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Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem.
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After completing multiple miracles and becoming increasingly popular, Jesus Christ is crucified by the Romans.
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Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).
Sometimes known as the Birthday of the Church. -
Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15).
Gentile Christians accepted alongside those in the Jewish tradition. -
First Gospel published (often thought to be that written by Mark).
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Apostles Peter and Paul* martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Nero.
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Jewish rebellion against the Roman empire ends. Destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.
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Center of Christianity moves to Antioch, Alexandria and Rome.
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Book of Revelation and Gospel of Saint John written.
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Widespread persecution of Christians under Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius.
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Armenia becomes the world's first country to officially adopt Christianity as the state religion.
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Roman emperor Constantine receives a vision of a flaming cross with the words
'In hoc signo vinces' : 'By this sign conquer'.
Defeats rival Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. -
Edict of Milan issued by Constantine - Christianity becomes a legal religion within the Roman empire.
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Saint Athanasius is the first to list all 27 New Testament books in his festal letter.
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Saint Jerome begins a translation of the Bible into Latin.
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Synod at Carthage ratifies the 27 books of the New Testament as sacred scripture.
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Ecumenical council held at Ephesus refutes Nestorianism.
(The doctrine that Christ was two persons (one human, the other divine) in one body). Mary is declared Theotokos i.e. 'God-bearer' or more commonly, 'Mother of God'. -
At Ephesus, Pope Leo I delivers his 'Tome', defending orthodox Christian belief. Leo also asserts Papal supremacy.
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Ecumenical council at Chalcedon affirms Christ as having two distinct natures united in one person (known as the 'Hypostatic Union').
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Columba establishes a monastery at Iona.
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Insertion of the filioque (Latin: 'and the son') into the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed at a council in Toledo.
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Following a mission authorised by Pope Gregory I, St. Augustine becomes the first Archbishop of Canterbury.
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Synod of Whitby ratifies the authority of the Pope in England.
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Bede writes his Ecclesiastical History.
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Charlemagne is crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by Pope Leo III.
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Conversion of Prince Vladimir in Kiev. Growth of Christianity in Russia.
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Great Schism - Eastern Orthodox and Western Catholic churches separate.
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Pope Urban II authorises the first Crusade to recover the Holy Land from Moslems.
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Crusaders conquer Jerusalem.
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Massacre of Latin inhabitants of Constantinople.
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Jerusalem recaptured by a Moslem army led by Saladin.
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Third Crusade led by Richard the Lionheart of England.
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Sack of Constantinople during the fourth crusade.