For the first thousand years of her history, the Church was essentially one. Five historic Patriarchal centers (called the “Pentarchy”) – 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 that arose going their own way, but the Christian Church was unified by practice and creed until the 11th century when, in 1054 AD, 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.
29 - Pentecost
49 – Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15) establishes precedent for addressing Church disputes in Council. James presides as bishop.
69 – 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 – Book of Revelation written, probably the last of the New Testament books.
150 – St. Justin Martyr describes the liturgical worship of the Church, centered in the Eucharist. Liturgical worship is rooted in both the Old and New Testament.
313 – The Edict of Milan marks an end to the period of Roman Empire’s persecution of Christianity.
325 - 1st Ecumenical Council – 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 (Churchwide) Councils.
381 – 2nd Ecumenical Council – Constantinople repudiated Arianism and Macedonianism, declared that Christ is “born of the Father before all time”, completed the Nicene Creed in regard to the Holy Spirit
431 – 3rd Ecumenical Council – Ephesus repudiated Nestorianism, proclaimed the Virgin Mary as the Theotokos (“Birth-giver to God”, “God-bearer”, “Mother of God”), repudiated Pelagianism, and reaffirmed the Nicene Creed
451 – 4th Ecumenical Council – Chalcedon affirms apostolic doctrine of two natures in Christ.
553 – 5thEcumenical Council – Constantinople II, reaffirmed decisions and doctrines explicated by previous Councils, condemned new Arian, Nestorian, and Monophysite writings.
589 - In a local synod in Toledo, Spain, the filioque clause (“and the Son”) is added to the Nicene Creed and adopted by Rome asserting that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the father and the Son – an innovation the Orthodox reject.
680 – 6th Ecumenical Council – Constantinople III repudiated Monothelitism and Monoenergism.
720 – John of Damascus (c. 676 – 4 December 749) writes “Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith” presenting Christianity to Muslim Caliph
787 - 7th Ecumenical Council – Nicea II – The era of Ecumenical Councils ends at Nicea II, the Seventh Council bringing the centuries old use of icons back into the Church. Last council of a United Worldwide Christian Church.
988 – Conversion of Russia begins. Russian emissaries came to Constantinople and stated they “experienced heaven on earth” and took Orthodox Christianity back to Russia
1054 – 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.
1066 - Norman conquest of Britain. Orthodox hierarchs are replaced with those loyal to Rome.
1095 – The Crusades begun by the Roman Church. The tragic Sack of Constantinople by Rome (1204) and desecration of the Orthodox Church of Hagia Sophia adds to the estrangement between East and West.
1333 – St. Gregory Palamas defends the Orthodox practice of hesychast spirituality and the use of the Jesus prayer.
1453 – Turks overrun Constantinople; Byzantine Empire ends. Eastern Churches ‘fenced in’ by Islam. Pope of Rome free to take control and change the faith of the Church
1517 – Martin Luther nails 95 Theses against the Roman use of indulgences to the door of the Roman Church in Wittenberg, starting the ‘Protestant’ Revolt.
1529 – The Church of England begins pulling away from Rome.
1576 - The followers of Luther beseech the Patriarch of Constantinople to validate the ‘Augsburg Confession.” It is rejected for “innovations” to the Ancient Faith of the Church
1794 – Missionaries arrive on Kodiak Island in Alaska; Orthodoxy introduced to North America.
1854 – Rome establishes the Immaculate Conception dogma.
1870 – Papal Infallibility becomes Roman dogma.
2010 – The Orthodox churches worldwide, despite cultural differences, continue to maintain the fullness of the Apostolic Faith, the decisions of the Seven Councils, and a unity of Liturgy and Worship
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