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AD
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Event
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20s
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*c. 29 AD Our Lord's Resurrection. The First Pentecost.
St. Peter preaches in Jerusalem
and converts three thousand people, creating the first Christian community.
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30s
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*c. 35 Saul of Tarsus
has an apparition of Jesus Christ and is converted to Christianity.
*c. 39 St. Peter baptizes Cornelius. This event marks the
beginning of the missionizing to the Gentiles.
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40s
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*42 The first persecution of Christians in Jerusalem under Herod
Agrippa. Many Christians escape to Antioch,
establishing its first community.
*44 Martyrdom of St. James the Great, brother of the
Apostle John. He is the first apostle to die for the faith. He was sentenced
by Herod Agrippa in 44 AD. Today he is honored at the shrine of Santiago
Compostela.
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50s
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*c. 51 The Council of Jerusalem. It rules that Gentile converts
do not have to observe the Moasaic Law.
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60s
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*62 Martyrdom of St James the Less, Bishop of Jerusalem. He is stoned
to death.
*64 First persecution of the Christians by Nero, who
blames them for setting a fire that burned much of Rome. Christianity soon after becomes a
capital crime.
*66 Jews revolt against Roman authority. The Christians,
remembering the prophecies of Christ, leave Jerusalem, led by their bishop, St. Simeon.
A civil war ensues. Nero sends Vespasian and Titus to put down the
insurrection.
*67 Martyrdom of St. Peter. Tradition states that he was
crucified upside down. St. Linus succeeds him as pope (-76).
*69 Fall of Jerusalem.
The Temple is
destroyed. Tacitus records that 600 000 Jews were slaughtered during the
siege; Josephus said it was a million.
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70s
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*76 Pope St.
Cletus (Anacletus) reigns(-88).
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80s
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*c. 88 The reign of Pope St. Clement I (-97). During his
pontificate, he issues a letter to the Corinthians, urging them to submit
themselves to lawful religious authority. He writes "Our apostles also
knew, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and there would be strife on account of
the office of the episcopate. For this reason, therefore, inasmuch as they
had obtained a perfect fore-knowledge of this, they appointed those
[ministers] already mentioned, and afterwards gave instructions, that when
these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them in their
ministry."
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90s
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*95 Persecution of Christians in Rome under Domitian.
*97 Pope St.
Evaristus accedes to the Chair of Peter (-105).
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100s
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*c. 100 Death of John, the last apostle. The period of
Public Revelation comes to an end.
*c.100 Birth of St. Justin Martyr (d. c. 165), Church
Father. He wrote two Apologies of the Faith, and A Dialogue with Trypho,
the Jew. In his writings, he bears witness to a number of Catholic
doctrines. In one famous passage, he describes the Order of the Mass.
*c. 105 Death of Pope St. Evaristus. Pope St. Alexander I
replaces him (-115).
*c.107-117 Martyrdom of St. Ignatius of Antioch, apostolic Father and bishop. He
was a disciple of St. John,
along with St. Polycarp. Theodoret, the Church historian says he was
consecrated bishop by St. Peter, who was at first bishop of Antioch
before going to Rome.
Ignatius was martyred in Rome
under Emperor Trajan's rule. It was during the journey to Rome that he wrote his famous letters that
contain invaluble information about the early Church. He was the first to use
the term "Catholic" to describe the Church.
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110s
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*111 Pliny the Younger, govenor of Bithynia,
writes in a letter to the Emperor Trajan that to his surprise, the Christians
are not guilty of any of the vices they are rumoured to engage in. He
executes Christians who would not apostatize.
*c. 115 Pope
St. Sixtus I begins his reign (-125).
*117 Persecution of Christians under Hadrian (-138).
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120s
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*125 Pope St.
Telesphorus begins his reign (-136).
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130s
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*c.130 Birth of St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Church Father and
bishop. He had heard St. Polycarp in Smyrna.
He wrote a famous treatise, Against Heresies, refuting Gnosticism, and
intervened in favour of the Quartodecimians when they were excommunicated by
Pope Victor I for not observing Easter according the Roman Calendar (i.e. the
first Sunday after the full moon after the Spring equinox).
*135 Emperor Hadrian excludes Jews from Jerusalem.
*136 Pope St.
Hyginus accedes to the see of Peter (-140).
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140s
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*140 Election of Pope St. Pius I (-155).
*144 Marcion of Pontus is excommunicated for
heresy (Marcionism): he believed that the God of the Old Testament is a
different God than that of the new, and that he is a vengeful God; he denied
the inspiration of the Old Testament. Marcionites established a parallel
church that survived for several centuries.
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150s
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*155 Death of Pope St. Pius I. St. Anicetus becomes Pope
(-166).
*c. 156 Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, disciple of St. John the apostle.
First recorded instance of devotion to a martyr and the devotion to relics in
the Martyrdom of Polycarp.
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160s
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*c. 160 Birth of Tertullian, Church Father. Tertullian
apostatized to the Montanist sect and in his later years rejected the
Catholic Church. However, in his earlier years, c. 200 AD, he justified
Catholic belief against heretics by appealing to the apostolic origin of the
Church, whereas the heretics and their heresies were subsequent to it.
*165 Death of St. Justin Martry (b. 100), Church Father.
*166 St. Soter becomes Pope. (-175).
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170s
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*172 Montanus launches his Montanist movement, based on
his private revelations. He claimed that there was an age of the Father (the
Old Testament), the Age of the Son (the New Testament) and the age of the
Holy Spirit, which he would inaugurate and which would announce the end of
the world. It denied the divine nature of the Church and preached a very
rigorous morality.
*175 St. Eleutherius succeeds as pope (-189).
