OrthodoxWiki - User contributions [en]

Guardian angel

2017-04-23T13:22:36Z

Hayesstw: stub for guardian angels

--Guardian Angels--
A Guardian Angel is an angel that protects a particular person.

The Orthodox Church prays for guardian [[angels]] for all Orthodox Christians in the petition in the litanies:

An angel pf peace a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord

{{Angels}}

Guardian angel

2017-04-23T13:21:14Z

Hayesstw:

--Guardian Angels--
A Guardian Angel is an angel that protects a particular person.

The Orthodox Church prayers for guardian [[angels]] for all Orthodox Christians in the petition in the litanies:

An angel pf peace a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord

{{Angels}}

Guardian angel

2017-04-23T13:18:16Z

Hayesstw:

Talk:Guardian angel

2017-04-23T13:14:25Z

Hayesstw: Created page with "This is included as a stub, giving minimal information, just in case someone searches for it. I hope others will be able to add to it. ~~~~"

This is included as a stub, giving minimal information, just in case someone searches for it. I hope others will be able to add to it.
[[User:Hayesstw|Methodius]] ([[User talk:Hayesstw|talk]]) 13:14, April 23, 2017 (UTC)

Guardian angel

2017-04-23T13:11:58Z

Hayesstw: Started page

--Guardian Angels--
A Guardian Angel is an angel that protects a particular person.

The Orthodox Church prayers for guardian angels for all Orthodox Christians in the petition in the litanies:

An angel pf peace a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord

Halloween

2012-10-19T05:46:58Z

Hayesstw:

{{stub}}
'''Halloween''', in the United States, is a day observed by non-Orthodox Christians in various manners. The day, [[October 31]], is the eve of the day of remembrance of All Saints by Western Christians, particularly Roman Catholics. Orthodox Christians observe this day on the Saturday after Pentecost. While having a Christian origin, the ''All Hallows' Eve'', (from the medieval English festival of the ''All Hallows'') has become in the modern era a secular observance said by some to be based upon the [[Paganism|pagan]] observances of the ancient Druidic Celts.

Modern day Halloween was established as a civil festival in the United States in 1921 when the city of Anoka, Minnesota made it an official civic event. Protestant Evangelicals sometimes attack some of the Hallowe'en customs as "satanic", "druidic", "demonic" or "occult". These (largely inaccurate) characterizations arize mostly from the hostility of their Puritan forebears to the veneration of saints.
==Articles==
* Bp. (now Abp.) Kyrill of Seattle (now of San Francisco). ''[http://www.holycross-hermitage.com/pages/Orthodox_Life/halloween.htm On Halloween].'' '''Orthodox Life''', Vol. 43:5 (Sept./Oct. 1993).
* Archpriest Victor Potapov. ''"[http://stjohndc.org/Russian/homilies/e_HOMHALWN.HTM Concerning Halloween]".'' '''Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Washington, D.C.'''
* St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church (T.O.C.). ''[http://www.saint-spyridon.com/note11.htm No. 11 - Do Orthodox Christians Observe Halloween?]''

==Books==
'''Children's Books'''
* Dennis Eugene Engleman. ''[http://www.reginaorthodoxpress.com/hatodeeuenby.html Halloween Town].'' Illustrated by Niko Chocheli. Regina Orthodox Press, 2009.
'''Teenagers & Adults'''
* Archimandrite Vassilios Bakoyannis. ''[http://www.orthodoxchristianchildren.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=262&category_id=46&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=3&vmcchk=1&Itemid=3 Confronting the Devil, Magic & the Occult].'' Orthodox Book Centre, Athens 2003. 172 pp.
* Michael Whelton. ''[http://reginaorthodoxpress.stores.yahoo.net/falsegods.html False Gods: Counterfeit Spirituality in an Age of Anxiety].'' Regina Orthodox Press, 2002.
* ''[http://www.philokalia.org/PDF/potter.pdf Harry Potter The Truth Behind the Story].'' A pamphlet of [[St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery (Florence, Arizona)|St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery]].

==Source==
*[http://www.answers.com/topic/halloween Halloween]

==See also==
* [[Exorcism]]
'''Wikipedia'''
* [[w:All Saints|All Saints]]

==External Links==
* Orthodox Christian Children.com. ''[http://www.orthodoxchristianchildren.com/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=46&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=3&vmcchk=1&Itemid=3 Against Halloween & Magic].''
* ''[http://khanya.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/halloween-synchroblog/ Who stole Hallowe'en]''
* ''[http://khanya.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/evangelicals-and-halloween/ Evangelicals and Hallowe'en]''
[[Category:Church Life]]

Talk:Halloween

2012-10-19T05:44:01Z

Hayesstw: Created page with "Orthodox Christians should beware of accepting at face value scare stories about Halloween being "Celtic", "occult", "demonic", "druidic" and the like. These stories were made..."

Orthodox Christians should beware of accepting at face value scare stories about Halloween being "Celtic", "occult", "demonic", "druidic" and the like. These stories were made up by iconoclastic Puritans/Protestants to discourage the veneration of saints, and are continued and embellished by their Evangelical successors to this day. [[User:Hayesstw|Methodius]] 19:44, October 18, 2012 (HST)

Halloween

2012-10-19T05:14:34Z

Hayesstw: /* External Links */

{{stub}}
'''Halloween''', in the United States, is a day observed by non-Orthodox Christians in various manners. The day, [[October 31]], is the eve of the day of remembrance of All Saints by Western Christians, particularly Roman Catholics. While having a Christian origin, the ''All Hallows' Eve'', (from the medieval English festival of the ''All Hallows'') has become in the modern era a secular observance said by some to be based upon the [[Paganism|pagan]] observances of the ancient Druidic Celts.

Modern day Halloween was established as a civil festival in the United States in 1921 when the city of Anoka, Minnesota made it an official civic event. Protestant Evangelicals sometimes attack some of the Hallowe'en customs as "satanic", "druidic", "demonic" or "occult". These (largely inaccurate) characterizations arize mostly from the hostility of their Puritan forebears to the veneration of saints.
==Articles==
* Bp. (now Abp.) Kyrill of Seattle (now of San Francisco). ''[http://www.holycross-hermitage.com/pages/Orthodox_Life/halloween.htm On Halloween].'' '''Orthodox Life''', Vol. 43:5 (Sept./Oct. 1993).
* Archpriest Victor Potapov. ''"[http://stjohndc.org/Russian/homilies/e_HOMHALWN.HTM Concerning Halloween]".'' '''Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Washington, D.C.'''
* St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church (T.O.C.). ''[http://www.saint-spyridon.com/note11.htm No. 11 - Do Orthodox Christians Observe Halloween?]''

==Books==
'''Children's Books'''
* Dennis Eugene Engleman. ''[http://www.reginaorthodoxpress.com/hatodeeuenby.html Halloween Town].'' Illustrated by Niko Chocheli. Regina Orthodox Press, 2009.
'''Teenagers & Adults'''
* Archimandrite Vassilios Bakoyannis. ''[http://www.orthodoxchristianchildren.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=262&category_id=46&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=3&vmcchk=1&Itemid=3 Confronting the Devil, Magic & the Occult].'' Orthodox Book Centre, Athens 2003. 172 pp.
* Michael Whelton. ''[http://reginaorthodoxpress.stores.yahoo.net/falsegods.html False Gods: Counterfeit Spirituality in an Age of Anxiety].'' Regina Orthodox Press, 2002.
* ''[http://www.philokalia.org/PDF/potter.pdf Harry Potter The Truth Behind the Story].'' A pamphlet of [[St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery (Florence, Arizona)|St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery]].

==Source==
*[http://www.answers.com/topic/halloween Halloween]

==See also==
* [[Exorcism]]
'''Wikipedia'''
* [[w:All Saints|All Saints]]

==External Links==
* Orthodox Christian Children.com. ''[http://www.orthodoxchristianchildren.com/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=46&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=3&vmcchk=1&Itemid=3 Against Halloween & Magic].''
* ''[http://khanya.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/halloween-synchroblog/ Who stole Hallowe'en]''
* ''[http://khanya.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/evangelicals-and-halloween/ Evangelicals and Hallowe'en]''
[[Category:Church Life]]

Halloween

2012-10-19T05:13:03Z

Hayesstw: Added links to articles

{{stub}}
'''Halloween''', in the United States, is a day observed by non-Orthodox Christians in various manners. The day, [[October 31]], is the eve of the day of remembrance of All Saints by Western Christians, particularly Roman Catholics. While having a Christian origin, the ''All Hallows' Eve'', (from the medieval English festival of the ''All Hallows'') has become in the modern era a secular observance said by some to be based upon the [[Paganism|pagan]] observances of the ancient Druidic Celts.

Modern day Halloween was established as a civil festival in the United States in 1921 when the city of Anoka, Minnesota made it an official civic event. Protestant Evangelicals sometimes attack some of the Hallowe'en customs as "satanic", "druidic", "demonic" or "occult". These (largely inaccurate) characterizations arize mostly from the hostility of their Puritan forebears to the veneration of saints.
==Articles==
* Bp. (now Abp.) Kyrill of Seattle (now of San Francisco). ''[http://www.holycross-hermitage.com/pages/Orthodox_Life/halloween.htm On Halloween].'' '''Orthodox Life''', Vol. 43:5 (Sept./Oct. 1993).
* Archpriest Victor Potapov. ''"[http://stjohndc.org/Russian/homilies/e_HOMHALWN.HTM Concerning Halloween]".'' '''Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Washington, D.C.'''
* St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church (T.O.C.). ''[http://www.saint-spyridon.com/note11.htm No. 11 - Do Orthodox Christians Observe Halloween?]''

