Dark Ages

  • Period: 200 to 650

    200-650 Fathers of the Church

    Writers of Importance who extended the Tradition of the Apostles. Of two types:
    Greek from the east whose primary language was Greek and wrote in Greek.
    Latin from the west and whose primary language was Latin and wrote in Latin.
  • Edict of Milan 313
    313

    Edict of Milan 313

    Constantine and Licinius decree for the toleration of religions
  • St. John Lateran (313)
    313

    St. John Lateran (313)

    First legal Church in the Roman Empire. It is the cathedral of Rome and is often called the "mother of all Churches"
  • St. John Lateran and the Lateran Palace
    313

    St. John Lateran and the Lateran Palace

    Constantine gives the land of the Laterani Palace to the Bishop of Rome and builds him a cathedral --- the first legal church in the roman Empire. It is the cathedral of Rome and is referred in Catholicism as the "mother of all churches".
  • Council of Niceae
    325

    Council of Niceae

    Church Council that condemned Arianism, set a common date of Easter (first Sunday after the first full moon of the spring equinox after Passover, Nicene Creed, and canon law.
  • 336

    Arius

    priest of Alexandria was the creator of Arianism which stated that the Logos was born of the Father as the first act of creation. Condemned at the Synod of Alexandria and again at the Council of Nicaea in 325
  • Constantine
    337

    Constantine

    Emperor, Made Christianity legal
  • Eusebius of Nicomedia
    341

    Eusebius of Nicomedia

    bishop of Constantinople, chief proponent of Arianism after Council of Nicaea. He was a good friend with Constantine's sister and got her to protect the Arians. He ordained and sent Ufilius to convert the barbarians in Germania. He baptized Constantine in 337 an Arian as Constantine lay dying.
  • Antony of Egypt
    356

    Antony of Egypt

    lived as a hermit in Egypt and eventually comes to be known as the father of monasticism. He accepts a few disciples to live around him
  • Hilary of Portiers (310-368)
    368

    Hilary of Portiers (310-368)

    Bishop of Portiers in Gaul. He was a pastoral bishop who wrote on the truth of the faith and founded monasteries.
  • Athanasius of Alexandria
    373

    Athanasius of Alexandria

    Bishop of Alexandria who was the chief opponent of Arianism. At the time of the council he was a deacon. Shortly afterwards he was ordained a bishop. He is exiled twice by successors of Constantine who at the behest of the Arians tried to get him on some trumped up charges. He dies on his own diocese in 373.
  • Basil the Great (330-379)
    379

    Basil the Great (330-379)

    Bishop of Caesarae one of the Cappadocian Fathers who wrote on the Trinity and who also wrote a rule for monks used primarily in the east.
  • Council of Constantinople 1
    381

    Council of Constantinople 1

    Church Council called by the emperor Theodosius. Among the issues it dealt with were ARIANISM and MACEDONIANISM: a heresy which denies the divinity of the Holy Spirit. Created the creed today recited in the Church
  • 381 Council of Constantinople --Patriarchs
    381

    381 Council of Constantinople --Patriarchs

    Patriarchs are important bishops usually given territorial authority over an area of bishops and archbishops. In the early Church there were three main patriarchs:Rome, Alexandria and Antioch. In 381 the Council of Constantinople added Constantinople as a fourth and gave it priority over Alexandria and Antioch. This didn't sit too well with Rome.
  • Ulfilias (311-383)
    383

    Ulfilias (311-383)

    Arian bishop ordained by Eusbius of Nicomedia, he was sent to convert the Goths
  • Gregory of Nazianzus (329–389)
    389

    Gregory of Nazianzus (329–389)

    One of the Cappadocian Fathers and good friend of Basil the Great
  • Gregory of Nyssa (c.332–395)
    395

    Gregory of Nyssa (c.332–395)

    Bishop of Nyssa and Constantinople. He was one of the Cappadocian Fathers
  • Ambrose of Milan (340-397)
    397

    Ambrose of Milan (340-397)

    Governor of Milan who was elected bishop and became a great pastoral bishop and theologian. He was also the mentor to St. Augustine who he baptized c. 387
  • Martin of Tours (316-397)
    397

    Martin of Tours (316-397)

    Hungarian born Roman officer who at Tours in Gaul had an experience of the poor Christ. This caused him to leave the army and to begin a life as a monk. He later was name bishop of Tours.
  • Period: 400 to 1400

    The Age of Feudalism

    Feudalism conventionally denotes the type of society and the political system originating in western and central Europe and dominant there during the greater part of the Middle Ages.
  • John Chrysostom (349-407)
    407

    John Chrysostom (349-407)

    Archbishop of Constantinople his name "Chrysostom" means, "golden tongue" for his eloquence.
  • 410 Barbarian Sack of Rome
    410

    410 Barbarian Sack of Rome

  • Jerome (347-420)
    420

    Jerome (347-420)

    priest who translated the Bible into Latin called the Vulgate. He also wrote on a number of subjects
  • Augustine of Hippo (354-430)
    430

    Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

    Bishop of Hippo Regius in North Africa. He was a tremendous scholar as well as a pastoral leader of the Church. One of the Latin Fathers he wrote extensively on many subjects. He died in 430 as the barbarians were literally at the gates of the city of Hippo.
  • Council of Ephesus 431
    431