*c.176-177 Athenagoras writes Embassy for the
Christians, aka Apology, a work addressed to the Emperor Marcus
Aurelius and his son Commodus that shows the reasonableness of the Christian
faith and the absurdity of the charges made against Christians. It also
defended the notion of the Trinity.
*177 St. Irenaeus of Lyons,
Against All Heresies, a work of apologetics refuting Gnosticism, which
claimed salvation through an esoteric knowledge. Irenaeus argues that this
belief counters that universal tradition handed down from the apostles, and
that the bishops are the successors of the apostles who have the authority to
transmit Revelation. To make his point, he lists the succession of popes
beginning with Peter.
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180s
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*185 Birth of Origen, controversial Church Father. His
writings were, in many ways, productive for the orthodox faith. However, a
number of his ideas were problematic or downright heretical. Among them: his
excessive allegorism in Scriptural interpretation, his subordinationist
tendencies, his belief in eternal creation and final salvation of all souls.
His writings sparked complex doctrinal controversies. In spite of the
problems, he had many admirers among orthodox Fathers.
*189 Pope Victor I takes over the See of Peter. (-199)
*189 Pope Victor I excommunicates the Quartodecimians. The
Quartodecimians of Asia Minor reckoned the date of Easter according to the
Jewish Passover, as 14 Nisan, regardless of whether or not it fell on a
Sunday, contrary to the majority of the faithful in various parts of the
Empire. Pope Victor ordered Bishop Polycrates of Ephesus to call a synod and have the
bishops of Proconsular Asia submit to the Roman practice. The bishop called
the synod, but the assembly refused to submit, citing that the apostles John
and Philip followed the same custom. The pope then excommunicated the bishops
and their followers. St. Irenaues protested this action as too harsh, but did
not say the pope had overstepped his authority. This is the first record of
an episcopal council in the post-apostolic age.
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190s
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*190 Pope Victor I excommunicates Theodotus for his denial
that Jesus is God. The latter gathered together a band of followers, whose
teachings would eventually influenced Paul of Samosata, the true originator
of Arianism.
*199 Pope St.
Zephyrinus accedes to the See of Peter (-217). Pope Zephyrinus was not
inclined to philosophical speculation and would not either endorse or condemn
St. Hippolytus' attacks against the Monarchian heresy. This made the pope's
faith appear suspect.
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200s
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*c. 200 Death of St.
Irenaeus of Lyons, Church Father and bishop.
*c. 200 Monarchianism makes its appearance. In contrast to
Arianism, Monarchians affirm Jesus is God, but in order to safeguard the
unity of God, they essentially deny the distinction between the Son and the
Father. St. Hippolytus was an ardent opponent of this heresy.
*202 Emperor Septimius Severus persecutes Christians with
the aim of establishing one common religion in the Empire.
*c.208 The first record of prayers for the dead in the
writings of the Church Fathers. Tertullian writes that a good widow prays for
her dead husband's soul in On Monogamy.
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210s
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*c.213 Birth of St. Gregory of Neocaesarea, (d. c. 270)
aka the Wonderworker, aka Thaumaturgus. He defended the Unity and the Trinity
of God in his writings.
*217 Death of Pope St. Zephyrinus. Pope St. Callistus I
succeeds him (-222). Callistus was a former slave who was in charge of his
master's bank. He lost a lot of money to bad debts, some of the debtors being
Jews. When he attempted to recover the money, some Jews denounced him as a
Christian and he was sent to the mines of Sardinia, but survived to return to
Rome in 190 AD. During Pope Zephyrinus' reign, he was a power behind the
throne, making his faith appear suspect to the future anti-pope St.
Hippolytus.
*217 Election of anti-pope St. Hippolytus, Church Father,
the first anti-pope in Church history, and the only one venerated as a saint.
He considered Pope St. Callistus I to be a Monarchian heretic, and he
continued his claim to the Chair of Peter through to the reign of Pope St.
Pontian. He reconciled with the Church before being martyred in the mines of
Sardinia in 235.
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220s
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*220 Pope St. Callistus I excommunicates Sabellius, a
priest who taught that the Son of God did not exist before the Incarnation,
and that God exists in three "modes" but not in three persons,
therefore the Son and the Father suffered at the passion. This heresy,
Sabellianism, would become prevalent in the fourth century.
*222 St. Urban I becomes Pope (-230).
*222 Alexander Severus becomes emperor (-235). He lifted
many harsh laws against the Christians, and essentially gave them the right
to exist as a religion. They now had the right to own property and assemble
for worship. He had a personal devotion to Jesus Christ, but he honoured him
as one among many gods.
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230s
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*230 Death of Tertullian, Church Father who later joined
the Montanists, a heretical sect. His writings are invaluable for the
historical testimony they provide.
*230 St. Pontian succeeds St. Urban I as pope (-235). In
235, the Emperor Maximian launched a persecution against the heads of the
Church. Pontian was banished to the mines of Sardinia. In order to make possible
the election of a new pope, he resigned.
*235 Pope St. Anterus reigns for forty days (-236).
*236 Election of Pope St. Fabian (-250). Eusebius relates
in his history of the Church that when it came time to elect a new pope, the
assembly put forward several names of prominent people, but a dove rested on
Fabian's head, whom no one had considered for the office. The assembly took
it as a sign of divine favour and selected him as the new pope.
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240s
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250s
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*250-251 The Decian Persecution. The Emperor Decius
requires all citizens in every town and village of the Empire to perform acts
of worship to the gods of the State. People suspected of Christianity are
brought before a commission and required to sacrifice. Refusal meant a long
prison stay and subjection to torture so that the accused would apostatize.