==Books==
'''Children's Books'''
* Dennis Eugene Engleman. ''[http://www.reginaorthodoxpress.com/hatodeeuenby.html Halloween Town].'' Illustrated by Niko Chocheli. Regina Orthodox Press, 2009.
'''Teenagers & Adults'''
* Archimandrite Vassilios Bakoyannis. ''[http://www.orthodoxchristianchildren.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=262&category_id=46&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=3&vmcchk=1&Itemid=3 Confronting the Devil, Magic & the Occult].'' Orthodox Book Centre, Athens 2003. 172 pp.
* Michael Whelton. ''[http://reginaorthodoxpress.stores.yahoo.net/falsegods.html False Gods: Counterfeit Spirituality in an Age of Anxiety].'' Regina Orthodox Press, 2002.
* ''[http://www.philokalia.org/PDF/potter.pdf Harry Potter The Truth Behind the Story].'' A pamphlet of [[St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery (Florence, Arizona)|St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery]].

==Source==
*[http://www.answers.com/topic/halloween Halloween]

==See also==
* [[Exorcism]]
'''Wikipedia'''
* [[w:All Saints|All Saints]]

==External Links==
* Orthodox Christian Children.com. ''[http://www.orthodoxchristianchildren.com/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=46&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=3&vmcchk=1&Itemid=3 Against Halloween & Magic].''
* ''[http://khanya.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/halloween-synchroblog/ Who stole Hallowe'en]''
* ''[khanya.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/evangelicals-and-halloween/ Evangelicals and Hallowe'en]''
[[Category:Church Life]]

Talk:Novatian Schism

2012-07-31T05:49:47Z

Hayesstw: Created page with "There was a spelling error, which is still in the page title - it is "Novatian" not "Novation" ~~~~"

There was a spelling error, which is still in the page title - it is "Novatian" not "Novation" [[User:Hayesstw|Methodius]] 19:49, July 30, 2012 (HST)

Novatian Schism

2012-07-31T05:48:20Z

Hayesstw: Corrected spelling of Novatian - in some places it was wrongly spelt Novation

The '''Novatian Schism''' was a [[schism]] within the [[Church of Rome]] in the third century that originated in the differing positions regarding the policy concerning the proper treatment that the church should accord to Christians who had lapsed, that is denied their faith, during times of persecution.

During the Decian persecutions of the mid third century, a debate arose over the proper treatment that the church should accord to Christians who had denied their faith during the persecutions. Following the [[martyr]]dom of [[Bishop]] [[Fabian of Rome|Fabian]] in January 250, an election could not held for his successor until spring of 251 because the church was in such dire straits. At the 251 [[Synod|council]] a majority vote was cast for Cornelius, who favored acceptance of those who had lapsed under terrible duress. The election of [[Cornelius of Rome|Cornelius]], as Bishop of Rome, was repudiated by the [[clergy]] who had been most firm against the lapsed during the persecution and, in opposition, they consecrated [[Novatian]] Bishop of Rome. Novatian was a Roman [[presbyter]] who was known for his orthodox theological work, ''On the Trinity''. Thus, the Church of Rome was faced with two rival bishops, each seeking support of the wider church.

Novatian's party maintained that only God could grant forgiveness for such grievous sin. The Cornelius party argued for a judicious use of "the power of the keys" in forgiving the lapsed after a period of penance. Bishop [[Cyprian of Carthage]] became the major proponent for clemency, siding with Bp. Cornelius.

As the arguments mounted, the demarcation between to two sides became more pronounced. Cyprian maintained that salvation was impossible outside the [[communion]] of the church and that true penitents must be received back into the fold as expeditiously as possible. Novatian and his supporters held that the church must be preserved in its purity without the defilement of those who had not proved steadfast and even went so far as to deny forgiveness for any serious offense after [[baptism]], such as fornication or idolatry, though pardon might be offered to those deemed near death.

Ultimately, Novatian and his followers were [[excommunication|excommunicated]] by a [[synod]] of Roman bishops. With their emphasis on purity and rigorism, the Novatian movement drew significant support throughout the church at large and had a strong following in Phrygia, especially among the [[Montanism|Montanists]]. A Novatian Church lasted for several centuries and was received as a [[schism]]atic orthodox group by the [[First Ecumenical Council|Council of Nicea]] where their affirmation of [[Christ]] as being of one substance with the Father was applauded. Later, the sect fell under imperial disfavor. It was forbidden the right of public worship, and its books were destroyed. Most of its members rejoined the mainstream of the Orthodox Church, although the Novatianists were an identifiable group until the seventh century.

==Source==
*[http://mb-soft.com/believe/txc/novation.htm Novatian Schism]

==External link==
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11138a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Novatian and Novatianism]

[[Category: Schisms]]

Church of Alexandria

2011-12-28T06:57:00Z

Hayesstw: /* History */ Added coming of St Mark

The '''Church of Alexandria''' is one of the [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] [[Orthodox Church]]es. Its [[primate]] is the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, the successor to the [[Apostle Mark|Apostle Mark the Evangelist]], who founded the Church of Alexandria in the 1st century. It is one of the five ancient [[patriarchate]]s of the early [[Church]], called the ''[[Pentarchy]]''.

{{church|
name= Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa[[Image:Alexandria logo.gif|center|The Church of Alexandria]]|
founder= [[Apostle Mark]]|
independence=Traditional |
recognition= Traditional |
primate=[[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria|Pope Theodoros II]]|
hq=Alexandria, Egypt|
territory=Egypt and Africa|
possessions= ?|
language=Greek, Swahili, English, local languages|
music=[[Byzantine Chant]]|
calendar=[[Revised Julian Calendar|Revised Julian]]|
population=250,000|
website=[http://www.greekorthodox-alexandria.org/ Church of Alexandria]
}}

== History ==
When [[Alexander the Great]] conquered Egypt about 332-331 BC he established the city of Alexandria, named after him, from which his Greek-speaking successors, the Ptolemy dynasty, ruled Egypt. Alexandria also had many Greek-speaking Jewish inhabitants, and it was here that the Old Testament scriptures were translated into Greek, the [[Septuagint]] version. During the first century BC the city, and Egypt generally passed under Roman rule.

[[St Mark]], a disciple of [[St Peter]] evangelised Egypt in the middle of the first century. He probably arrived about AD 40, and met a martyr's death around AD 63. Little is known of the early history of the Church in Alexandria and Egypt, beyond a bare list of names of bishops. By the end of the second century, however, the church had begun to spread among the indigenous population, and the Scriptures and Liturgical texts were being translated into local languages.

Since the [[schism]] occurring as a result of the political and [[Christology|Christological]] controversies at the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Council of Chalcedon]] (451 A.D.), the portion of the Church of Alexandria loyal to Chalcedonian [[Christology]] has liturgically been Greek-speaking, the majority of its native (i.e., Coptic) population and their modern descendents becoming a part of the '''[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Orthodox Church]]''' (i.e., [[Oriental Orthodox|non-Chalcedonian]]).

== The Church today ==
In recent years, a considerable missionary effort was enacted by Pope [[Petros VII (Papapetrou) of Alexandria|Petros VII]]. During his seven years as patriarch (1997-2004), he worked tirelessly to spread the Orthodox Christian [[faith]] in Arab nations and throughout Africa, raising up native [[clergy]] and encouraging the use of local languages in the liturgical life of the Church. Missions spread and thrived in Kenya, Uganda, [[Madagascar]], [[Cameroon]], and elsewhere across the African continent.

Particularly sensitive to the nature of Christian expansion into [[Islam|Muslim]] countries, His Beatitude worked to promote mutual understanding and respect between Orthodox Christians and Muslims. His efforts were ended as the result of a helicopter crash on [[September 11]], 2004, in the Aegean Sea near Greece, killing him and several other clergy, including Bishop [[Nektarios (Kellis) of Madagascar|Nektarios of Madagascar]], another bishop with a profound missionary vision.

Today, some 300,000 Orthodox Christians comprise the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the highest number since the [[Roman Empire]]. The current primate of the Church of Alexandria is His Beatitude [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria|Theodoros II]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa.

==The Episcopacy==
===The Holy Synod===
*His Beatitude [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria|Theodoros II]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa
*His Eminence [[Paul (Lyngris) of Memphis|Paul (Lyngris)]], Elder Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Memphis|Memphis]]
*His Eminence [[Dionysios (Hatzivasiliou) of Leontopolis|Dionysios (Hatzivasiliou)]], Elder Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Leontopolis|Leontopolis]]
*His Eminence [[Petros (Giakoumelos) of Aksum|Petros (Giakoumelos)]], Elder Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Aksum|Aksum]]
*His Eminence [[Makarios (Tillyrides) of Kenya|Makarios (Tillyrides)]], Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Kenya|Kenya]]
*His Eminence [[Jonah (Lwanga) of Kampala|Jonah (Lwanga)]], Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Kampala and All Uganda|Kampala and All Uganda]]
*His Eminence [[Seraphim (Iakovou) of Johannesburg|Seraphim (Iakovou)]], Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Johannesburg and Pretoria|Johannesburg and Pretoria]]
*His Eminence [[Alexandros (Gianniris) of Nigeria|Alexander (Gianniris)]], Metropolitan of [[Archdiocese of Nigeria|Nigeria]]
*His Eminence [[Theophylaktos (Tzoumerkas) of Tripoli|Theophylaktos (Tzoumerkas)]], Metropolitan of [[Archdiocese of Tripolis|Tripolis]]
*His Eminence Sergios, Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of the Cape of Good Hope|the Cape of Good Hope]]
*His Eminence [[Alexios (Leontaritis) of Carthage|Alexios]], Metropolitan of [[Archdiocese of Carthage|Carthage]]
*His Eminence Ieronymos, Metropolitan of [[Archdiocese of Mwanza|Mwanza]]
*His Eminence [[Kallinikos (Pippas) of Pilousion|Kallinikos (Pippas)]], Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Pilousion|Pilousion]]
*His Eminence [[Proterios (Pavlopoulos) of Ptolemais|Proterios (Pavlopoulos)]], Metropolitan of [[Metropolis of Ptolemais|Ptolemais]]
*His Eminence [[George (Vladimirou) of Zimbabwe|George (Vladimirou)]], Metropolitan of [[Archdiocese of Zimbabwe|Zimbabwe]]
*His Eminence [[Nicholas of Ermoupolis|Nicholas]], Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Ermoupolis|Ermoupolis]]
*His Eminence [[Dimitrios (Zaharengas) of Irinopolis|Dimitrios (Zaharengas)]], Metropolitan of [[Archdiocese of Irinopolis|Irinopolis]]
*His Eminence [[Ignatios (Madenlides) of Central Africa|Ignatios (Madenlides)]], Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Central Africa|Central Africa]]
*His Eminence [[Emmanuel (Kiagias) of Khartoum|Emmanuel (Kiagias)]], Metropolitan of [[Archdiocese of Khartoum and All Sudan|Khartoum and Sudan]], Exarch of All Sudan
*His Eminence [[Gregory (Stergiou) of Cameroon|Gregory (Stergiou)]], Metropolitan of [[Archdiocese of Cameroon|Cameroon]], Exarch of Central Africa
*His Eminence [[Damaskinos (Papandreou) of Accra|Damaskinos (Papandreou)]], Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Accra|Accra]]
*His Eminence [[Ioakeim (Kontobas) of Zambia|Ioakeim (Kontobas)]], Archbishop of [[Diocese of Zambia|Zambia]]

