
the first bishop there. Other early bishops include James, Polycarp, and Clement.
95 Book of Revelation written, probably the last of the New Testament books.
150 St. Justin Martyr describe's the liturgical worship of the Church, centered in the
Eucharist. Liturgical worship is rooted in both the Old and New Testament.
325 The Nicene Creed is established. The Council of Nicea settles the major heretical
challenge to the Christian faith when the heretic Arius asserts Christ was created by the
Father. St. Athanasius defends the eternality of the Son of God. The Arians continue their
assault on true Christianity for years. Nicea is the first of Seven Ecumenical (Church-wide)
Councils.
451 Council of Chalcedon affirms apostolic doctrine of two natures in Christ.
589 In a synod in Toledo, Spain, the filioque, asserting that the Holy Spirit procedes from the
Father and the Son is added to the Nicene Creed. This error is later adopted by Rome.
787 The era of Ecumenical Councils ends at Nicea, with the Seventh Council bringing the
centuries-old use of icons back into the Church.
988 Conversion of Russia begins.
We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth, for surely there is no such splendour or
beauty anywhere upon earth. We cannot describe it to you: only this we know, that God
dwells there among men, and that their service surpasses the worship of all other places. For
we cannot forget that beauty. - Envoys of the Russian Prince Vladimir, after experiencing the
Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople in the year 987.
1054 The Great Schism occurs. Two major issues include Rome's claim to a universal papal
supremacy and her addition of the filioque clause to the Nicene Creed. The Photian schism
(880) further complicated the debate.
1095 The Crusades begun by the Roman Church. The Sack of Constantinople by Rome
(1204) adds to the estrangement between East and West.
1333 St. Gregory Palamas defends the Orthodox practice of hesychast spirituality and the use
of the Jesus prayer.
1453 Turks overrun Constantinople; Byzantine Empire ends.
1517 Martin Luther nails his 95 Theses to the door of the Roman Church in Wittenberg,
starting the Protestant Reformation.
1529 Church of England begins pulling away from Rome.
1794 Missionaries arrive on Kodiak Island in Alaska; Orthodoxy introduced to North
America.
1854 Rome establishes the Immaculate Conception dogma.
1870 Papal Infallibility becomes Roman dogma.
1988 One thousand years of Orthodoxy in Russia, as Orthodox Church world-wide maintains
fulness of the Apostolic faith.

Source; http://www.saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html#timechart