Failing that, they are put to death. Many Christians apostatize or obtain
certificates stating that they had sacrificed. This systematic persecution
produces numerous martyrs.
*250 Martyrdom of Pope St. Fabian in the Decian
persecution. He was not given the opportunity to apostatize but was swifty
executed for his faith.
*c. 250 The devotion to martyrs, once a more private
practice, becomes widespread after the Decian persection due to the great
numbers of martyrs it produced.
*c. 250 Birth of St. Anthony of Egypt (d. 355) considered
to be the founder of monasticism. Approximately 5000 disciples of both sexes
had gathered around him in the Nitrian desert (Egypt), despite his
opposition. We know of him through a biography of St. Athanasius.
*251 Council of Cartage under St. Cyprian allows those who
lapsed during the persecution to be readmitted after a period of penance.
*251 Pope St. Cornelius succeeds Pope St. Fabian (-253).
*251 Novatian becomes the second anti-pope in Church
history (-258). He strongly disagrees with Pope Cornelius' stance allowing
those who apostatized during the Decian persecution to return to the fold
after a suitable penance. He insisted on permanent excommunication for them.
This period is known as the Novatian Schism. The Novatian church will
continue to exist up to the eighth century, but will be absorbed by the
Catholic Church.
*c. 251 St. Cyprian writes his famous treaty, On the
Unity of the Church. He argues that the Church was founded on Peter, and
that the local bishop was the head of the local Church. In practice, however,
he contradicted himself by asserting that the pope could not make him accept
Christians baptized by heretics.
*c. 253 Death of Origen, Church Father. He probably died
from the tortured he suffered under the Decian persecution.
* 253 Election of Pope St. Lucius I (-254).
*254 St. Stephen I is elected Pope (-257). He is the first
pope known to have invoked Matt. 16:18 as evidence for the authority of the
Chair of Peter.
*256 Pope St. Stephen I upholds the baptisms administered
by heretics.
*257 The Emperor Valerian launches a persecution against
Christians (-259). The clergy is summoned to sacrifice to the pagan gods. If
they refused, the church property they legally held in the church's name was
to be confiscated and they were to be exiled (a year later, the penalty would
be immediate execution). All faithful Christians who met in religious
assemblies were punishable by death.
*257 St. Sixtus II becomes Pope (-258). He was arrested
very shortly after his election and beheaded for his faith.
*258 Martyrdom of St. Cyprian of Carthage. He defended the
readmission to the Church of those who apostatized during persecution, but
rejected the idea that baptism by heretics and schismatics is valid. In his
writings, he defended the primacy of Peter as the source of unity in the
Church. He remained the foremost Latin writer until Jerome. At his execution,
his followers placed cloths and handkerchiefs near his place of execution in
order to catch his blood and thereby have a relic of him.
*259 Peace of Gallenius. Emperor Gallenius succeeds to the
throne, ends the persecution of Christians and legally recognizes their
existence. Church property is restored. This peace lasts for forty years.
Churches are built, bishops gain social prestige and Christians acquire more
social status. Christians serve the regimes of various emperors. Christianity
still remains a target for hostility.
*259 Pope St. Dionysius begins his pontificate (-268).
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260s
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*c. 260 Birth of Eusebius of Caesarea, Church Father,
bishop and "Father of Church history." his Church history is
an important source of information about the Early Church. He also wrote the Life
of Constantine.
*261 A period of relative peace begins for the Church
(-303).
*c. 265 Three councils held at this time in Antioch
condemn Paul of Samosata, bishop of Antioch, for his heretical teachings on
the relationship of God the Father and God the Son. He maintained that Jesus
the man was distinct from the Logos and became the Son of God through
adoption because of his merits, and that God is only One Person. His
teachings were a pre-cursor to the Arianist heresies of the fourth century
and beyond.
*269 Pope St. Felix I fills the See of Peter (-274).
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270s
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*c.270-275 Death of St. Gregory of Neocaesarea (b. c.213)
, aka the Wonderworker, aka Thaumaturgus, Church Father and bishop.
*c. 272 Crucifixion of Mani by Bahram, king of Persia.
Mani founded the Manichaean religion, which centred on the battle between the
good god and the evil god. He had travelled widely, going as far as India,
and drew from many philosophies and religions-- including Buddhism. He also
claimed to be the Paraclete. His religious ideas would persist throughout the
Middle Ages, and were adopted by the Cathari and the Bogomils.
*272 Emperor Aurelian rules that the bishop of a city is
whomever the bishops of Italy and Rome acknowledge as such. The ruling
deprived the deposed Paul of Samosata, bishop of Antioch, of all church
property--including churches. This way the secular arm made it possible for
Rome to effectively depose bishops.
*275 Pope St. Eutychian succeeds Pope St. Felix I.(-283).
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280s
|
*283 Pope St. Caius is elected head of the Church (-296).
*285 Partition of the Roman Empire into Eastern and
Western halves. Diocletian rules the Eastern half, Maximian, the Western.
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290s
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*293 Diocletian forms the Tetrarchy. In order to improve
the transition of power upon the death of an emperor, Diocletian created a
system of co-rulers. Thus, the Emperors are Augusti, their heirs apparent are
Caesars. Diocletian chooses Galerius as Caesar; Maximian chooses Constantius
I Chlorus. The Tetrarchy system would eventually fail in its goal of assuring
smooth transitions of power.
*296 Election of Pope St. Marcellinus I (-304).
*c. 297 Birth of St. Athanasius (d. 373), Doctor of the
Church. Archbishop of Alexandria. He was a staunch defender of the Divinity
of Jesus Christ against Arianism, and was exiled sevral times for his
orthodoxy.
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300s
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*c. 300 Christianity introduced in Armenia.