===Diocesan Bishops===
*His Grace [[Savvas (Heimonettos) of Burundi and Rwanda|Savvas (Heimonettos)]], Bishop of Burundi and Rwanda|Burundi]]
*His Grace [[Ignatios (Sennis) of Madagascar|Ignatios (Sennis)]], Bishop of [[Diocese of Madagascar|Madagascar]]
*His Grace [[Meletios (Kamiloudes) of Katanga|Meletios (Kamiloudes)]], Bishop of [[Diocese of Katanga|Katanga]]
*His Grace [[Theodoros (Dimitriou) of Mozambique|Theodoros (Dimitriou)]], Bishop of [[Diocese of Mozambique|Mozambique]]

===Auxiliary Bishops===
*His Grace Athanasios of Cyrene
*His Grace Gabriel of Mareotis
*His Grace Spyridon of Kanopou
*His Grace Nikodemos of Nitria
*His Grace Gennadios of Nilopolis

===Titular Archbishops===
*His Excellency Theoklitos of Helioupolis
*His Excellency Philemon of Karvasos
*His Excellency Ioakeim of Tamiathus
*His Excellency Porfyrios of Thivais
*His Excellency Kyrillos of Nafkratis

===Retired Bishops===
*His Eminence [[Panteleimon (Lampadarios) of Antinoe|Panteleimon of Antinoe]]
*His Grace Petros of Nikopolis

==Holy Archdioceses and Bishoprics==

{| border="1"
!Archdiocese||Established||See||Jurisdiction
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Memphis]]||??||Heliopolis, Cairo - '''Egypt'''||
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Leontopolis]]||??||Ismailia - '''Egypt'''||''Ismailia, Suez, Zagzik''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Pilousion]]||??||Port Said - '''Egypt'''||''Port Said, Mansoura, Damiette, Kantara''
|-
|[[Metropolis of Ptolemais|Archdiocese of Ptolemais]]||??||Minia - '''Egypt'''||''Upper Egypt, Luxor, Aswan, Minia, Fayum, Asiut, Beni Suef''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Ermoupolis]]||??||Tanta – '''Egypt'''||
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Tripolis]]||1866, 1959, 2004||Tripoli - Libya||''Marsa Matrouh in Egypt'', '''[[Libya]]'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Carthage]]||1931||Tunis - Tunisia||'''[[Tunisia]], Algeria, Mauritania, [[Morocco]]'''
|-
|Archdiocese of Cyrene||??
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Khartoum and All Sudan|Archdiocese of Khartoum]]||??||Khartoum - Sudan||'''Sudan'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Aksum]]||??||Addis-Abeba - Ethiopia||'''Ethiopia, [[Eritrea]], [[Djibouti]], Somalia'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Kenya]]||??||Nairobi - Kenya||'''Kenya'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Kampala and All Uganda]]||1959||Kampala - [[Uganda]]||'''Uganda'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Accra]]||1997, 2009||Accra - [[Ghana]]||'''Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, [[Sierra Leone]], Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Gambia'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Nigeria]]||1997, 2004||Lagos - Nigeria||'''Nigeria, Niger, Benin, Togo'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Cameroon]]||??||Yaounde - Cameroon||'''Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea''', Islands of '''St Thomas''' and '''Principe'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Central Africa]]||??||Kinshasa - Democratic Republic of Congo||'''Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo-Brazaville (Republic of the Congo)'''
|-
|[[Diocese of Katanga]]||2006, 2009||Lubumbasi - Congo||''Katanga Province in the Congo''
|-
|Diocese of Burundi and Rwanda||2009||Bujumbura in Burundi||'''Burundi, Rwanda''', ''a great area of the Eastern Congo''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Mwanza]]||??||Bukoba - Tanzania||'''Tanzania'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Irinoupolis]]||1959||Dar-es-Salaam - Tanzania||'''Tanzania, Seychelle Islands'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Zambia]]||2001, 2009||Lusaka - Zambia||'''Zambia, Malawi'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Zimbabwe]]||??||Harare - Zimbabwe||'''Zimbabwe, [[Angola]], Malawi, Botswana'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Johannesburg and Pretoria]]||1927||Johannesburg - South Africa||''(The areas from East Africa, the Equator down to the Cape of Good Hope)''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of the Cape of Good Hope]]||1968||Cape Town - South Africa||'''Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho''', and the following areas of the Cape (West and East): ''Port Elizabeth, East London, Bloemfontein, Welkom, George, Knysna, Kimberley, Pietermaritzburg, all Natal''
|-
|[[Diocese of Mozambique]]||2006||Maputo - Mozambique||'''Mozambique'''
|-
|[[Diocese of Madagascar]]||1997||Antananarivo - Madagascar||'''Madagascar''', Islands of '''Mauritius, Reunion, Comores, Maillot'''
|}

== See also ==
*[[Orthodoxy in Africa]]

==External links==
*[http://www.greekorthodox-alexandria.org/ The Patriarchate of Alexandria] (Official site)
*[http://www.greece.org/gopatalex/SA/ Archbishopric of Johannesburg and Pretoria]
*[http://www.greekorthodox-alexandria.org/History/list_patr.htm List of Patriarchs]
*[http://www.greekorthodox-alexandria.org/History/hist_patr.htm History of the Patriarchate]
*[http://www.metropolisofcameroon.org/ The Metropolis of Cameroon Website] (Official site)

==Sources==
*[http://www.patriarchateofalexandria.com/index.php?module=content&cid=004001 Patriarchate of Alexandria website - Archdioceses]
*[http://www.patriarchateofalexandria.com/index.php?module=content&cid=004002 Patriarchate of Alexandria website - Dioceses]
*[http://www.cnewa.org/ecc-bodypg-us.aspx?eccpageID=14&IndexView=toc Eastern Christian Churches: Patriarchate of Alexandria] by Ronald Roberson, a Roman Catholic priest and scholar

{{churches}}

[[Category:Orthodoxy in Africa|Alexandria]]
[[Category:Jurisdictions|Alexandria]]

[[ar:بطريركية الإسكندرية للروم الأرثوذكس]]
[[bg:Александрийска патриаршия]]
[[es:Iglesia Ortodoxa de Alejandría]]
[[fr:Église d'Alexandrie]]
[[ro:Biserica Ortodoxă a Alexandriei]]

Church of Alexandria

2011-12-28T06:45:28Z

Hayesstw: /* History */ added foundation of Alexandria

The '''Church of Alexandria''' is one of the [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] [[Orthodox Church]]es. Its [[primate]] is the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, the successor to the [[Apostle Mark|Apostle Mark the Evangelist]], who founded the Church of Alexandria in the 1st century. It is one of the five ancient [[patriarchate]]s of the early [[Church]], called the ''[[Pentarchy]]''.

{{church|
name= Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa[[Image:Alexandria logo.gif|center|The Church of Alexandria]]|
founder= [[Apostle Mark]]|
independence=Traditional |
recognition= Traditional |
primate=[[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria|Pope Theodoros II]]|
hq=Alexandria, Egypt|
territory=Egypt and Africa|
possessions= ?|
language=Greek, Swahili, English, local languages|
music=[[Byzantine Chant]]|
calendar=[[Revised Julian Calendar|Revised Julian]]|
population=250,000|
website=[http://www.greekorthodox-alexandria.org/ Church of Alexandria]
}}

== History ==
When [Alexander the Great] conquered Egypt about 332-331 BC he established the city of Alexandria, named after him, from which his Greek-speaking successors, the Ptolemy dynasty, ruled Egypt. Alexandria also had many Greek-speaking Jewish inhabitants, and it was here that the Old Testament scriptures were translated into Greek, the [Septuagint] version.

Since the [[schism]] occurring as a result of the political and [[Christology|Christological]] controversies at the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council|Council of Chalcedon]] (451 A.D.), the portion of the Church of Alexandria loyal to Chalcedonian [[Christology]] has liturgically been Greek-speaking, the majority of its native (i.e., Coptic) population and their modern descendents becoming a part of the '''[[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Orthodox Church]]''' (i.e., [[Oriental Orthodox|non-Chalcedonian]]).

== The Church today ==
In recent years, a considerable missionary effort was enacted by Pope [[Petros VII (Papapetrou) of Alexandria|Petros VII]]. During his seven years as patriarch (1997-2004), he worked tirelessly to spread the Orthodox Christian [[faith]] in Arab nations and throughout Africa, raising up native [[clergy]] and encouraging the use of local languages in the liturgical life of the Church. Missions spread and thrived in Kenya, Uganda, [[Madagascar]], [[Cameroon]], and elsewhere across the African continent.

Particularly sensitive to the nature of Christian expansion into [[Islam|Muslim]] countries, His Beatitude worked to promote mutual understanding and respect between Orthodox Christians and Muslims. His efforts were ended as the result of a helicopter crash on [[September 11]], 2004, in the Aegean Sea near Greece, killing him and several other clergy, including Bishop [[Nektarios (Kellis) of Madagascar|Nektarios of Madagascar]], another bishop with a profound missionary vision.

