Christianity Timeline

Jesus Christ is born

4 BCE

Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem.

Jesus Christ dies

30

After completing multiple miracles and becoming increasingly popular, Jesus Christ is crucified by the Romans.

Coming of the Holy Spirit

33

Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).
Sometimes known as the Birthday of the Church.

Gentile Christians accepted among Jewish

48

Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15).
Gentile Christians accepted alongside those in the Jewish tradition.

Publication of the first Gospel

60

First Gospel published (often thought to be that written by Mark).

Apostles Peter and Paul killed

68

Apostles Peter and Paul* martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Nero.

Temple in Jerusalem destroyed

70

Jewish rebellion against the Roman empire ends. Destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.

Christianity spreads

70

Center of Christianity moves to Antioch, Alexandria and Rome.

Book of Revelation/ Gospel of Saint John

90

Book of Revelation and Gospel of Saint John written.

Widespread persecution of Romans

161

Widespread persecution of Christians under Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius.

First country to make Christianity official religion

301

Armenia becomes the world's first country to officially adopt Christianity as the state religion.

Constantine receives a message from God

312

Roman emperor Constantine receives a vision of a flaming cross with the words
'In hoc signo vinces' : 'By this sign conquer'.
Defeats rival Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge.

Christianity becomes legal in Rome

313

Edict of Milan issued by Constantine - Christianity becomes a legal religion within the Roman empire.

Saint Athanasius writes festal letter with all 27 New Testament Books

367

Saint Athanasius is the first to list all 27 New Testament books in his festal letter.

First translation of the Bible

382

Saint Jerome begins a translation of the Bible into Latin.

New Testament declared sacred scripture

397

Synod at Carthage ratifies the 27 books of the New Testament as sacred scripture.

Nestorianism

431

Ecumenical council held at Ephesus refutes Nestorianism.
(The doctrine that Christ was two persons (one human, the other divine) in one body). Mary is declared Theotokos i.e. 'God-bearer' or more commonly, 'Mother of God'.

Pope Leo defends Christian belief

449

At Ephesus, Pope Leo I delivers his 'Tome', defending orthodox Christian belief. Leo also asserts Papal supremacy.

Hypostatic Union

451

Ecumenical council at Chalcedon affirms Christ as having two distinct natures united in one person (known as the 'Hypostatic Union').

Monastery

563

Columba establishes a monastery at Iona.

Filioque

589

Insertion of the filioque (Latin: 'and the son') into the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed at a council in Toledo.

St. Augustine becomes the first Archbishop of Canterbury

597

Following a mission authorised by Pope Gregory I, St. Augustine becomes the first Archbishop of Canterbury.

Pope in England

664

Synod of Whitby ratifies the authority of the Pope in England.

Bede writes his Ecclesiastical History.

731

Bede writes his Ecclesiastical History.

Charlemagne crowned emperor

800

Charlemagne is crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by Pope Leo III.

Christianity grows in Russia

988

Conversion of Prince Vladimir in Kiev. Growth of Christianity in Russia.

Great Schism

1054

Great Schism - Eastern Orthodox and Western Catholic churches separate.

The first Crusade

1095

Pope Urban II authorises the first Crusade to recover the Holy Land from Moslems.

Crusaders conquer Jerusalem.

1099

Crusaders conquer Jerusalem.

Massacre of Latin inhabitants of Constantinople

1182

Massacre of Latin inhabitants of Constantinople.

Jerusalem recaptured

1187

Jerusalem recaptured by a Moslem army led by Saladin.

The third crusade

1189

Third Crusade led by Richard the Lionheart of England.

Constantinople sacked

1204

Sack of Constantinople during the fourth crusade.