*Constantine re-unites both halves of the Empire, becomes
sole emperor.
*302 Growing intolerance of Christians leads to the army
and the imperial service being closed to professed Christians.
*303 Persecution of Christians by Diocletian through a
series of edicts.All people were to worship state gods. Churches were to be
destroyed, Christian books were to be burned. The first act of the
persecution was to burn down the cathedral at Nicomedia.
*304 Christians faithful to the their religion are now
subject to the death penalty. The government commits massacres to terrify the
faithful.
*304 Death of Pope St. Marcellinus I.
*305 Emperors Diocletian and Maximian resign. Galerius,
viciously anti-Christian, succedes as emperor in the East. The new emperor in
the West, Constantius Chlorus, ceases the persecution in his domains.
*c. 305 The Council of Elvira, Spain approves the first
canon imposing clerical celibacy.
*306 Constanine becomes the emperor in the West and
continues the policy of toleration towards Christians.
*306 Galerius orders all his subjects to make pagan
sacrifices.
*306 Birth of St. Ephraem the Syrian (d. 373), Doctor of
the Church. Known as the Harp of the Holy Spirit. Author of the Nisibene
Hymns, some of which are Marian.
*308 Election of Pope St. Marcellus I (-309). His stance
against apostates who demanded immediate re-entry into the Church raised a
commotion and led to the Emperor Maxentius exiling him. He died soone after
leaving Rome.
*309 Reign of Pope St. Eusebius.
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310s
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*310 Sapor II becomes king of the Persian Empire (-381).
Until the third century, the Church grew in Persia without persecution.
However, with the accession of the Sassinid Dynasty (227 AD) the Church
became suspect and was eventually persecuted. Under Sapor II, Christians are
subject to a persecution worse than any undertaken by the Roman Emperors. It
was considered the religion of the Roman Empire, with whom the Persian were
constantly at war.
*311 An edict of toleration is emitted in the names of
Galerius, Constantine and Licinius. The emperors come to realize that
persecution produced non-believers in either the gods of the state or in the
Christian God. Emperor Maximinus of Daza only follows the policy for six
months, then continues the persecution in the East.
*31l Pope St. Militiades begins his reign (-314).
*311 The Beginning of the Donatist Schism. Donatus,
Primate of Numidia, will not recognize the election of Cecilian as Bishop of
Carthage. Cecillian's consecrator is Felix of Aptonga, a man who had
allegedly apostatized under Maximian's persecution (303-305). To the
Donatists, apostasy and other serious sins destroys a priest's spiritual
powers. The priest's powers are therefore dependent on his personal holiness.
Donatus holds a council which illegally elects a pretendant to the see.
Although he lives in Carthage, Donatus has no jurisdiction there.
*312 Martyrdom of Lucian of Antioch during the persecution
of Maximinus of Daza. He taught that the Word (logos) was a creature. He
taught Arius, the heresiarch, and his teaching was at the origin of the Arian
heresy. He is also known for having rejected allegorical interpretations and
was strongly literal in his biblical interpreations. He reconciled with the
Church.
*312 Constantine defeats the Emperor Maxentius at the
battle of the Milvian Bridge. The night before the battle, Constantine has a
vision of a cross in the sky and the words "In this sign you shall
conquer." After the victory, Constantine orders that the cross be put on
the soldiers' shields and standards. Once Constantine enters Rome, he offers
the Lateran Palace to the Pope as a residence.
*313 Edict of Milan. Toleration of Christians in the
Western Roman Empire. All people, not only Christians, have freedom of
religion so long as they render honour to "the divinity." Emperor
Constantine returns Church property. In the Eastern Empire, Maximinus
continues to persecute Christians until he grants them toleration in a last-ditch
effort to gain their favour and keep alive his struggle against his enemy
Licinius.
*313 Constantine intervenes on the Donatist schism and
recognizes the election of Cecillian of Carthage, the orthodox candidate. The
churches held by Donatists are handed over to Catholics.
*313 The Lateran palace makes its first appearance in
Catholic history as it is the scence of an appeal of the Donatists in the
matter of Cecillian's election as Bishop of Carthage. Emperor Constantine
chose the bishops to sit on the tribunal, but the pope presided over it. It
rules in favour of Cecillian.
*314 St. Sylvester I is elected Pope (-335)
*c.314 Constantine agrees to hear a new appeal by the
Donatists in the case of Cecillian's Episcopal election. This time the appeal
is brought to a secular court. The Donatists maintained that Felix of Aptonga
could not have validly ordained Cecillian because he had apostatized during a
persecution. The police books of the persecution were produced, and there was
no evidence Felix had ever been arrested. It was also shown that the
Donatists had attempted to forge the certificate proving his guilt.
Constantine sends this evidence to the Council of Arles, where the Fathers
note that the Donatists are "crazy fanatics, a danger to Christianity."
They rule in favour of Cecillian.
*315 Birth of St. Cyril of Jerusalem (d. 387), Doctor of
the Church. He fought Arianism in the East.
*315 Birth of St. Hilary of Poitiers (d. 368), Doctor of
the Church.
*316 Constantine hears another appeal of the Donatists in
the matter of the election of Cecillian of Carthage. He rules in favour of
Cecillian. He rules that the churches held by the Donatists were to be handed
over to the Catholics, and that the Donatists were forbidden to meet.
*c. 318 Beginnings of the Arianist controversy. Arius
taught: that the Father and the Son were not of the same substance, and
therefore the latter was inferior; and that the Word (Logos) is a creature
and that the Holy Spirit is a creature of the Logos.
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320s
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*320 St. Pachomius founds the first two monasteries-- on
for each sex in Tabennisi.
*321 The Donatists appeal to Constantine for toleration.