Today, some 300,000 Orthodox Christians comprise the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the highest number since the [[Roman Empire]]. The current primate of the Church of Alexandria is His Beatitude [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria|Theodoros II]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa.

==The Episcopacy==
===The Holy Synod===
*His Beatitude [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria|Theodoros II]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa
*His Eminence [[Paul (Lyngris) of Memphis|Paul (Lyngris)]], Elder Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Memphis|Memphis]]
*His Eminence [[Dionysios (Hatzivasiliou) of Leontopolis|Dionysios (Hatzivasiliou)]], Elder Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Leontopolis|Leontopolis]]
*His Eminence [[Petros (Giakoumelos) of Aksum|Petros (Giakoumelos)]], Elder Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Aksum|Aksum]]
*His Eminence [[Makarios (Tillyrides) of Kenya|Makarios (Tillyrides)]], Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Kenya|Kenya]]
*His Eminence [[Jonah (Lwanga) of Kampala|Jonah (Lwanga)]], Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Kampala and All Uganda|Kampala and All Uganda]]
*His Eminence [[Seraphim (Iakovou) of Johannesburg|Seraphim (Iakovou)]], Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Johannesburg and Pretoria|Johannesburg and Pretoria]]
*His Eminence [[Alexandros (Gianniris) of Nigeria|Alexander (Gianniris)]], Metropolitan of [[Archdiocese of Nigeria|Nigeria]]
*His Eminence [[Theophylaktos (Tzoumerkas) of Tripoli|Theophylaktos (Tzoumerkas)]], Metropolitan of [[Archdiocese of Tripolis|Tripolis]]
*His Eminence Sergios, Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of the Cape of Good Hope|the Cape of Good Hope]]
*His Eminence [[Alexios (Leontaritis) of Carthage|Alexios]], Metropolitan of [[Archdiocese of Carthage|Carthage]]
*His Eminence Ieronymos, Metropolitan of [[Archdiocese of Mwanza|Mwanza]]
*His Eminence [[Kallinikos (Pippas) of Pilousion|Kallinikos (Pippas)]], Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Pilousion|Pilousion]]
*His Eminence [[Proterios (Pavlopoulos) of Ptolemais|Proterios (Pavlopoulos)]], Metropolitan of [[Metropolis of Ptolemais|Ptolemais]]
*His Eminence [[George (Vladimirou) of Zimbabwe|George (Vladimirou)]], Metropolitan of [[Archdiocese of Zimbabwe|Zimbabwe]]
*His Eminence [[Nicholas of Ermoupolis|Nicholas]], Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Ermoupolis|Ermoupolis]]
*His Eminence [[Dimitrios (Zaharengas) of Irinopolis|Dimitrios (Zaharengas)]], Metropolitan of [[Archdiocese of Irinopolis|Irinopolis]]
*His Eminence [[Ignatios (Madenlides) of Central Africa|Ignatios (Madenlides)]], Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Central Africa|Central Africa]]
*His Eminence [[Emmanuel (Kiagias) of Khartoum|Emmanuel (Kiagias)]], Metropolitan of [[Archdiocese of Khartoum and All Sudan|Khartoum and Sudan]], Exarch of All Sudan
*His Eminence [[Gregory (Stergiou) of Cameroon|Gregory (Stergiou)]], Metropolitan of [[Archdiocese of Cameroon|Cameroon]], Exarch of Central Africa
*His Eminence [[Damaskinos (Papandreou) of Accra|Damaskinos (Papandreou)]], Archbishop of [[Archdiocese of Accra|Accra]]
*His Eminence [[Ioakeim (Kontobas) of Zambia|Ioakeim (Kontobas)]], Archbishop of [[Diocese of Zambia|Zambia]]

===Diocesan Bishops===
*His Grace [[Savvas (Heimonettos) of Burundi and Rwanda|Savvas (Heimonettos)]], Bishop of Burundi and Rwanda|Burundi]]
*His Grace [[Ignatios (Sennis) of Madagascar|Ignatios (Sennis)]], Bishop of [[Diocese of Madagascar|Madagascar]]
*His Grace [[Meletios (Kamiloudes) of Katanga|Meletios (Kamiloudes)]], Bishop of [[Diocese of Katanga|Katanga]]
*His Grace [[Theodoros (Dimitriou) of Mozambique|Theodoros (Dimitriou)]], Bishop of [[Diocese of Mozambique|Mozambique]]

===Auxiliary Bishops===
*His Grace Athanasios of Cyrene
*His Grace Gabriel of Mareotis
*His Grace Spyridon of Kanopou
*His Grace Nikodemos of Nitria
*His Grace Gennadios of Nilopolis

===Titular Archbishops===
*His Excellency Theoklitos of Helioupolis
*His Excellency Philemon of Karvasos
*His Excellency Ioakeim of Tamiathus
*His Excellency Porfyrios of Thivais
*His Excellency Kyrillos of Nafkratis

===Retired Bishops===
*His Eminence [[Panteleimon (Lampadarios) of Antinoe|Panteleimon of Antinoe]]
*His Grace Petros of Nikopolis

==Holy Archdioceses and Bishoprics==

{| border="1"
!Archdiocese||Established||See||Jurisdiction
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Memphis]]||??||Heliopolis, Cairo - '''Egypt'''||
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Leontopolis]]||??||Ismailia - '''Egypt'''||''Ismailia, Suez, Zagzik''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Pilousion]]||??||Port Said - '''Egypt'''||''Port Said, Mansoura, Damiette, Kantara''
|-
|[[Metropolis of Ptolemais|Archdiocese of Ptolemais]]||??||Minia - '''Egypt'''||''Upper Egypt, Luxor, Aswan, Minia, Fayum, Asiut, Beni Suef''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Ermoupolis]]||??||Tanta – '''Egypt'''||
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Tripolis]]||1866, 1959, 2004||Tripoli - Libya||''Marsa Matrouh in Egypt'', '''[[Libya]]'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Carthage]]||1931||Tunis - Tunisia||'''[[Tunisia]], Algeria, Mauritania, [[Morocco]]'''
|-
|Archdiocese of Cyrene||??
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Khartoum and All Sudan|Archdiocese of Khartoum]]||??||Khartoum - Sudan||'''Sudan'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Aksum]]||??||Addis-Abeba - Ethiopia||'''Ethiopia, [[Eritrea]], [[Djibouti]], Somalia'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Kenya]]||??||Nairobi - Kenya||'''Kenya'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Kampala and All Uganda]]||1959||Kampala - [[Uganda]]||'''Uganda'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Accra]]||1997, 2009||Accra - [[Ghana]]||'''Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, [[Sierra Leone]], Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Gambia'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Nigeria]]||1997, 2004||Lagos - Nigeria||'''Nigeria, Niger, Benin, Togo'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Cameroon]]||??||Yaounde - Cameroon||'''Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea''', Islands of '''St Thomas''' and '''Principe'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Central Africa]]||??||Kinshasa - Democratic Republic of Congo||'''Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo-Brazaville (Republic of the Congo)'''
|-
|[[Diocese of Katanga]]||2006, 2009||Lubumbasi - Congo||''Katanga Province in the Congo''
|-
|Diocese of Burundi and Rwanda||2009||Bujumbura in Burundi||'''Burundi, Rwanda''', ''a great area of the Eastern Congo''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Mwanza]]||??||Bukoba - Tanzania||'''Tanzania'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Irinoupolis]]||1959||Dar-es-Salaam - Tanzania||'''Tanzania, Seychelle Islands'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Zambia]]||2001, 2009||Lusaka - Zambia||'''Zambia, Malawi'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Zimbabwe]]||??||Harare - Zimbabwe||'''Zimbabwe, [[Angola]], Malawi, Botswana'''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of Johannesburg and Pretoria]]||1927||Johannesburg - South Africa||''(The areas from East Africa, the Equator down to the Cape of Good Hope)''
|-
|[[Archdiocese of the Cape of Good Hope]]||1968||Cape Town - South Africa||'''Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho''', and the following areas of the Cape (West and East): ''Port Elizabeth, East London, Bloemfontein, Welkom, George, Knysna, Kimberley, Pietermaritzburg, all Natal''
|-
|[[Diocese of Mozambique]]||2006||Maputo - Mozambique||'''Mozambique'''
|-
|[[Diocese of Madagascar]]||1997||Antananarivo - Madagascar||'''Madagascar''', Islands of '''Mauritius, Reunion, Comores, Maillot'''
|}

== See also ==
*[[Orthodoxy in Africa]]

==External links==
*[http://www.greekorthodox-alexandria.org/ The Patriarchate of Alexandria] (Official site)
*[http://www.greece.org/gopatalex/SA/ Archbishopric of Johannesburg and Pretoria]
*[http://www.greekorthodox-alexandria.org/History/list_patr.htm List of Patriarchs]
*[http://www.greekorthodox-alexandria.org/History/hist_patr.htm History of the Patriarchate]
*[http://www.metropolisofcameroon.org/ The Metropolis of Cameroon Website] (Official site)

==Sources==
*[http://www.patriarchateofalexandria.com/index.php?module=content&cid=004001 Patriarchate of Alexandria website - Archdioceses]
*[http://www.patriarchateofalexandria.com/index.php?module=content&cid=004002 Patriarchate of Alexandria website - Dioceses]
*[http://www.cnewa.org/ecc-bodypg-us.aspx?eccpageID=14&IndexView=toc Eastern Christian Churches: Patriarchate of Alexandria] by Ronald Roberson, a Roman Catholic priest and scholar

{{churches}}

[[Category:Orthodoxy in Africa|Alexandria]]
[[Category:Jurisdictions|Alexandria]]

[[ar:بطريركية الإسكندرية للروم الأرثوذكس]]
[[bg:Александрийска патриаршия]]
[[es:Iglesia Ortodoxa de Alejandría]]
[[fr:Église d'Alexandrie]]
[[ro:Biserica Ortodoxă a Alexandriei]]

User:Hayesstw

2011-11-20T05:11:27Z

Hayesstw: Added Khanya blog

Just a couple of notes and links to web pages I edit.

