History of Christianity

Jesus Christ is crucified

39 BCE

Jesus was arrested and, tried and sentenced by Pontius Pilate. He was then crucified by the Romans on Golgotha.

Jesus Christ is born

6 BCE

Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem for a census. When they arrived there were no rooms left at the inn, that night they stayed in a stable and Jesus was born.

First Pentecost

33

After Jesus ascended into heaven the Holy Spirit came down upon the disciples and allowed them to speak in many tongues. That day thousands of people were baptised and welcomed into the church

St Stephen: First Christian Martyr.

33

St Stephen gave aid to the early church community. Stephen was stoned to death for proclaiming that the executed Jesus was standing at the right hand of God.

Sauls Conversion

35

Saul converted to Christianity after Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus. For 3 days Saul fasted and prayed and then a messenger from God arrived and Saul’s sight was restored and he was baptised. Saul changed his name to Paul after his conversion and delivered the gospels to the Gentiles and people of Israel.

St Paul’s ministry begins.

46

St Paul went on 3 missionary journeys, each several years in length with the aim of spreading the message of Christ. God used Paul’s ministry to bring the gospel to the Gentiles and establish the church.

Council of Jerusalem.

48

The council of Jerusalem was a gathering of Christian Apostles who passed an official order that Gentile Christians did not have to observe the Mosaic Law of the Jews.

Great Fire of Rome.

64

The Great Fire of Rome cause devastation for 6 days across Rome. Emperor Nero blamed the Christian community in the city, starting the empire's first persecution against the Christians.

St Paul martyred

64

St Paul was arrested for taking a gentile too far into the temple. He was taken to Rome and after a series of trials he was executed by beheading.

Book of Revelation by St John written.

90

The book of revelation is the last book of the New Testament. It is a record of the author, John’s vision from heaven. The book is God’s word on the end of times and judgement.

Diocletian persecuted Christians.

303

The Diocletian was the last and most severe persecutions of Christians in the Roman Empire. All Christian church buildings were to be destroyed, along with sacred writings and items.

Edict of Milan (Christian legal rights)

313

The Edict of Milan was the proclamation that established religious toleration for Christianity in the Roman Empire.

First council of Nicea

325

The first council of nicea was the first ecumenical council of the church. Its result was the Nicene Creed. The aim of the council was to resolve disagreements rising in the church.

Athanasius list all 27 books of the New Testament.

367

In 367 AD Athanasius listed all 27 books of the New Testament that are stilled used today.

Nicene Christianity made official religion of the Empire.

380

Roman Emperor Theodosius I made Nicene Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire with the Edict of Thessalonica in 380 AD.

Vulgate.

400

400 AD St Jerome prepared be Latin version of the Bible, it was adopted as the official text of the Roman Catholic Church and known as Vulgate

St Patrick brings Christianity to Ireland.

432

St Patrick travelled to Ireland and brought the message of Christ to the people. He was in constant danger from the Pagan chiefs who disapproved of Patricks missionary work.

Council of Chalcedon.

451

During the Council of Chalcedon the nature of Christ and the doctrine of the Trinity was clarified. It was the 4th ecumencial council and laid the groundwork for the Great Schism.

Second council of Nicea.

787

The second council of Nicea in 787 AD, it attempted to resolve the disagreements regarding icon worship. The council declared that icons deserved reverence and veneration, not adoration.

Charlemagne is crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

800

Charlemagne’s mission was to internally strengthen the church. Charlemagne was very influential within the church. He set rules for monasteries and made changes to liturgy.

Vladimir converts to Christianity.

988

Vladimir was baptised in 988 AD and married the sister of a Christian Emperor. He ordered his people to be baptised in the river and started the christianisation of Kievan Rus’.

Great Schism between Eastern and Western Christianity.

1054

The Great Schism was the break of communication between the Eastern and Western churches. Differences in theological understandings were the cause.

First Crusades

1099

The Crusades of 1099 AD was the first of many crusades that attempted to capture the Holy Land. Christians from western Europe went to war against Muslim forces on the orders of Pope Urban II

Martin Luther post his 95 these (Protestant Reformation)

1517

Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of a church, starting the Protestant Reformation. The ideas caused religious persecution and war.

King Henry VIII establishes the church of England.

1534

King Henry VIII set up the church of England and made himself the leader so that he could arrange his own divorce. He closed down all Roman Catholic abbeys and monasteries in his kingdom.

Council of Trent.

1545

The Council of Trent was highly important for its clarifications of Christian principles. The council played a vital part of revitalising the Roman Catholic Church in Europe.

The Great Awakening.

1730

During the 1730’s there was an evangelical rebirth that swept Protestant Europe. This was known as the Great Awakening.