Events of Church History that led to Significant Developments in Church Practice and Organisation.

Pentacost

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Pentacost, the day that Christianity began. While the disciples and followers of Jesus prayed, the Holy Spirit, descended upon everyone in the room giving them the gift of tongues and enabled them the grace to preach the gospel.

Council Of Jerusalem

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One of the first controversies within the Church was whether the teachings of Jesus were just for Jews or for Gentiles as well. This debate was finally settled in the Council of Jerusalem, where St. Paul's idea the Christ's sacrifice was for both Jews and Gentiles was accepted. It also meant that Gentiles were not bound to follow all the laws of Moses which includes male circumcision.

Persecution of Christians

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Nero begins to persecute Christians after the great fire of Rome. The persecution began with the Great Fire of Rome, whose cause was unknown, but some speculate that: it was caused by Christians, or by Nero himself. However the end result was that the Christians were blamed for it. Nero used this as motivation to punish them by letting be ripped apart by dogs or be burnt alive as human torches. d as more Christians were killed, the more the people of Rome to inquire into the Christian doctrine.

End of the Persecution

313

Emperor Constantine leads the Roman army to victory in the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. Tradition has that the night before, Constantine had a dream that he would win the battle under the symbol of Christ. His soldiers fought with the symbol Chi-Roh bore on their shields which is composed of the first two letters of the Greek alphabet.

Council of Nicea

Period: 325 to 325

The council was first convened by Emperor Constantine the Great. It was he first ecumenical council of the Christian Church, most known for the important formation of the Nicene Creed. It was a statement that defined the universal belief of the whole Christendom. The Church took its first step into revealing the doctrine of the Catholic Church and

Council of Chalcedon

Period: 451 to 451

The meeting was brought together by Emperor Marcian, and the reluctant Pope Leo the Great. The council issued the Chalcedonian Definition, which explained that Christ had two natures in on; that he was both divine and human.

East West Schism

Jul 16, 1054

An event that separated the Eastern Church (led by patriarch of Constantinople) and the Western Church (led by Pope Leo IX). The schism was caused because of the kind of leader that it desired. The Western Church is built on papal authority and ruled by one person, and that his claims are the absolute rule.. The Eastern Church however viewed it in the context if the imperial system, and built upon ecumenical councils and the emperor, whom God had placed over all things.

The Plague/Black Death

Period: Jan 1, 1346 to Jan 1, 1353

Many people were turning to the Church for answers on the plague, but they did not know what to do. Priests were slowly declining as they were caring for the sick and got sick. As a result of the epidemic, newer priests were often inexperienced and uneducated. The Church also started charging people for their services, so the church was becoming richer, while the people were sick and dying. The generated an overall bad reputation for the Church.

The Reformation

Oct 31, 1517

A movement that aimed at reforming the practices of the Roman Catholic Church, Martin Luther being widely acknowledged as the starter, as well as John Calvin and Henry VII, who challenged papal authority and the Catholic Church's ability to define Christian practice. Luther criticised the selling of indulgences and argued to the Pope that they had no authority over purgatory and that its purpose had no foundation on the gospel.

Martin Luther's Publication of the 95 Theses

Oct 31, 1517

A list of 95 Theses was written by Marin Luther and is a list of propositions for an academic dispute. In it, it advances Luther's position against the selling of indulgences. He had no intention of challenging the church, but was seen as an objection to church actions. When he wrote the Theses, he nailed it on the Castle Church of Wittenberg. The revolutionary opinions would be that that started thee Reformation

Council of Trent

Period: Dec 13, 1545 to Dec 4, 1563

Called by Pope Paul III, the council was hosted in Trent and Bologna, northern Italy, and was one of the most important ecumenical councils of the Catholic Church. Prompted by the Reformation, it was the embodiment of the Counter-Reformation. The council condemned heresies committed by Protestantism, and also clear clarification in teachings of the Church and doctrines. Many issues were addressed in this council; scripture, key Bible teaching, sacred tradition, original sin, salvation, and more.

Peace of Augsburg

Sep 25, 1555

A treaty between Charles V and forces of the Schmalkaldic League, an alliance of Lutheran princes. It was the first legal coexistence between Lutheranism and Catholics in Germany. This peace allowed the state princes the select either Lutheranism of Catholicism. It ended the conflict between the two groups, although it didn't allow other Protestant religion, such as Calvinism.

First Vatican Council

Period: Dec 6, 1869 to Oct 20, 1870

Called by Pope Pius XI, held in Rome in the Lateran Basilica. The council addressed rising contemporary problems and their rising influence; rationalism, liberalism,and materialism. Its other purpose was to define the Church of Christ. It was known in its exploration of the dogma of papal infallibility. In virtue of Jesus' promise to Peter, the Pope is preserved form the possibility of error. This dogma was also used to define the Immaculate Conception of Jesus as a dogma.

Second Vatican Council

Period: Oct 11, 1962 to Dec 8, 1965

Called by Pope John XXII, discussed the relation of the Catholic Church and the modern world, and was held in St. Peter's Basilica. Changes that resulted from the council was the renewal of consecrated life, ecumenical efforts in communicating with other religions, and a call to holiness, including everyone in the laity. The most significant addition was the Liturgical year where feast days of saints are celebrated and portions of scripture are read in a annual cycle in a cycle of several years.