I am Stephen Hayes, a deacon in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg and Pretoria, and Mission Adviser to His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim, Archbishop of Johannesburg and Pretoria.

[[Image:SHayes.jpg]]

I was born in Durban, South Africa in 1941, studied theology at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg (now the University of KwaZulu/Natal), and at Durham University in England.

== Links ==

* [http://khanya.wordpress.com/ My main blog]

* [http://hayesfam.bravehost.com/STEVESIG.HTM Web pages I edit] - These include pages about Orthodoxy, mission, family history and several other subjects.

* [http://www.livejournal.com/users/methodius/ My LiveJournal] A LiveJournal blog on events and reflections on them.

* [http://methodius.blogspot.com Notes from underground] Another blog on theology, literature, missiology, society and politics.

[[Category:User Pages|{{PAGENAME}}]]

Talk:Asceticism

2008-03-07T18:05:06Z

Hayesstw: New page: This seems a rather disconnected article -- needs a rewrite! ~~~~

This seems a rather disconnected article -- needs a rewrite! [[User:Hayesstw|Methodius]] 10:05, March 7, 2008 (PST)

Cosmas of Aetolia

2008-02-18T16:53:52Z

Hayesstw: added detail on method of preaching

[[Image:StCosmas_Aitolos.jpg|thumb|right|St. Kosmas Aitolos (1714-1779)]]The holy, glorious and right-victorious New [[Hieromartyr]] and [[Equal-to-the-Apostles]] '''Kosmas Aitolos''' (also known as '''Cosmas Aitolos''', and '''St Cosmas the Aetolian''') was born in 1714 in Aitolia, Greece, to a father who was a weaver and a devout mother. He attended public schools, but was tutored by an [[archdeacon]]. He taught and then attended a school on Mt. [[Athos]]. He became a [[monk]] and later a [[priest]] at [[Philotheou Monastery (Athos)|Philotheou]] [[Monastery]] there. After a time, he felt a calling to do [[missionary]] work in Greece, especially in the remote areas where there was a lack of [[Church|churches]] and priests for the many [[Baptism|unbaptized]] adults. As an aftermath of four centuries of Turkish oppression in Greece, Kosmas received the [[Patriarch|patriarchal]] blessing to travel wherever needed, for however long, with complete independence, to breathe life back into Christianity in Greece. Kosmas travelled in Greece, its islands, and Albania for 25 years, founding over 200 schools, as well as charities and rural churches. He travelled by foot, by donkey and by ship. When he came to a village he would ask the villagers to plant a large wooden [[cross]] in the village square. Then he would mount a bench next to the cross and preach to the villagers about the love of God and the Orthodox faith. The [[Islam|Muslims]] tried him on charges of conspiracy and sentenced him to hang in August 1779 in Albania. However, one account reports that he [[prayer|prayed]] and gave up his spirit before this could occur. St. Kosmas received from God the gift of [[prophecy]], and was known to have prophesied of the telephone, airplanes, and aerial bombings. Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople|Athenagoras]] [[Glorification|glorified]] him in 1961. His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[August 24]].

==Source==
* [http://calendar.goarch.org/august/August_24.html Kosmas Aitolos, Equal to the Apostles and Euteches the Hieromartyr] ([[GOARCH]])

==External links==
* [http://orthodoxhernandocountyfl.org/aug2403.htm "St. Cosmas Aitolos"] in ''The Orthodox Messenger'', Vol. II, No. 34 – Sunday, August 24, 2003)
*[http://goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=581 Kosmas the New Hieromartyr & Equal-to-the Apostles of Aetolia] (GOARCH)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=102390 Repose of the New-Hieromartyr Cosmas of Aitolia, Equal of the Apostles] ([[OCA]])
* [http://www.serfes.org/writtings/stcosmas.htm "Writings of Saint Cosmas of Aitolos: Selected Passages from the Teachings of St. Cosmas] compiled by Fr. Demetrios Serfes
* [http://nektarios.home.att.net/1527.html "Prophecies by St. Cosmas Aitolos"] excerpted from [http://members.cox.net/orthodoxheritage/St.%20Kosmas.htm "Prophecies by St. Kosmas Aitolos (Concerning wars in Greece / Balkans)"] from the on-line monthly newsletter of the St. Poimen Greek Orthodox Brotherhood
* [http://clairebrandenburgartist.com/Kosmas.html ''To Plant a Cross: The Story of Saint Kosmas Aitolos Who Fought a War with Words''] by Angeline Eliakopoulos
* [http://www.comeandseeicons.com/c/phn56.htm Icon of St. Cosmas of Aetolia]
* [http://www.comeandseeicons.com/peace.htm Prayer for Peace] St. Cosmas is known to have used economic non-violence to seek peace.

[[Category:Martyrs]]
[[Category:Monastics]]
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Wonderworkers]]

User:Hayesstw

2007-03-11T04:25:25Z

Hayesstw: /* Links */ added blog link

Just a couple of notes and links to web pages I edit.

I am Stephen Hayes, a deacon in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg and Pretoria, and Mission Adviser to His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim, Archbishop of Johannesburg and Pretoria.

[[Image:SHayes.jpg]]

I was born in Durban, South Africa in 1941, studied theology at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg (now the University of KwaZulu/Natal), and at Durham University in England.

== Links ==

* [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm Web pages I edit] - These include pages about Orthodoxy, mission, family history and several other subjects.

* [http://www.livejournal.com/users/methodius/ My LiveJournal] A LiveJournal blog on events and reflections on them.

* [http://methodius.blogspot.com Notes from underground] Another blog on theology, literature, missiology, society and politics.

[[Category:User Pages|{{PAGENAME}}]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T19:26:26Z

Hayesstw: /* Post-Imperial era (1453-1821) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1237 Golden Horde (Mongols) begin subjugation of Russia.
*1240 Mongols sack Kiev. Prince Alexander Nevsky defeats the Swedes.
*1258 Michael Paleologus seizes the throne of the Nicaean Empire, founding the last Roman (Byzantine) dynasty. He begins the reconquest of the Greek peninusla from the Latins.
*1261 End of Latin occupation of Constantinople.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1291 Fall of Acre. End of crusading in the Holy Land.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1344 Death of Amda Syon, Emperor of Ethiopia.
*1349 Prince Stephen Dushan of Serbia assumes the title of Tsar (Caesar).
*1354 Ottoman Turks make first settlement in Europe, at Gallipoli.
*1359 Death of St [[Gregory Palamas]], Athonite monk and Archbishop of Thessalonica.
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1383 St Stephen of Perm, missionary to the Zyrians, consecrated bishop.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I at the battle of Kosovo Polje.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks. End of the Roman Empire in the East.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1492 Millennian speculation in Moscow. The Church calendar ended in 1492, and many were convinced that it marked the end of the seventh and last millennium in the world's history.
*1503 Council at which controversy arose between St Nil Sorsky and St Joseph of Volokalamsk about monastic landholding. Joseph's party were known as the Possessors and the Trans-Volga hermits as the Nonpossessors.
*1517 St Maximus the Greek invited to Russia to translate the Greek service books and correct the Russian ones.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1526 Nonpossessors attack Tsar Vassily (Basil) III for divorcing his wife, and are driven underground.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1536 Publication of John Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian religion".
*1540 Death of Emperor Lebna Dengel of Ethiopia.
*1541 Portuguese expeditionary force arrives in Ethiopia.
*1542 Ethiopians and Portuguese defeat Ahmad ibn Ibrahim Gran of Adal, thus neutralising Adal threat to Ethiopia.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1551 Council of the Hundred Chapters in Russia.
*1552 Death of St Basil the blessed, Fool for Christ, critic of Ivan IV Grozny, for whom St Basil's Cathedral in Red Square is named.
*1555 Archbishop Gurian missionary in Kazan (until 1564).
*1564 Jesuits arrive in Poland.
*1569 Martyrdom of St Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow, at the hands of Ivan IV Grozny.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1581 Ostrozhsky Bible printed by Prince Kurbsky and Ivan Fedorov.
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T19:23:52Z

Hayesstw: /* Post-Imperial era (1453-1821) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1237 Golden Horde (Mongols) begin subjugation of Russia.
*1240 Mongols sack Kiev. Prince Alexander Nevsky defeats the Swedes.
*1258 Michael Paleologus seizes the throne of the Nicaean Empire, founding the last Roman (Byzantine) dynasty. He begins the reconquest of the Greek peninusla from the Latins.
*1261 End of Latin occupation of Constantinople.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1291 Fall of Acre. End of crusading in the Holy Land.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1344 Death of Amda Syon, Emperor of Ethiopia.
*1349 Prince Stephen Dushan of Serbia assumes the title of Tsar (Caesar).
*1354 Ottoman Turks make first settlement in Europe, at Gallipoli.
*1359 Death of St [[Gregory Palamas]], Athonite monk and Archbishop of Thessalonica.
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1383 St Stephen of Perm, missionary to the Zyrians, consecrated bishop.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I at the battle of Kosovo Polje.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks. End of the Roman Empire in the East.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1492 Millennian speculation in Moscow. The Church calendar ended in 1492, and many were convinced that it marked the end of the seventh and last millennium in the world's history.
*1503 Council at which controversy arose between St Nil Sorsky and St Joseph of Volokalamsk about monastic landholding. Joseph's party were known as the Possessors and the Trans-Volga hermits as the Nonpossessors.
*1517 St Maximus the Greek invited to Russia to translate the Greek service books and correct the Russian ones.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1526 Nonpossessors attack Tsar Vassily (Basil) III for divorcing his wife, and are driven underground.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1536 Publication of John Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian religion".
*1540 Death of Emperor Lebna Dengel of Ethiopia.
*1541 Portuguese expeditionary force arrives in Ethiopia.
*1542 Ethiopians and Portuguese defeat Ahmad ibn Ibrahim Gran of Adal, thus neutralising Adal threat to Ethiopia.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1551 Council of the Hundred Chapters in Russia.
*1552 Death of St Basil the blessed, Fool for Christ, critic of Ivan IV Grozny, for whom St Basil's Cathedral in Red Square is named.
*1555 Archbishop Gurian missionary in Kazan (until 1564).
*1564 Jesuits arrive in Poland.
*1569 Martyrdom of St Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow, at the hands of Ivan IV Grozny.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T19:20:57Z