He grants it, in spite of his contempt for the sect.
*323 Licinius, Emperor of the East launches a persecution
against Christians.
*323 Constantine and Licinius do battle at Chrysopolis.
Licinius dies six months later. Constantine has no rival and is the sole
ruler of the Empire. Constantine preserves freedom of religion but his
attitude towards paganism becomes contemptuous. Paganism and Christianity
enjoy equal status before the law.
*325 The Council of Nicea. Presided by Emperor Constantine
and Hosius of Cordoba. Pope St. Sylvester I sends papal legates, being too
old to make the journery from Rome. Many of the bishops in attendance had
been physically injured in the persecutions of previous decades. The Council
defines trinitarian belief in God. The Father and God the Son are declared of
the same substance against the teachings of Arius. Emperor Constantine
considers heresy to be a form of rebellion, and banishes Arian bishops to
Illyria.
*325 Building of Church of Natitvity, Bethlehem.
*326 Constantine recognizes the Novatian Church, the
parallel Church established under the Novatian schism in the preceding
century. It would die out a century later in Rome, but would survive until at
least the seventh century in the East.
*329 Birth of St. Basil the Great (d. 379), Doctor of the
Church and father of Eastern monasticism. He was the first to draw up a rule
of life and he developed the concept of the novitiate.
*c. 329 Birth of St. Gregory of Nanzianzus (d. 389),
Doctor of the Church, one of the traditional four Greek Doctors.
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330s
|
*330 Building of first St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It
was torn down in 1506 and re-built.
*330 Birth of St. Gregory Nanzianzus (d. 390), Doctor of
the Church. One of the Cappadocian Fathers.
*331 Seat of the Roman Empire moved to Constantinople
(formerly Byzantium).
*331 Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia, an Arian, schemes to
have a local synod depose the orthodox bishop Eustathius of Antioch.
Constantine recognizes the authority of the synod and expels Eustathius. His
successor, Paulinus of Tyre dies a few months later, and, for the first time
in history, a secular ruler interferes in the choice of a bishop. Constantine
recommends the Arian Euphronios, who was elected.
*335 By this time Eusebius of Nicomedia succeeds in
convincing the emperor of his orthodoxy by proposing at the Council of
Jerusalem an ambiguous formula of faith to which both Arians and Catholics
can adhere.
*336 Reign of Pope St. Mark.
*336 Death of Arius, heresiarch, creator of the Arian
herersy. Right before his death, the Emperor Constantine's sister,
Constantia, requested on her deathbed that Arius be recalled from his place
of banishment and exonerated. The Emperor paid heed to her request. He
ordered the bishop of Alexandria to give Arius Communion, but the latter died
right before he was to receive. The populace views it a sign of divine
condemnation.
*336 The earliest record of the celebration of Christmas
in Rome. The East kept the Feast of Epiphany, January 6th.
*337 Death of Constantine. He was baptized on his deathbed
by bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia, an ally of Arius. The Empire is ruled by his
three sons, Constantine II, Constantius II and Constans.
*337 Election of Pope St. Julius I (-352).
*338 Election of St. Julius I (-352).
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340s
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*c. 340-350 The Arian bishop Ulfilas makes a corrupt
translation of the Bible into the Gothic language and converts the Goths.
From then on, barbarian tribes that converted to Christianity were Arian,
until the conversion of the Franks in the 6th century.
*340 Birth of St. Ambrose of Milan, one of the four
traditional Latin Doctors of the Church. He baptized St. Augustine. He fought
the Arian heresy in the West and promoted consecrated virginity.
*341 Emperors Constants and Constantius II abolish and
prohibit pagan sacrifices. Pagan sentiment becomes very anti-Christian.
*341 Death of Eusebius of Nicomedia, bishop of
Constantinople. He schemed to depose Catholic bishops throughout the empire
and replace them with Arians. He made Arians appear orthodox through
ambiguous formulas of faith.
*c. 343 Birth of St. Jerome (d. 420), one of the four
traditional Doctors of the Latin Church. He translated the Bible from Hebrew
and Greek texts into Latin and produced the first authoritative translation,
the Vulgate. At that time, Latin was still a vernacular language. He also
wrote a treaty against Helvidius, upholding the Virgin Birth.
*347 Birth of St. John Chrysostom (d. 407), Doctor of the
Church and Bishop of Constantinople. He is the foremost Greek Doctor of the
Church, known especially for his homilies on Scripture. He alienated the
court at Constaninople with his preaching against the vanities of the rich.
The conspiracy of his enemies resulted in his exile. The pope and many
Western bishops supported him but could not obtain justice for him.
*347 Emperor Constans ends the toleration of Donatists in
Numidia. The period of Donatist dominance in Africa had been one of license,
including riots and massacres. He exiles the Donatist bishops and hands their
churches to Catholics.
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350s
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*350 Assassination of Emperor Constans. Constantius II, an
Arian, becomes sole Emperor. Arians attempt to link St. Athanasius with
Constans' assassin.
*353 Emperor Constantius II prohibits idol worship under
penalty of death. The Western Empire is majoritarily Pagan.
*352 Reign of Pope Liberius (-366), the first pope who is
not considered a saint. He would not be pressured by Constantius to condemn
St. Athanasius.
*354 Birth of St. Augustine of Hippo (d. 430), Doctor of
the Church. One of the four traditional Doctors of the Latin Church. One of
the greatest theologians in the history of the Church. Among his most famous
works: Confessions, City of God, On the Trinity.
*354 Constantius II ignores his own law and confirms the
rights and privileges of the city of Rome, including their share of state
subsidies.