    Council of Ephesus 431

    1.Nestorianism:
    2.Nicene Creed: Declaration that those who stray from the Creed are in heresy.
    3.Excommunication: Punishment one brings on oneself by straying from the faith in matters of doctrine.
    4.Theotokos: God-bearer. Title given to Virgin Mary
  • John Cassian (360-435)
    435

    John Cassian (360-435)

    Monk who traveled to Rome and then was asked by the pope to found monasteries in Gaul.
  • Council of Calcedon (451)
    451

    Council of Calcedon (451)

    Monophysitism: denies the two natures of Christ that is both human and divine. The Monophysites said that Christ had one nature divine.
  • Attila the Hun (406-453)
    453

    Attila the Hun (406-453)

    Leader of a group from the steppes in the east. He attacked western Europe and met his match in a bishop of Rome named Leo
  • Pope Leo I (390-461)
    461

    Pope Leo I (390-461)

    Bishop of Rome who wrote extensively on the Trinity. He also was the first to make a serious case for the role of the Bishop of Rome as successor of St. Peter. He saved Rome from being plundered by Attila.
  • 476- End of the Western Empire
    476

    476- End of the Western Empire

    In 476 the last roman Emperor Romulus Augustus was deposed by the barbarian chieftain Odaecer
  • Clovis, King of the Franks (reign 481-511)
    511

    Clovis, King of the Franks (reign 481-511)

    Barbarian warlord and tribal leader who unites Frankish tribes into a unified confederation and also converts to Christianity through the efforts of his wife Clotilde ( 475-545)
  • John II
    533

    John II

    His real name is Mercurius. On being elected pope, he becomes the first Bishop of Rome to use a regnal name being called John II.
  • Hagia Sophia
    537

    Hagia Sophia

    Patriarchial Basilica of the Byzantine (Constantinople) Orthodox Church from 537- 1453. From 1453 to 1931, it served as an imperial mosque after the fall of Constantinople.
  • Period: 537 to 732

    Caesarpapism

    Caesarpapism is a period when the Eastern Emperor forced the western Church to submit to its authority by the Emperor giving his blessing to the man who was elected Bishop of Rome.
  • Benedict of Nursia (480-547)
    547

    Benedict of Nursia (480-547)

    Father of western monasticism, he wrote a rule that balanced a life in community or prayer (ora) and work (labora). He big monastery was at Monte Cassino and his twin sister Scholastica also founded women's monasteries that used his rule.
  • Council of Constantinople II (553)
    553

    Council of Constantinople II (553)

    Repudiated three writers as Nestorians including one of Fr. Joe's favorite people Theodore of Mopsuestia
  • Justinian
    565

    Justinian

    An Emperor of the East who reigned 527-565 who tried to reunite the empire. He also commissioned and built the Hagia Sophia
  • Gregory the Great (540-604)
    604

    Gregory the Great (540-604)

    Bishop of Rome who sent missionaries (usually Benedictine monks-- having been one himself) to evangelize the barbarian tribes.
  • 630

    Mohammed (570-630)

    Great prophet of Islam. He received the revelations that led to the formation of the religious ideals and practices. Originally from Mecca he was forced to moved to Medina. Islam only spreads far and wide after his death.
  • Period: 630 to 1000

    Rise of Islam

  • Period: 632 to 950

    Spread of Islam

    Damascus and Antioch in 636 and 637
    Jerusalem 638
    Alexandria 642
    Crossed into Spain in 711
    Defeat of Islamic forces at Constantinople by Leo Isaurian in 717
    Charles Martel, King of the Franks halted Muslim invasion of Europe in 732.
  • Isidore of Seville (560-636)
    636

    Isidore of Seville (560-636)

    Bishop of Seville in Spain who was often considered the last of the western Fathers of the Church
  • Council of Constantinople (680-681)
    681

    Council of Constantinople (680-681)

    Monothelitism: denies that Jesus has two wills: human and divine which match his 2 natures: human and divine. The Council condemns this and says the two wills are essential to the two natures.
  • Charles Martel (Mayor of the Palace--- Leader of the Franks 737–741)
    741

    Charles Martel (Mayor of the Palace--- Leader of the Franks 737–741)

    Remembered most for the Battle of Tours in 732 where he pushed the Islamic forces into Iberia (Spain) and thus helped to crush the Islamic move into Europe.
  • Stephen II, Bishop of Rome 754
    754

    Stephen II, Bishop of Rome 754

    The bishop of Rome makes an alliance with the Frankish kings, specifically Pepin II and then begins the break with the Eastern Emperor. This alliance provides the pope with protection and gives him the "donation of Pepin" which become the Papal States. He refused at his election to wait for the approval of the Byzantine Emperor.
  • Roman Synod 769
    769

    Roman Synod 769

    Under Stephen III -- Bishop of Rome --- declares that the office of the Bishop of Rome should be elected from deacons and cardinal priests of Rome.
  • Council of Nicaea II (787)
    787

    Council of Nicaea II (787)

    Iconoclasm and relics
  • Charlemagne (Charles the Great  reigned 742-814)
    814

    Charlemagne (Charles the Great reigned 742-814)

    Ruler of the Franks who was crowned by Pope Leo III as the Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day 800 in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. This begin the definitive separation of the east and the west
  • Pope Leo III (Bishop of Rome --- 795-816)
    816

    Pope Leo III (Bishop of Rome --- 795-816)

    Bishop of Rome who for a variety of reasons crowns Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor on December 25, 800 at St. Peter Basilica in Rome. The event is significant especially for the fact that the pope crowns the Emperor and gives him a title showing that ultimately he is over the Emperor.