Hayesstw: /* Post-Imperial era (1453-1821) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1237 Golden Horde (Mongols) begin subjugation of Russia.
*1240 Mongols sack Kiev. Prince Alexander Nevsky defeats the Swedes.
*1258 Michael Paleologus seizes the throne of the Nicaean Empire, founding the last Roman (Byzantine) dynasty. He begins the reconquest of the Greek peninusla from the Latins.
*1261 End of Latin occupation of Constantinople.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1291 Fall of Acre. End of crusading in the Holy Land.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1344 Death of Amda Syon, Emperor of Ethiopia.
*1349 Prince Stephen Dushan of Serbia assumes the title of Tsar (Caesar).
*1354 Ottoman Turks make first settlement in Europe, at Gallipoli.
*1359 Death of St [[Gregory Palamas]], Athonite monk and Archbishop of Thessalonica.
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1383 St Stephen of Perm, missionary to the Zyrians, consecrated bishop.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I at the battle of Kosovo Polje.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks. End of the Roman Empire in the East.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1492 Millennian speculation in Moscow. The Church calendar ended in 1492, and many were convinced that it marked the end of the seventh and last millennium in the world's history.
*1503 Council at which controversy arose between St Nil Sorsky and St Joseph of Volokalamsk about monastic landholding. Joseph's party were known as the Possessors and the Trans-Volga hermits as the Nonpossessors.
*1517 St Maximus the Greek invited to Russia to translate the Greek service books and correct the Russian ones.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1526 Nonpossessors attack Tsar Vassily (Basil) III for divorcing his wife, and are driven underground.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1536 Publication of John Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian religion".
*1540 Death of Emperor Lebna Dengel of Ethiopia.
*1541 Portuguese expeditionary force arrives in Ethiopia.
*1542 Ethiopians and Portuguese defeat Ahmad ibn Ibrahim Gran of Adal, thus neutralising Adal threat to Ethiopia.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1551 Council of the Hundred Chapters in Russia.
*1552 Death of St Basil the blessed, Fool for Christ, critic of Ivan IV Grozny, for whom St Basil's Cathedral in Red Square is named.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T19:18:46Z

Hayesstw: /* Post-Imperial era (1453-1821) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1237 Golden Horde (Mongols) begin subjugation of Russia.
*1240 Mongols sack Kiev. Prince Alexander Nevsky defeats the Swedes.
*1258 Michael Paleologus seizes the throne of the Nicaean Empire, founding the last Roman (Byzantine) dynasty. He begins the reconquest of the Greek peninusla from the Latins.
*1261 End of Latin occupation of Constantinople.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1291 Fall of Acre. End of crusading in the Holy Land.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1344 Death of Amda Syon, Emperor of Ethiopia.
*1349 Prince Stephen Dushan of Serbia assumes the title of Tsar (Caesar).
*1354 Ottoman Turks make first settlement in Europe, at Gallipoli.
*1359 Death of St [[Gregory Palamas]], Athonite monk and Archbishop of Thessalonica.
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1383 St Stephen of Perm, missionary to the Zyrians, consecrated bishop.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I at the battle of Kosovo Polje.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks. End of the Roman Empire in the East.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1492 Millennian speculation in Moscow. The Church calendar ended in 1492, and many were convinced that it marked the end of the seventh and last millennium in the world's history.
*1503 Council at which controversy arose between St Nil Sorsky and St Joseph of Volokalamsk about monastic landholding. Joseph's party were known as the Possessors and the Trans-Volga hermits as the Nonpossessors.
*1517 St Maximus the Greek invited to Russia to translate the Greek service books and correct the Russian ones.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1526 Nonpossessors attack Tsar Vassily (Basil) III for divorcing his wife, and are driven underground.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1536 Publication of John Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian religion".
*1540 Death of Emperor Lebna Dengel of Ethiopia.
*1541 Portuguese expeditionary force arrives in Ethiopia.
*1542 Ethiopians and Portuguese defeat Ahmad ibn Ibrahim Gran of Adal, thus neutralising Adal threat to Ethiopia.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T19:16:50Z

Hayesstw: /* Post-Imperial era (1453-1821) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1237 Golden Horde (Mongols) begin subjugation of Russia.
*1240 Mongols sack Kiev. Prince Alexander Nevsky defeats the Swedes.
*1258 Michael Paleologus seizes the throne of the Nicaean Empire, founding the last Roman (Byzantine) dynasty. He begins the reconquest of the Greek peninusla from the Latins.
*1261 End of Latin occupation of Constantinople.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1291 Fall of Acre. End of crusading in the Holy Land.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1344 Death of Amda Syon, Emperor of Ethiopia.
*1349 Prince Stephen Dushan of Serbia assumes the title of Tsar (Caesar).
*1354 Ottoman Turks make first settlement in Europe, at Gallipoli.
*1359 Death of St [[Gregory Palamas]], Athonite monk and Archbishop of Thessalonica.
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1383 St Stephen of Perm, missionary to the Zyrians, consecrated bishop.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I at the battle of Kosovo Polje.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks. End of the Roman Empire in the East.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1492 Millennian speculation in Moscow. The Church calendar ended in 1492, and many were convinced that it marked the end of the seventh and last millennium in the world's history.
*1503 Council at which controversy arose between St Nil Sorsky and St Joseph of Volokalamsk about monastic landholding. Joseph's party were known as the Possessors and the Trans-Volga hermits as the Nonpossessors.
*1517 St Maximus the Greek invited to Russia to translate the Greek service books and correct the Russian ones.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1526 Nonpossessors attack Tsar Vassily (Basil) III for divorcing his wife, and are driven underground.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1536 Publication of John Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian religion".
*1540 Death of Emperor Lebna Dengel of Ethiopia.
*1541 Portuguese expeditionary force arrives in Ethiopia.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T19:14:24Z

Hayesstw: /* Post-Imperial era (1453-1821) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1237 Golden Horde (Mongols) begin subjugation of Russia.
*1240 Mongols sack Kiev. Prince Alexander Nevsky defeats the Swedes.
*1258 Michael Paleologus seizes the throne of the Nicaean Empire, founding the last Roman (Byzantine) dynasty. He begins the reconquest of the Greek peninusla from the Latins.
*1261 End of Latin occupation of Constantinople.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1291 Fall of Acre. End of crusading in the Holy Land.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1344 Death of Amda Syon, Emperor of Ethiopia.
*1349 Prince Stephen Dushan of Serbia assumes the title of Tsar (Caesar).
*1354 Ottoman Turks make first settlement in Europe, at Gallipoli.
*1359 Death of St [[Gregory Palamas]], Athonite monk and Archbishop of Thessalonica.
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1383 St Stephen of Perm, missionary to the Zyrians, consecrated bishop.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I at the battle of Kosovo Polje.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks. End of the Roman Empire in the East.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1492 Millennian speculation in Moscow. The Church calendar ended in 1492, and many were convinced that it marked the end of the seventh and last millennium in the world's history.
*1503 Council at which controversy arose between St Nil Sorsky and St Joseph of Volokalamsk about monastic landholding. Joseph's party were known as the Possessors and the Trans-Volga hermits as the Nonpossessors.
*1517 St Maximus the Greek invited to Russia to translate the Greek service books and correct the Russian ones.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1526 Nonpossessors attack Tsar Vassily (Basil) III for divorcing his wife, and are driven underground.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T19:12:38Z

Hayesstw: /* Post-Imperial era (1453-1821) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1237 Golden Horde (Mongols) begin subjugation of Russia.
*1240 Mongols sack Kiev. Prince Alexander Nevsky defeats the Swedes.
*1258 Michael Paleologus seizes the throne of the Nicaean Empire, founding the last Roman (Byzantine) dynasty. He begins the reconquest of the Greek peninusla from the Latins.
*1261 End of Latin occupation of Constantinople.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1291 Fall of Acre. End of crusading in the Holy Land.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1344 Death of Amda Syon, Emperor of Ethiopia.
*1349 Prince Stephen Dushan of Serbia assumes the title of Tsar (Caesar).
*1354 Ottoman Turks make first settlement in Europe, at Gallipoli.
*1359 Death of St [[Gregory Palamas]], Athonite monk and Archbishop of Thessalonica.
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1383 St Stephen of Perm, missionary to the Zyrians, consecrated bishop.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I at the battle of Kosovo Polje.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks. End of the Roman Empire in the East.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1492 Millennian speculation in Moscow. The Church calendar ended in 1492, and many were convinced that it marked the end of the seventh and last millennium in the world's history.
*1503 Council at which controversy arose between St Nil Sorsky and St Joseph of Volokalamsk about monastic landholding. Joseph's party were known as the Possessors and the Trans-Volga hermits as the Nonpossessors.
*1517 St Maximus the Greek invited to Russia to translate the Greek service books and correct the Russian ones.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T19:11:17Z