*c. 355 Constantius II kidnaps Pope Liberius to pressure
him to condemn St. Athanasius, and thereby approve the Arian creed. The pope
refuses and is banished to Baerea in Thrace. Constantius attempts to replace
Liberius with Felix, but the laypeople of Rome would not hear of it.
*357 Constantius II is persuaded to allow Pope Liberius to
return to Rome. There is some dispute as to whether his return was prompted
by his signing a semi-Arian formula that would have satisfied Constantius, or
by the Roman faithful, who drove out Felix, the anti-pope. Much appears to be
uncertain about this situation.
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360s
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*c. 360 Scrolls begin to be replaced by books.
*361 Emperor Julian "the Apostate" becomes Roman
Emperor (-363). He was brought up in Arian Christianity in his early
childhood, but was tutored by Pagans in his adolescence. Upon his accession
to the throne, he attempts revive Paganism, and in his contempt the Christian
Faith, he tries to re-build the Temple in Jerusalem, but fails.
*362 Emperor Julian recalls the exiled Donatist bishops.
*363 Emperor Julian "the Apostate" dies before
getting a chance to launch a systematic persecution against the Christians,
although mobs that riot and kill them go unpunished.
*363 Jovinian, a Catholic, becomes Emperor. He restores
toleration for all religions.He reigns only for nine months.
*364 Valentinian, a Catholic, now rules the Western empire
(-375). He takes the property of State-run temples, but instead of handing it
over to the Church, as Constantius II did, he puts the imperial treasury in
charge of it.
*364 The Arian Valens becomes Emperor of the Eastern
Empire (-378). He seeks to Arianize his Christian subjects and makes life
difficult for Catholics.
*366 Reign of Pope St. Damasus I (-384). He is most famous
for compelling St. Jerome to undertake a faithful translation of the Scriptures,
the version known as the Vulgate. St. Damasus condemned Apollinarianism and
Macedonianism. He approved the canons of the Ecumenical Council of
Constantinople (381).
*c. 368 Death of St. Hilary of Poitiers (b. 315), Doctor
of the Church and bishop. He was exiled for his orthodox faith by the Emperor
Constantius, but eventually was able to return to Poitiers. He attempted to
reconcile the Semi-Arians and the orthodox faithful.
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370s
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*370 Valens, Emperor of the East, orders the bishops of
his realm to conform to an Arian formula on pain of of deposition and exile.
Many refuse. Their churches are handed over to Arian appointees. Other
dioceses organize resistance, and in some cases massacres ensue.
*373 Death of St. Athanasius (b. 297), Doctor of the Church,
Bishop of Alexandria.
*373 Death of St. Ephraim of Nisibis, Church Father. peror
of the Western Empire (-383). He abolishes the office of Pontifex Maximus,
the head of the Pagan religion, which, by default, was held by the Roman
Emperor, even if he was Christian (although he did not necessarily exercise
the office).
*376 Birth of St. Cyril of Alexandria (d. 444), Doctor of
the Church. Opposed Nestorianism.
*377 A synod in Rome condemns the teachings of Apollinaris
of Laodicea. Apollinarism posited that Christ had a human body and a human
sensitive soul, but his rational mind was taken over by the Logos or the
Divine nature of the Second Person of the Trinity. It was also condemned at
the first Council of Constantinople, 381.
*379 Theodosius, a devout Catholic, becomes the Eastern
Roman Emperor (-395). For the first time in half a century, the State would
favour Catholicism over Arianism. Theodosius is the first emperor to
legislate against heresy. The churches of heretics are to be confiscated and
handed over to the Catholic Church. Heretical gatherings are forbidden and
heretics cannot make wills or inherit. He also legislates against apostasy
from Christianity to Paganism.
*379 Death of St. Basil the Great (b. 329), Doctor of the
Church.
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380s
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*c. 381 Emperor Theodosius makes Christianity the de facto
official religion of the Empire by forbidding the worship of the ancient
Gods.
*381 The First Council of Constantinople. Presided by Pope
Damasus and Emperor Theodosius I. It proclaimed the divinity of the Holy
Spirit.
*382 By this time, the pagan priesthood in the Western
Empire no longer enjoys any of its former privileges, and the State has
confiscated temple property, making their legacies void.
*383 Roman legions begin to leave Britain. British
Christians gradually disconnected from Rome until St. Augustine of Canterbury
re-introduces the faith in 590.
*384 Pope St. Siricius begins his reign (-399).
*c. 385 Priscillian becomes the first heretic ever
sentenced to death under a Christian prince. He was executed for witchcraft,
which was a capital offense, but in reality, he made enemies because of his
Manichaean doctrines. Many in the Church protest this action. St. Martin of
Tours objects to the interference of a lay court in an ecclesiastical matter.
Pope Siricius denounces Bishop Ithacus of Treves for being the leader of the
campaign against Priscillian.
*c. 386 Death of St. Gregory of Nyssa, Church Father,
brother of St. Basil the Great. Before he became a monk, he was married. His
wife either died or became a nun.
*c. 386 Death of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor
of the Church. He is famous for a quotation demonstrating the antiquity of
the practice of Commuion in the hand: "Do not come with thy palms
stretched flat nor with fingers separated. But making thy left hand a seat
for thy right, and hollowing thy palm, receive the Body of Christ, responding
Amen."
*386 St. Ambrose refuses to hand over a church to the
Arian sect when ordered to do so by the Emperor. In a sermon he says a famous
phrase " The emperor is within the Church, and not above the
Church." He says of the Arians: " it has been the crime of the
Arians, the crime which stamps them as the worst of all heretics, that
"they were willing to surrender to Caesar the right to rule the
Church." The Emperor backs down.
