History of the ChurchHistory of the Church

Why study Church Why study Church history?history?

• To know Jesus better through the To know Jesus better through the Church and its teachingsChurch and its teachings

• To know about our ChurchTo know about our Church• The lives of our brothers and sistersThe lives of our brothers and sisters

• To understand and explain common To understand and explain common errors about Church historyerrors about Church history

Divided into 12 sections Divided into 12 sections ……

1.1. Mustard Seed (33-99 AD)Mustard Seed (33-99 AD)

2.2. Persecution (100-312 AD)Persecution (100-312 AD)

3.3. Conversion and Councils (313-499 AD)Conversion and Councils (313-499 AD)

4.4. Missionaries and the Emperor (500-999 Missionaries and the Emperor (500-999 AD)AD)

5.5. Crusaders and Scholars (1000-1299 AD)Crusaders and Scholars (1000-1299 AD)

6.6. Weak Leaders and Schism (1300-1499 Weak Leaders and Schism (1300-1499 AD)AD)

– What does Schism mean?What does Schism mean?

7.7. Protestors and Defenders (1500-1544 Protestors and Defenders (1500-1544 AD)AD)

8.8. The Catholic Reformation (1545-1699 The Catholic Reformation (1545-1699 AD)AD)

9.9. Revolutions and Modernism (1700-Revolutions and Modernism (1700-1913 AD)1913 AD)

10.10.A World at War (1914-1957 AD)A World at War (1914-1957 AD)

11.11.The New Springtime (1958-1977 AD)The New Springtime (1958-1977 AD)

12.12.The Threshold of Hope (1977-Present)The Threshold of Hope (1977-Present)

The Church in JerusalemThe Church in Jerusalem

• Fifty days after Jesus’ Resurrection and ten Fifty days after Jesus’ Resurrection and ten days after His Ascension, on the Jewish feast days after His Ascension, on the Jewish feast of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the 12 Apostles and the Blessed Mother. We the 12 Apostles and the Blessed Mother. We consider consider PentecostPentecost the day that the Church the day that the Church begun.begun.

• The word Apostle means The word Apostle means one who is sentone who is sent and and refers to refers to the 12 men chosen by Jesus to be his the 12 men chosen by Jesus to be his closest followersclosest followers

• The Apostles are …The Apostles are …– Peter (Simon)Peter (Simon) -Philip-Philip -James-James– AndrewAndrew -Bartholomew-Bartholomew -Simon the -Simon the

ZealotZealot– JamesJames -Matthew-Matthew -Judas aka Jude-Judas aka Jude– JohnJohn -Thomas-Thomas -Judas Iscariot-Judas Iscariot

• MatthiasMatthias is chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. is chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. St. Paul and Barnabas also shared the St. Paul and Barnabas also shared the position of Apostles.position of Apostles.

• The Apostles were chosen to The Apostles were chosen to continue continue Christ’s mission of preaching and healingChrist’s mission of preaching and healing

• The Apostles passed on their authority of The Apostles passed on their authority of Christ which is called Christ which is called Apostolic SuccessionApostolic Succession

• The Apostles and the first Christians in The Apostles and the first Christians in Jerusalem were known as the people of the Jerusalem were known as the people of the Way Way and they still considered themselves and they still considered themselves Jews.Jews.– They followed all the provisions of the Jewish Law. They followed all the provisions of the Jewish Law.

• Besides the Temple worship on Saturdays, they would meet in private homes on Sundays for the celebration of the Eucharist.

• The first Christians believed, as we still do today, that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ

• Because the early Christians followed a dead leader and all of the Jewish laws, they were at first left alone– The Jewish authorities thought Christianity would be a

passing fad

• When The Way did not fade, they were persecuted

Persecutions in Persecutions in JerusalemJerusalem

• Stephen was a deacon in Jerusalem who had been commissioned by the Apostles. He was stoned to death becoming the first Christian Martyr.

• Saul, who was persecuting Christians, had a vision of Christ who asked him why he was, “persecuting me”. Saul converted, his name was changed to Paul, and he became the great apostle to the Gentiles.

Gentiles enter the ChurchGentiles enter the Church

• Even though the Christians were Even though the Christians were persecuted, they considered themselves persecuted, they considered themselves Jewish. To associate with non-Jews, Jewish. To associate with non-Jews, Gentiles,Gentiles, was unclean. was unclean.