Hayesstw: /* Post-Imperial era (1453-1821) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1237 Golden Horde (Mongols) begin subjugation of Russia.
*1240 Mongols sack Kiev. Prince Alexander Nevsky defeats the Swedes.
*1258 Michael Paleologus seizes the throne of the Nicaean Empire, founding the last Roman (Byzantine) dynasty. He begins the reconquest of the Greek peninusla from the Latins.
*1261 End of Latin occupation of Constantinople.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1291 Fall of Acre. End of crusading in the Holy Land.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1344 Death of Amda Syon, Emperor of Ethiopia.
*1349 Prince Stephen Dushan of Serbia assumes the title of Tsar (Caesar).
*1354 Ottoman Turks make first settlement in Europe, at Gallipoli.
*1359 Death of St [[Gregory Palamas]], Athonite monk and Archbishop of Thessalonica.
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1383 St Stephen of Perm, missionary to the Zyrians, consecrated bishop.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I at the battle of Kosovo Polje.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks. End of the Roman Empire in the East.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1492 Millennian speculation in Moscow. The Church calendar ended in 1492, and many were convinced that it marked the end of the seventh and last millennium in the world's history.
*1503 Council at which controversy arose between St Nil Sorsky and St Joseph of Volokalamsk about monastic landholding. Joseph's party were known as the Possessors and the Trans-Volga hermits as the Nonpossessors.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T19:07:04Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1237 Golden Horde (Mongols) begin subjugation of Russia.
*1240 Mongols sack Kiev. Prince Alexander Nevsky defeats the Swedes.
*1258 Michael Paleologus seizes the throne of the Nicaean Empire, founding the last Roman (Byzantine) dynasty. He begins the reconquest of the Greek peninusla from the Latins.
*1261 End of Latin occupation of Constantinople.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1291 Fall of Acre. End of crusading in the Holy Land.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1344 Death of Amda Syon, Emperor of Ethiopia.
*1349 Prince Stephen Dushan of Serbia assumes the title of Tsar (Caesar).
*1354 Ottoman Turks make first settlement in Europe, at Gallipoli.
*1359 Death of St [[Gregory Palamas]], Athonite monk and Archbishop of Thessalonica.
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1383 St Stephen of Perm, missionary to the Zyrians, consecrated bishop.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I at the battle of Kosovo Polje.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks. End of the Roman Empire in the East.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T19:06:13Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1237 Golden Horde (Mongols) begin subjugation of Russia.
*1240 Mongols sack Kiev. Prince Alexander Nevsky defeats the Swedes.
*1258 Michael Paleologus seizes the throne of the Nicaean Empire, founding the last Roman (Byzantine) dynasty. He begins the reconquest of the Greek peninusla from the Latins.
*1261 End of Latin occupation of Constantinople.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1291 Fall of Acre. End of crusading in the Holy Land.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1344 Death of Amda Syon, Emperor of Ethiopia.
*1349 Prince Stephen Dushan of Serbia assumes the title of Tsar (Caesar).
*1354 Ottoman Turks make first settlement in Europe, at Gallipoli.
*1359 Death of St [[Gregory Palamas]], Athonite monk and Archbishop of Thessalonica.
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1383 St Stephen of Perm, missionary to the Zyrians, consecrated bishop.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I at the battle of Kosovo Polje.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.
End of the Roman Empire in the East.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T19:04:32Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1237 Golden Horde (Mongols) begin subjugation of Russia.
*1240 Mongols sack Kiev. Prince Alexander Nevsky defeats the Swedes.
*1258 Michael Paleologus seizes the throne of the Nicaean Empire, founding the last Roman (Byzantine) dynasty. He begins the reconquest of the Greek peninusla from the Latins.
*1261 End of Latin occupation of Constantinople.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1291 Fall of Acre. End of crusading in the Holy Land.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1344 Death of Amda Syon, Emperor of Ethiopia.
*1349 Prince Stephen Dushan of Serbia assumes the title of Tsar (Caesar).
*1354 Ottoman Turks make first settlement in Europe, at Gallipoli.
*1359 Death of St [[Gregory Palamas]], Athonite monk and Archbishop of Thessalonica.
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1383 St Stephen of Perm, missionary to the Zyrians, consecrated bishop.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I at the battle of Kosovo Polje.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T19:02:20Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1237 Golden Horde (Mongols) begin subjugation of Russia.
*1240 Mongols sack Kiev. Prince Alexander Nevsky defeats the Swedes.
*1258 Michael Paleologus seizes the throne of the Nicaean Empire, founding the last Roman (Byzantine) dynasty. He begins the reconquest of the Greek peninusla from the Latins.
*1261 End of Latin occupation of Constantinople.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1291 Fall of Acre. End of crusading in the Holy Land.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1344 Death of Amda Syon, Emperor of Ethiopia.
*1349 Prince Stephen Dushan of Serbia assumes the title of Tsar (Caesar).
*1354 Ottoman Turks make first settlement in Europe, at Gallipoli.
*1359 Death of St [[Gregory Palamas]], Athonite monk and Archbishop of Thessalonica.
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:59:51Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1237 Golden Horde (Mongols) begin subjugation of Russia.
*1240 Mongols sack Kiev. Prince Alexander Nevsky defeats the Swedes.
*1258 Michael Paleologus seizes the throne of the Nicaean Empire, founding the last Roman (Byzantine) dynasty. He begins the reconquest of the Greek peninusla from the Latins.
*1261 End of Latin occupation of Constantinople.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1291 Fall of Acre. End of crusading in the Holy Land.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1344 Death of Amda Syon, Emperor of Ethiopia.
*1349 Prince Stephen Dushan of Serbia assumes the title of Tsar (Caesar).
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:57:41Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1237 Golden Horde (Mongols) begin subjugation of Russia.
*1240 Mongols sack Kiev. Prince Alexander Nevsky defeats the Swedes.
*1258 Michael Paleologus seizes the throne of the Nicaean Empire, founding the last Roman (Byzantine) dynasty. He begins the reconquest of the Greek peninusla from the Latins.
*1261 End of Latin occupation of Constantinople.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1291 Fall of Acre. End of crusading in the Holy Land.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:55:01Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1237 Golden Horde (Mongols) begin subjugation of Russia.
*1240 Mongols sack Kiev. Prince Alexander Nevsky defeats the Swedes.
*1258 Michael Paleologus seizes the throne of the Nicaean Empire, founding the last Roman (Byzantine) dynasty. He begins the reconquest of the Greek peninusla from the Latins.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:50:54Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1237 Golden Horde (Mongols) begin subjugation of Russia.
*1240 Mongols sack Kiev. Prince Alexander Nevsky defeats the Swedes.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:49:19Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1237 Golden Horde (Mongols) begin subjugation of Russia.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:48:07Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:46:28Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:43:50Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:41:48Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:39:24Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:37:27Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:35:43Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:33:32Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:31:33Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St Olga is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:29:35Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:27:19Z

Hayesstw: /* Late Byzantine era (843-1453) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:24:58Z

Hayesstw: /* Byzantine era (451-843) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:22:37Z

Hayesstw: /* Byzantine era (451-843) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:18:33Z

Hayesstw: /* Ante-Nicene era (100-325) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

Timeline of Church History

2005-12-04T18:17:01Z

Hayesstw: /* Modern era (1821-present) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 Conversion of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 Diocletian ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the conemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 Julian the Apostate becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St Cyril succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St Cyril, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of Jerusalem by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St Boniface's first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to missionize the Slavs; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladdin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the Church of China.
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

User talk:ASDamick

2005-11-28T12:08:46Z

Hayesstw: Editing pages and links

* [[/Archive 1|Archive 1]]

----
Reader Andrew, Thanks for correcting\editting my errors. I'm glad for the outstanding editting. In chasing down the Archbishop John (Shahovskoy) identity I found in my copy of the OCA book noted in my update. Orthodox America 1794 - 1976 has an excellent chronology of events in the history from 1794, specifically of the movements of the bishops. If you haven't seen it your might find it useful for identifying the hierarchs and the timing of their offices.

[[User:Wsk|Wsk]]

== OCA.org Images ==

Hi dear Reader,

I just wanted to make sure that we're getting permission from Fr. Matusiak for the images we post from OCA.org. Thanks! [[User:FrJohn|Fr. John]]

== Category changes - July 05, 2005 ==

Rdr. Andrew,

I had put [[Divine Liturgy]] and [[Daily Cycle]] in that category as a way to remind me of a category that probably needs to be made, something like Orthodox Church Life. Contrast this to Orthodox Home Life. I just wanted to tell you and hopefully get some feedback. Did you or have you read the [[Category talk:Church Life|discussion]] at the [[:Category:Church Life]] page (as of July 05, 2005)? I think [[User:Epte|Rdr. Patrick]] has a good idea and I think it would help with the Introduction to Orthodox Christianity series. --[[User:Joe Rodgers|{{User:Joe Rodgers/sig}}]] 10:44, 5 Jul 2005 (EDT)

==Date: 2005-07-05-05; Time: 160746 CDT==

Rdr. ANDREW,

Thank you for the welcome; and thank you that there is an Orthodoxwiki.

Yours in CHRIST JESUS,

(s)The Evangelist DIONYSIOS

The.Evangelist.Dionysios at gmail.com

P. S.: My Patron Saint is DIONYSIOS of Zakynthos

== Church Calendar work ==

Covet your thoughts about this topic. Discussion over on [[User_talk:Magda#Church_Calendar_work|Magda's talk page]] for now. --[[User:Joe Rodgers|{{User:Joe Rodgers/sig}}]] 00:35, 7 Jul 2005 (EDT)

== Quotes ==

Rdr. Andrew, how do you suggest (and the other sysops) starting to list quotes? For instance, on the [[baptism]] article I wanted to start listing some excerpts from the writings of the early [[Church Fathers]], but I didn't want to "clog" the page. You know, commentary, so to speak. I had thought about possibly creating an article like baptism/quotes, but that didn't seem right. I do think it would be nice to have things like quotes from Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius and the like on various topics. I would probably copy it right from one of the church fathers sites and then try to hyperlink the quote somehow. --[[User:Joe Rodgers|{{User:Joe Rodgers/sig}}]] 02:38, 7 Jul 2005 (EDT)

== Pope Shenouda III page you have deleted ==

We have permission to use this material under the terms of your license. God Bless. --arbible (Coptic Orthodox Servant) http://www.zeitun-eg.org http://www.stmina-monastery.org http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arbible/

It might be that this forum is biased towards the Greek orthodox Church, who despite their official Church position (Ecumenical Patriarchate), still "hate" us like heretics. They are welcome though as a minority Church in Egypt (300,000 vs. >15 million Copts worldwide, incl. >9 millions inside Egypt). The Coptic Church Network of Sites Online (incl. St Takla) have one common goal, to serve our Lord, and one Pope, Abba Shenouda III. God Bless.