*388 Christians attack and burn down a synagogue in
Callinicum at the instigation of the Bishop. St. Ambrose persuades Emperor
Theodosius to not force the local bishop to pay for its restoration. In a
letter to the Emperor, he makes many arguments, but principal among them is
that re-building the synagogue would amount to being disloyal to the Faith,
and that the law is unfairly applied, seeing as Jews burned a number of
churches during the reign of Julian the Apostate, and no one was punished.
The Emperor ignores the letter. But when he attends Mass presided by St.
Ambrose, the bishop refuses to offer the sacrifice until the Emperor revokes
his edict.
*c. 389 Death of St. Gregory of Nanzianzus, Doctor of the
Church.
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390s
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*390 St. Ambrose threatens Theodosius with excommunication
for massacring 7000 people in Thessalonica as punishment for the murder of an
imperial official. Theodosius does public penance.
*391 Emperor Theodosius closes all pagan temples in his realm.
*392 Upon the death of Western Emperor Valentinian II,
Theodosius becomes the sole ruler of the whole Roman Empire. He forbids all
pagan household rites and idols, but does not compel any of his Pagan
subjects to become Christian. Paganism will continue to exist, mainly in the
backwaters, for the next three centuries.
*c. 392 Death of Apollinaris of Laodicea, heresiarch. In
his early years, he was respected for his classical and Scriptural knowledge,
on the same level as St. Athanasius, St. Basil and St. Jerome. However, he
taught that Christ's reason was taken over by the Logos. Apollnaris did not
reconcile with the Church.
*c. 393 Birth of Theodoret of Cyrus, Church Father, bishop
and historian. He opposed St. Cyril of Alexandria in the Nestorian
controversy, but he eventually submitted to the Council of Ephesus on the
matter.
*397 Death of St. Ambrose of Milan (b. 340), Doctor of the
Church.
*399 Election of Pope St. Anastasius (-401). A man of
great holiness, he was friends with St. Augustine and St. Jerome. He
condemned Origenism.
*397 Death of St. Martin of Tours. He was the first saint
honoured for his asceticism, not for martyrdom, and whose prayers were
invoked in liturgy. He is considered the founder of monasticism in the West.
He was also the first to attempt to convert the pagan countryside of Gaul.
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400s
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*401 Reign of Pope Innocent I (-417).
*405 St. Jerome completes his translation of the Old
Testament from the Hebrew.
*405 Emperor Honorius declares Donatists to be heretics
and that they should be rooted out.
*407 Death of St. John Chrysostom (b. 347) Church Doctor
and Bishop of Constantinople. He died from exposure to the elements during
his forced march to Pontus, his place of exile.
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410s
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*410 The Sack of Rome by the Visigoths, led by Alaric.
This event is the inspiration for St. Augustine of Hippo's monumental work, The
City of God.
*410 The Donatists are granted toleration by Emperor
Honorius.
*c. 411 Beginning of the Pelagian controversy in Northern
Africa. Pelagius, an unordained monk, denied the theory of Original Sin,
stating that death was a physical necessity, not a result of Original Sin,
and that Adam's fault was transmitted through bad example. He denied the
necessity of grace to perform good acts, and affirmed it was possible to lead
a life completely free of sin. St. Augustine refuted these beliefs at length.
*411 286 Catholic Bishops and 279 Donatist Bishops meet at
a conference in Carthage to discuss reunion. It was presided by an Imperial
official. He rules that the Donatists have to submit to the Catholic Church.
An imperial edict the following January, 412, confirms this decision and
threatens banishment for all who disobey.
*415 After the Jews massacred a group of Chrisitans, St.
Cyril of Alexandria organizes a mob to drive out the Jews from Alexandria, as
the Prefect of the city, Orestes, sided with the Jews and had condemned a
guilty Christian for disturbing the peace.
*417 Election of Pope St. Zosimus (-418).
*418 Election of Pope St. Boniface I (-422).
*418 The Council of Carthage condemns Pelagianism. Emperor
Honorius banishes all Pelagians from the cities of Italy. Eighteen bishops,
led by Julian of Eclanum, must leave their sees for refusing to sign an
orthodox creed, not because it was anti-Pelagian, but because it was based on
St. Augustine's ideas.
*419 The Council of Africa produces the first Code of
Canon Law in Church history: the Codex Canonum Ecclesiae Africanae. It
forbade appeals overseas in disciplinary matters, including to Rome.
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420s
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*c. 420 The Semi-Pelagian controversy erupts. Many
Pelagians accepted the condemnation of their beliefs at the Council of
Carthage (418). In light of that, a more moderate form of Pelagianism,
Semi-Pelagianism, arose. It stated that the act of will preceded the grace of
salvation. The main proponents of this belief were the monks of Marseilles,
including Vincent of Lerins and its main opponents were St. Augustine and his
disciple Prosper of Aquitaine. It was condemned at the Second Council of
Orange, 529.
*422 Pope St. Celestine I begins his pontificate (-432).
During his reign, Nestorius, patriarch of Constantinople, professed the
heresy of the two-person nature of Christ, known as Nestorianism.
*c. 422 A mob of Christians in Alexandria murder Hypatia,
a renowned female pagan philosopher. They tore her to shreds using sharp roof
tiling, then burnt her remains. Damascius attributes the murder to St. Cyril
of Alexandria's envy of her reputation; he is, however, a Christian-hater.
The Church historian Socrates does not mention any motive on Cyril's part,
but says that it did bring disgrace on the Church of Alexandria. More about the
incident here
*426 The Council of Africa formally requests the pope that
he not be so ready to hear appeals settled in their jurisdiction or lift
excommunications that they have imposed. Rome makes no reply.
*427 Nestorius, heresiarch, is appointed Bishop of
Constantinople.
