We’re a long way from Bethlehem. Or are we?
To read through the Book of Acts, and also St Paul’s letters and epistles to various congregations, is to behold, in one sense, the photograph of a baby. We see the Church not in a state of realized fullness, as if it was suddenly birthed into perfect maturity, but with its perfection in germinal form. We see the Church there as we see Adam – created in perfection, yes, but relative perfection. Spiritual growth, the preservation of purity, union with God, proper use of free will – these were still choices that Adam had to make in the Garden of Eden, just as they were choices that the early Christians had to make in Jerusalem.
To read the New Testament is also to see the ascended Christ abide with His people in the Holy Spirit. And if, as we read in I Corinthians chapter 12, the Church is the “Body of Christ,” and if, as we read in Luke chapter 2, the Christ child “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men,” then we accept that the Church after Pentecost also increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
To read the New Testament is also to see the ascended Christ abide with His people in the Holy Spirit. And if, as we read in I Corinthians chapter 12, the Church is the “Body of Christ,” and if, as we read in Luke chapter 2, the Christ child “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men,” then we accept that the Church after Pentecost also increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
In his book Credo, Christian historian Jaroslav Pelikan would call this increase not change, but continuity: as time passes, the Church does not grow more and more into something it was not intended to be, but more and more into something it already is – what St Paul calls “the pillar and ground of the truth” and “the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”
The growth of an acorn into an oak tree is continuity; the growth of an acorn into a giraffe is change. Every development of Christendom in history may be understood as either another growth in continuity, or a new detour into change.
The growth of an acorn into an oak tree is continuity; the growth of an acorn into a giraffe is change. Every development of Christendom in history may be understood as either another growth in continuity, or a new detour into change.
A Word About Church History
For the first thousand years of her history the Church was essentially one. Five historic Patriarchal centers - Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome, Alexandria, and Constantinople - formed a cohesive whole and were in full communion with each other. There were occasional heretical or schismatic groups going their own way, to be sure; but the Church was unified until the 11th century. Then, in events culminating in A.D.1054, the Roman Patriarchate pulled away from the other four, pursuing its long-developing claim of universal headship of the Church.
Today, nearly a thousand years later, the other four Patriarchates remain intact, in full communion, maintaining that Orthodox apostolic faith of the inspired New Testament record. The Orthodox Church and her history is described herein, from Pentecost to the present day.
Today, nearly a thousand years later, the other four Patriarchates remain intact, in full communion, maintaining that Orthodox apostolic faith of the inspired New Testament record. The Orthodox Church and her history is described herein, from Pentecost to the present day.
- 33 A.D. - Pentecost (A.D: 29 is thought to be more accurate)
- 49 - Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15) establishes precedent for addressing Church disputes in Council. James presides as bishop.
- 69 - Bishop Ignatius consecrated in Antioch in heart of New Testament era--St. Peter had been the first bishop there. Other early bishops include James, Polycarp, and Clement.
- 95 - Book of Revelation written, probably the last of the New Testament books.
- 150 - St. Justin Martyr describe's the liturgical worship of the Church, centered in the Eucharist. Liturgical worship is rooted in both the Old and New Testament.
- 325 - The Nicene Creed is established. The Council of Nicea settles the major heretical challenge to the Christian faith when the heretic Arius asserts Christ was created by the Father. St. Athanasius defends the eternality of the Son of God. The Arians continue their assault on true Christianity for years. Nicea is the first of Seven Ecumenical (Church-wide) Councils.
- 451 - Council of Chalcedon affirms apostolic doctrine of two natures in Christ.
- 589 - In a synod in Toledo, Spain, the filioque, asserting that the Holy Spirit procedes from the Father and the Son is added to the Nicene Creed. This error is later adopted by Rome.
- 787 - The era of Ecumenical Councils ends at Nicea, with the Seventh Council bringing the centuries-old use of icons back into the Church.
- 988 - Conversion of Russia begins. "We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth, for surely there is no such splendour or beauty anywhere upon earth. We cannot describe it to you: only this we know, that God dwells there among men, and that their service surpasses the worship of all other places. For we cannot forget that beauty." - Envoys of the Russian Prince Vladimir, after experiencing the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople in the year 987.
- 1054 - The Great Schism occurs. Two major issues include Rome's claim to a universal papal supremacy and her addition of the filioque clause to the Nicene Creed. The Photian schism (880) further complicated the debate.
- 1095 - The Crusades begun by the Roman Church. The Sack of Constantinople by Rome
- (1204) adds to the estrangement between East and West.
- 1333 - St. Gregory Palamas defends the Orthodox practice of hesychast spirituality and the use of the Jesus prayer.
- 1453 - Turks overrun Constantinople; Byzantine Empire ends.
- 1517 - Martin Luther nails his 95 Theses to the door of the Roman Church in Wittenberg, starting the Protestant Reformation.
- 1529 - Church of England begins pulling away from Rome.
- 1794 - Missionaries arrive on Kodiak Island in Alaska; Orthodoxy introduced to North America.
- 1854 - Rome establishes the Immaculate Conception dogma.
- 1870 - Papal Infallibility becomes Roman dogma.
- 1988 - One thousand years of Orthodoxy in Russia, as Orthodox Church world-wide maintains fulness of the Apostolic faith.