Please, some love: http://www.metroplit-bishoy.org/Byzantine.htm
In your Church, the Blessed Holy Virgin Mary has never appeared like in ours. It's called the Christian religion, not the Greek religion.

=== Re: Pope Shenouda III page you have deleted ===
Please forgive me for the tough/angry language I have used in the above reply. I shouldn't have written this way. May the Lord bless your service for His name's glory.

== Copyright Template ==

FYI, the "history" link <strike>goes</strike> went [http://www2.orthodoxwiki.org/Shenouda_III_%28Gayyid%29_of_Alexandria%26action%3Dhistory here] instead of [http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Shenouda_III_%28Gayyid%29_of_Alexandria&action=history here] (where it should <strike>go</strike> have gone). I am unsure of how to correct that link. Also, the <nowiki>{{PAGENAME}}</nowiki> template doesn't pick up on sections like "Template:" or "OrthodoxWiki". —[[User:Magda|magda]] 14:43, 7 Jul 2005 (EDT)

The link still seems wonky, though I can't figure out why, or how it's reading an extra space in there. [http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Shenouda_III_%28Gayyid%29_of_Alexandria&oldid=7039 This] is what I'm looking at now. —[[User:Magda|magda]] 14:54, 7 Jul 2005 (EDT)

Nice work! —[[User:Magda|magda]] 15:06, 7 Jul 2005 (EDT)

== Orthodoxy in Australasia image ==
i don't mind its insertion at all! a very good image, quite appropriate, better than what i could have done. thank you! obviously, any edits and updates that you (or anyone reading this) know of would be much appreciated. [[User:Pistevo|oea]] 09:26, 17 Jul 2005 (EDT)

== Category in Templates ==

Thank you for the name day greeting, Rdr. Andrew. I can't remember where you commented that one could include a template in a category and any page using that template would also be in that category, but it does not seem to hold true for [[:Template:Cleanup]] and [[:Category:Articles needing cleanup]]. I figured I would call that to your attention so you could play around with it. —[[User:Magda|magda]] 08:53, 22 Jul 2005 (EDT)

:This is really weird. Check out [[Gospels]]. It has the template, but isn't included in the category. (It's the only one, based on what links to the template.) Thank you for letting me know that the others work, though. Could it have something to do with the fact that the Gospels page hasn't been edited since April 6? The category was added to the template afterwards, and each of the other pages has been edited since that time. [[User:Magda|{{User:Magda/sig}}]] 09:03, 19 Aug 2005 (EDT)

== Apostle Question ==

Hi Rdr. Andrew,

This question is from Jim N. via email. I tried to forward it to you but Chrysostom.org is "unroutable"!
--------------------------------
From: Jim N.
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 9:16 AM
To: FrJohn
Subject: OrthodoxWiki e-mail

Hi Father John,

Father Bless!

I have a question about one of the listings in the Seventy Apostles. Apphia is the name and as I was doing research I noticed the the Prologue of Ohrid does not call Apphia an 'apostle' but a 'martyr'. Apphia is also Philemon's wife, which I thought might make things murky calling 'her' and Apostle. What should I do?

Jim N.
-----------------------------------------------------

::To Rdr. Andrew and Jim -- Not to make more work you guys, but it might be worth creating categories for both the Twelve and the Seventy. At least that makes sense to me! Thanks, [[User:FrJohn|Fr. John]]

== Ordination ==

In the template:spirituality shouldn't "Ordination" be replaced with Holy Orders? I was just wondering because just ordination leaves out the monastic vows that are included in Holy Orders and also the minor orders which men are only tonsured. --[[User:MariaCrabtree|Arlie]] 16:37, 8 Aug 2005 (EDT)

== Image Uploads ==

How do I add the tags? I'm sorry I didn't realize this before. How do I make sure something I post is not copyrighted or is in public domain. I'm confused on how to determine this. Thanks. Oh and is there a way to see a list of all the pics I uploaded so I can make sure this edit is done on all images? --[[User:MariaCrabtree|Arlie]] 16:54, 8 Aug 2005 (EDT)

==Archimandrite==

Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Early on I noticed my error, but lapsed back!! Good thing I saw your note befpre I posted an artical on Bp. Joasaph - did it again, almost! Also, thanks for catching my 'titling' error of a few days ago. [[User:Wsk|Wsk]] 14:29, 9 Aug 2005 (EDT)

== [[Mary of Egypt]] ==

Is it appropriate to have her in the [[:Category:Desert Fathers|Desert Fathers]] category? If you could write a sentence or two on the category page to illuminate which saints are generally considered desert fathers and mothers, I think that would be useful. [[User:Magda|{{User:Magda/sig}}]] 15:35, 11 Aug 2005 (EDT)

==Cult/Occult==

Readr Andrew; I have an item that you and Fr. John may be interested in. This morning I was using the free broadband services of Panera Bread and called up Orthodoxwiki. I got a notice says the site was blocked , referencing a "SonicWall Content Filter Service" with a note that comments on the block should be made to <support@icoacorp.com> and that a response would take 48 hours! It then noted the reason for the blockage as "Cult/Occult". I don't think we are either!![[User:Wsk|Wsk]] 18:00, 12 Aug 2005 (EDT)

== Moving/Redirect of [[Gospel]] ==

I noticed you had deleted [[Gospel]] which redirected to [[Gospels]]. However, there were [http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Special:Whatlinkshere&target=Gospel several pages] which linked to the former. Did you think "Gospel" should be a separate article? If not, I propose that we restore the redirect; alternately, we could go fix those links, but it might be useful to have the redirect for ease in creating future articles. [[User:Magda|{{User:Magda/sig}}]] 09:14, 19 Aug 2005 (EDT)

== RE: Saints and calendar dates ==
Dear Father, I think the difference is always 13 days. For example, St. [[Menas]] feast day is November 24 according to Coptic calendar = November 11 your calendar (http://www.stmina-monastery.org/inotherchurches.htm#greek ). Thanks+

I think we need a page about Coptic months and calendar; something like http://www.andrewfanous.com/CopticCalendar.htm
Thanks+

Two helpful Wikipedia links:
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Months_of_the_Coptic_calendar
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_calendar

== Jerusalem Patriarch ==
rats, you just beat me :P. (for the record, your edit was better than mine was) [[User:Pistevo|oea]] 09:03, 22 Aug 2005 (EDT)
:no chance. that's the only news article out there. i even checked wikipedia...i thought the article looked very familiar, then i realised why :D. the photo from that article seems to be the only one of him out there. i think that if we just wait for a couple of days, it'll show.
:however, i did wonder if, perhaps, the greek 'Theophilos' should be used (instead of 'Theophilus') - the article uses that, as does the greek alphabet. [[User:Pistevo|oea]] 09:19, 22 Aug 2005 (EDT)
::*sigh*, the difference of just a couple of hours. being almost midnight in this part of the world, i'll let you sort out whatever else there is. wouldn't hold my breath on the surname thing, though. also, could you check the [[List of Patriarchs]] article and for the title of Jerusalem? i've seen it being a lot longer and grandiose (syria and holy zion come to mind as parts of it). cheers, [[User:Pistevo|oea]] 09:46, 22 Aug 2005 (EDT)

== Theodoros ==

Greetings!

You may also want to add links to the following new article I created:

http://www2.orthodoxwiki.org/Theodoros_II_%28Choreftakis%29_of_Alexandria

I sadly don't have the time to properly link the text around...

B/Rgrds
Dimitris

== Welcome back! ==

Welcome back Rdr. Andrew! [[User:FrJohn|Fr. John]]

Thanks for the spell checking! [[User:FrJohn|Fr. John]]

== Defunct source pages ==

Any suggestions on what to do about defunct source pages? I had been using the saints and feasts from saintgeorge.org, but the information from these pages is no longer accessible on the site (that I can find, anyhow). For instance, [[Job the Long-suffering]] links to [http://saintgeorge.org/news_and_events/church_calendar/saint_of_the_day/05may/may_06_the_prophet_job.php this page] which no longer exists. There is a [http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:XTHMjW-IFIYJ:www.saintgeorge.org/news_and_events/church_calendar/saint_of_the_day/05may/may_06_the_prophet_job.php+%22saintgeorge.org/news_and_events/church_calendar/saint_of_the_day/05may/may_06_the_prophet_job.php%22&hl=en&client=firefox-a google cache] of the page, but I don't know how long that will exist. It seems silly to have a broken link, but if we remove the link, we're not citing the source. [[User:Magda|{{User:Magda/sig}}]] 11:58, 14 Sep 2005 (EDT)

== [[Metochion]] ==

"an ecclesiastical embassy" —give an example?
"the church is then considered to belong to that church" —come again?
I think that giving a specific example would greatly improve the article. Is ''dependency'' [http://www.stirene.org/Resources/dependencies.htm] a synonym for ''metochion''? [[User:Magda|{{User:Magda/sig}}]] 10:18, 16 Sep 2005 (EDT)

== Featured Article ==

Dear Reader Andrew, do you have any articles in mind for grooming to featured status? I feel negligent that the featured article hasn't changed since [http://www2.orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Template:Featured&action=history July 22], but I can't think of what would be a good article to feature which hasn't already been featured. Should we cycle through them again until we have new articles worth featuring? [[User:Magda|{{User:Magda/sig}}]] 18:38, 26 Sep 2005 (EDT)

== Logo Submission ==

Greetings dear Reader! I love the image of the Theotokos, but in the logo submission guidelines I asked that icons not be used. The reason for this is that the image is likely at some point to make its way beyond the screen and on to printed or promotional media. Better not to use an icon in this case, I think. I'm glad you're working on different ideas though! Keep it up, [[User:FrJohn|Fr. John]]

::Much better! I like those. Thanks, [[User:FrJohn|Fr. John]]

== Dimitry Pospielovsky ==
[[Dimitry Pospielovsky]] (Дмитрий По