*428 Nestorius campaigns and obtains a new law against
heresy. His friend, the monk Anastasius, in attempt to promte Nestorius'
theology, preaches that the title "Mother of God" should only be
used with the greatest of care, if at all. This creates a tumult. Nestorius
excommunicates those who object to this novel theology. They appeal to the
Emperor.
*429 Vandals invade North Africa led by Genseric. They
were Arian and very anti-Catholic. Catholic churches are burnt, Catholic
meetings are prohibited, and Catholic clergy are exiled and replaced by Arian
clergy.
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430s
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*430 Death of St. Augustine (b. 354), Church Doctor and
bishop.
*431 Ecumenical Council of Ephesus, presided by St. Cyril
of Alexandria in the name of Pope Celestine I. It condemns Nestorianism, the
belief that Christ is two persons and declared Mary is the Mother of God
(theotokos). It also condemned Pelagianism.
*432 Pope St. Celestine I sends St. Patrick to evangelize
Ireland.
*432 Pope St. Sixtus III begins his pontificate (-440).
*c.434 Death of St. Vincent of Lerins, Church Father and
Abbot, famous for upholding the universal opinion of the Fathers as the Rule
of Faith in disputed matters.
*436 Promulgation of the Theodosian Code, isseud by
Theodosius II. It was a systematic presentation of laws in existence.
Observance of Sunday, Christmas, Epiphany, Easter and Pentecost enforced.
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440s
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*440 Election of Pope St. Leo I "The Great"
(-461), Doctor of the Church. He vigourously fought many heresies:
Manichaenism, Priscillianism, Euctychianism, Monophytism and Nestorianism. He
is famous for his encounter with Attilia the Hun, whom he persuaded not to
pillage Rome. He also obtained a promise from Genseric, leader of the
Vandals, that they would not injure the inhabitants of Rome when they sacked
it in 455.
*444 Death of St. Cyril of Alexandria (b. 376), Doctor of
the Church. He fought the teachings of Nestorius, proclaiming Christ had two
natures in one person, and that Mary was thereby the God-bearer (Theotokos)
the Mother of God. Unfortunately, he used the phrase " one incarnate
nature of God the Word" to express his orthodox belief. This phrase led
to misunderstandings, to the extent that Monophysites claimed he was on their
side.
*c. 447 Death of Sozomen, Church Father and historian. He
continued the Church history begun by Eusebius in the previous century.
*449 The "Robber Council" of Ephesus. Eutyches,
a monk from Constantinople, had been condemned by his bishop, Flavian, for
teaching that Christ only had a divine nature. He made an appeal to the
emperor to hold a Council, which has been dubbed the "Robber
Council" of Ephesus. Pope St. Leo I had written a famous letter for the
occasion, the Tome of Leo, in which he explained the Catholic Faith on the
subject of the two natures of Christ. His letter is ignored at the Council.
Eutyches' condemnation is made void, while Flavian is deposed and sentenced
to prison for his orthodox faith.
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450s
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*451 The ecumenical Council of Chalcedon, presided by the
Emperor Marcian and the legates of Pope St. Leo I. Over five hundred bishops
attend. They approve the Tome of St. Leo as an orthodox statement of faith.
It affirms that there is a hypostasis in Christ, a union of the Divine and
the Human natures in one person. Bishop Dioscoros of Alexandria is condemned
for having protected Eutyches the heretic. The Council also denounces the
intervention of the Emperor in religious affairs.
*454 At the death of the exiled Monophysite bishop
Dioscoros of Alexandria, they elect a successor, Timothy, nicknamed "the
Cat" to replace the Catholic bishop who had already been installed.
Imperial troops are sent in to restore order and Timothy the Cat is exiled
along with other Monophysite bishops.
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460s
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*461 Beginning of reign of Pope St. Hilarus (-468).
*461 Death of St. Patrick, apostle to the Irish.
*468 St. Simplicius becomes Pope (-483).
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470s
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*477 Death of Genseric, King of the Vandals and persecutor
of Catholics. His successor, Hunseric, seeks to eliminate Catholicism
entirely from Northern Africa. He assembles 466 Catholic bishops and gives
them four months to apostatize to Arianism, or else the traditional imperial
decrees against heresy would be applied to them. Many trades are closed off
to the common people unless they can produce a certificate of Arian
conformity.
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480s
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*480 Birth of St. Benedict of Nursia (d. 543), founder of
Western monasticism and originator of the Benedictine Rule.
*483 St. Felix III is elected Pope (-492).
*484 Beginning of Acacian Schism. Pope Felix III
excommunicates Patriarch Acacia of Constantinople for signing the Henoticon,
a vague document, which contained no heretical statement, but did not condemn
Monophytism. It was intended by the Emperor Zeno to be a compromise formula
of faith to please both Catholics and Monophysites.
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490s
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*491 The Armenian Church secedes from the Church of Rome
and Constantinople.
*492-496 Pope Gelasius I. He was also a staunch defender
of the papal office during the Acacian Schism.
*494 Some persecuted bishops of North Africa are recalled
from exile.
*496 Pope Anastasius II begins his reign (-498).
*496 Clovis, king of the Franks, converts to Catholicism.
When his troops appear to be losing against the Alemanni at Strasbourg, he
invokes the God of his Catholic wife Clotilda to give him victory. He is
baptized by St. Remi, and brings the Franks to the Catholic fold, the first
barbarian people to adopt Catholicism.
*498 Election of Pope St. Symmachus (-514).
*499 The Synod of Rome issues decree on papal elections.
It banned discussions on the election of a future pope during a reigning
pope's lifetime. It was an attempt to conspire to make an election truly
democratic, and not make the reigning pope choose his successor.
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