– The Aposltes remember how Jesus reached The Aposltes remember how Jesus reached out to out to all peopleall people

• Nowhere in the Bible does it state that Nowhere in the Bible does it state that unclean Gentiles were to be included in unclean Gentiles were to be included in the teachings; there actually was no the teachings; there actually was no Bible, so Bible, so PeterPeter as as head of the Church, head of the Church, Pope,Pope, and under the guidance of the and under the guidance of the Holy Holy Spirit makes a decision based on the Spirit makes a decision based on the teachings of Christ. teachings of Christ.

– 11stst instance of instance of Papal AuthorityPapal Authority

The Council of JerusalemThe Council of Jerusalem

• The issue was The issue was whether or not Gentile whether or not Gentile converts to Christianity had to follow converts to Christianity had to follow Jewish dietary rules and circumcisionJewish dietary rules and circumcision

• The decision was The decision was nono• PeterPeter made the final decision made the final decision• The Apostles go on The Apostles go on missionary missionary

journeys through the Empirejourneys through the Empire to to preach and spread the teachings of preach and spread the teachings of Christ.Christ.

Temple is destroyed in Temple is destroyed in AD 70.AD 70.

• Reproduction of Reproduction of TempleTemple

• Western Wall of Western Wall of TempleTemple

At the time that Christ was At the time that Christ was born, the Roman Empire was born, the Roman Empire was a a

great powergreat power This provided This provided great benefits for the great benefits for the

spreading of the word of God:spreading of the word of God:• BenefitsBenefits– PeacePeace in the Roman Empire (Pax Romana) in the Roman Empire (Pax Romana)– Safe roads and portsSafe roads and ports for easy traveling for easy traveling– Use of Use of Greek languageGreek language throughout the Empire throughout the Empire – Concepts of Greek philosophy that help Concepts of Greek philosophy that help

understand understand nature and personnature and person• On the other hand, the Romans expected On the other hand, the Romans expected

all people to all people to worship their godsworship their gods and and believe that believe that Ceaser was god.Ceaser was god.

• JudaismJudaism was the only religion permitted to was the only religion permitted to not participate in Roman gods’ worship, not participate in Roman gods’ worship, and it was actually protected by Romansand it was actually protected by Romans

At first since the At first since the Christians were seen Christians were seen by the Romans as a by the Romans as a sect within Judaismsect within Judaism they were treated as they were treated as

such. such.

This soon changed as the This soon changed as the Romans Romans began to oppose The began to oppose The

Way.Way.

Challenges of early Challenges of early ChristianityChristianity

• Jews accused Christians of Jews accused Christians of blasphemy and persecuted themblasphemy and persecuted them

• Tension with Romans - Christians:Tension with Romans - Christians:– Refused to worship theRefused to worship the Roman gods Roman gods– Denied CeaserDenied Ceaser was a god was a god– Seen as Seen as secretive societysecretive society

Christian worship and Christian worship and beliefsbeliefs

• The earliest Christians believed that The earliest Christians believed that the Eucharist the Eucharist was the body and was the body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus blood, soul and divinity of Jesus ChristChrist

• Both abortion and contraception Both abortion and contraception were practiced in the Roman were practiced in the Roman Empire. The Early Church Empire. The Early Church condemnedcondemned these practices these practices

Churches and CatacombsChurches and Catacombs

• The first churches were The first churches were people’s homes.people’s homes. Some Some Roman emperors permitted churches to be Roman emperors permitted churches to be built, but when new persecutions came these built, but when new persecutions came these were were destroyeddestroyed

• In the 2nd century In the 2nd century catacombscatacombs were built. were built. Catacombs are a series of underground tunnels, Catacombs are a series of underground tunnels, chambers, and tombs that were dug out by chambers, and tombs that were dug out by Christians.Christians.

• Catacombs were Catacombs were never hiding placesnever hiding places but during but during the times of persecution did become a place to the times of persecution did become a place to hold Baptisms and celebrate the Eucharist.hold Baptisms and celebrate the Eucharist. They were also They were also burial places and shrines.burial places and shrines.

CatacombsCatacombs• A typical gallery, this one A typical gallery, this one

in St. Callixtus;in St. Callixtus; showing the burial niches showing the burial niches or or loculiloculi

• The cubiculum of the Good The cubiculum of the Good ShepherdShepherd in the Catacomb of in the Catacomb of

DomatillaDomatilla

The Madonna and Child from the Catacomb of Priscilla

• This is the oldest known representation of this most touching and human aspect of Christ's Incarnation. The emphasis on the maternal love of Mary for the Child Jesus reflects the early Christian community's reverence for the Mother of God, and for its understanding of God's love for humankind in sending His only Son to earth to share in our humanity.  

