A Word About Church History: Scholars estimate there are over
2600 groups today who lay claim to being the Church, or at least
the direct descendants of the Church described in the New Testament.
Repeat: 2600! But for the first thousand years of her history
the Church was essentially one. Five historic Patriarchal centers--Jerusalem;
Antioch, Rome, Alexandria, and Constantinople--formed a cohesive
whole and were in full communion with each other. There were occasional
heretical or schismatic groups going their own way, to be sure;
but the Church was unified until the 11th century. Then, in events
culminating in A.D.1054, the Roman Patriarch pulled away from
the other four, pursuing his long-developing claim of universal
headship of the Church.
Today, nearly a thousand years later, the other four Patriarchates
remain intact, in full communion, maintaining that Orthodox apostolic
faith of the inspired New Testament record. The Orthodox Church
and her history is described herein, from Pentecost to the present
day.
33 AD Pentecost (A.D.: 29 is thought to be more accurate).
49 AD Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15) establishes precedent for
addressing Church disputes in Council. James presides as bishop.
69 AD 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 AD Book of Revelation written, probably the last of the NewTestament
books.
150 AD 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.
313 AD The Edict of Milan marks an end to the period of Roman
persecution of Christianity.
325 AD 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 AD Council of Chalcedon affirms apostolic doctrine of two
natures in Christ.
589 AD In a synod in Toledo, Spain, the filioque , asserting that
the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son is added
to the Nicene Creed. This error is later adopted by Rome.
787 AD The era of Ecumenical Councils ends at Nicea, with the
Seventh Council bringing the centuries-old use of Icons back into
the Church.
988 AD Conversion of Rus' (Russia) begins.
We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth, for surely
there is no such splendor 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 AD 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.
1066 AD Norman conquest of Britain. Orthodox hierarchs are replaced
with those loyal to Rome.
1095 AD The Crusades begun by the Roman Church. The Sack of Constantinople
(1204) adds to the estrangement between East and West.
1333 AD St. Gregory Palamas defends the Orthodox practice of hesychast
spirituality and the use of the Jesus prayer
1453 AD Turks overrun Constantinople; Byzantine Empire ends.
1517 AD Martin Luther nails his 95 Theses to the door of the Roman
Church in Wittenberg, starting the Protestant Reformation.
1529 AD Church of England begins pulling away from Rome.
1794 AD Missionaries arrive on Kodiak Island in Alaska; Orthodoxy
introduced to North America.
1871 AD Papal Infallibility becomes Roman dogma.
1988 AD One thousand years of Orthodoxy in Russia, as Orthodox
Church world-wide maintains fullness of the Apostolic faith.
A Timeline of Church History. © Copyright 1988 by Conciliar
Press,
Ben Lomond, California. Telephone: 800.967.7377. Used with permission.
|