 

The Apostolic FathersThe Apostolic Fathers

• This is the second generation of This is the second generation of great Christian writers who great Christian writers who lived lived after the Apostlesafter the Apostles

• Apostolic Fathers – those who Apostolic Fathers – those who knewknew and where and where taughttaught by the Apostles by the Apostles

PersecutionsPersecutions

• Persecutions come at different times with Persecutions come at different times with periods of no persecution in-between, but periods of no persecution in-between, but Christians always lived in danger from the Christians always lived in danger from the time of time of NeroNero to to The Edict of Milan (313 AD).The Edict of Milan (313 AD). There were a great number of martyrs, and There were a great number of martyrs, and dying for Christ was considered dying for Christ was considered a great honor.a great honor.

• ProcessProcess– Arrested and given chance to denounce faithArrested and given chance to denounce faith– If didn’t reject Christianity If didn’t reject Christianity put to deathput to death

– Many chose to die rather than Many chose to die rather than give up their faithgive up their faith

Examples of PersecutionsExamples of Persecutions

• Nero – set city on fire and Nero – set city on fire and blamed the blamed the ChristiansChristians

• Circus MaximusCircus Maximus - animal skins sewn onto - animal skins sewn onto Christians, spread through out garden, Christians, spread through out garden, hungry mastiffs released.hungry mastiffs released.

• Death of Peter= Death of Peter= crucified up-side downcrucified up-side down• Death of Paul = Death of Paul = beheadedbeheaded• All apostles, except All apostles, except St. JohnSt. John die martyrs die martyrs• St. St. JamesJames is the first apostle to die is the first apostle to die

(Jerusalem)(Jerusalem)

ResultsResults

• Chrisitanity Chrisitanity grewgrew

• Tertullian, who lived in the midst of Tertullian, who lived in the midst of the persecutions said, "The blood of the persecutions said, "The blood of the Christians is the the Christians is the seedseed of the of the Church.Church.

MartyrsMartyrs• St. Ignatius of Antioch = St. Ignatius of Antioch = BishopBishop and and

Apostolic FatherApostolic Father– Martyred at Coliseum in Rome – fed to Martyred at Coliseum in Rome – fed to

lionslions• St. Polycarp – St. Polycarp – BishopBishop and and Apostolic Apostolic

FatherFather– Fought many Fought many heresiesheresies– Refused to Refused to curse Christcurse Christ in public in public– Burned at stake but remained unharmed; Burned at stake but remained unharmed;

an executioner used a sword.an executioner used a sword.• St. Justin Martyr = St. Justin Martyr = Apologist (defender Apologist (defender

of the faith)of the faith)– BeheadedBeheaded

• Perpetua and Felicity = Perpetua and Felicity = noblewomannoblewoman and and slaveslave– Jailed and forced to raise their children in prison – Jailed and forced to raise their children in prison –

Felicity gave birth in jailFelicity gave birth in jail– Together with their household were scourged and Together with their household were scourged and

fed to wild beastsfed to wild beasts• St. Iranaeus = St. Iranaeus = BishopBishop and and Apostolic FatherApostolic Father• PopePope St. Sixtus II and Deacon St. Lawrence St. Sixtus II and Deacon St. Lawrence

– Arrested while celebrating Mass with 7 deaconsArrested while celebrating Mass with 7 deacons– All beheaded on site except St. LawrenceAll beheaded on site except St. Lawrence– St. Lawrence roasted on spike – turn me over I am St. Lawrence roasted on spike – turn me over I am

done on this sidedone on this side• St. Agnes = St. Agnes = young girl (12 or 13 years old)young girl (12 or 13 years old)

– BeheadedBeheaded

St. Stephen first St. Stephen first Christian MartyrChristian Martyr

• St. Paul was St. Paul was present at the present at the martyrdom of martyrdom of

Stephen.Stephen.

The Edict of MilanThe Edict of Milan• By the year 300 the Roman Empire was By the year 300 the Roman Empire was

divided into the Western and Eastern divided into the Western and Eastern Empire. Empire.

• Constantine,Constantine, who ruled the Eastern Empire, who ruled the Eastern Empire, defeated the Western Empire. defeated the Western Empire.

• The son of St. Helena, a The son of St. Helena, a devout Christian,devout Christian, he he was not a Christian but claimed to have was not a Christian but claimed to have been favored by the Christian God. been favored by the Christian God.

• In the year 313 A.D. Christianity was In the year 313 A.D. Christianity was legalizedlegalized through the through the Edict of Milan.Edict of Milan.

• All property that had been taken from the All property that had been taken from the Church was Church was restoredrestored

• He converted and received He converted and received BaptismBaptism on his on his deathbed.deathbed.