History of the Christian Church. M.E

This textbook, History of the Christian Church, is based on the famous textbook of Archpriest Peter Smirnov, History of the Christian Church, 1903. Our textbook was written in 1989, for the students of the Russian Church Gymnasium at the Temple of All Saints Who Shone in the Russian Land in Burlingame, California.
Adults can also use the book. For them it will be a synopsis of the History of the Christian Church. At the end of the book there is a bibliography department, as well as addresses from where these books can be subscribed.

The program on the Law of God in Burlingame is the same as in the "Russian Church Gymnasium of St. Cyril and Methodius" at the Cathedral of Sorrows in San Francisco and in the parish "St. Intercession School "at the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos in Palo Alto. All three schools are located in the San Francisco area. The program, with minor changes, is basically the same as it was in Russian schools before 1917, and abroad it has survived to this day:

Class School Age Anthem. Grade 8 1 ave. * 2 In all 3 ave classes: 9 2 ave. * 3 Prayers, Twelve Feasts and 10 3 ave. * 4 Commandments of the Law of God 11 1 5 Old Testament 12 2 6 New Testament 13 3 7 Divine service 14 4 8 History of the Christian Church 15 5 9 History of the Russian Church 16 6 10 Catechism 17 7 11 Apologetics 18 8 12 Morality (* pr. - Preparatory classes) Thus, the history of the Christian Church is taught in the 4th grade of the gymnasium; after the Old Testament, New Testament and Divine Service.

This program was designed for Russian schools in Orthodox Russia, where the whole country prayed, went to church and fasted. True, recently, until 1917, there were deviations, but still, basically, it was an Orthodox country. Life in such a country created Russian people with Christian qualities of character, with an Orthodox worldview and Orthodox in spirit. The law of God that the children passed in school was only a theory that the children already knew from their personal experience and from their lives.
Now everything is completely different. Russians abroad live in countries that are not Orthodox and in some cases are not even Christian, and in which the Orthodox are in the minority. Life itself needs to be added to this program. Therefore, in all classes, in parallel with the program, there are still conversations on the following topics: (1) Church year, (2) Lives of the Saints and (3) Modern life.
Conversations on the topic “Church Year” cover the most important feasts and fasts throughout the year. The lifestyle of Orthodox Christians and church year in which they all participate, demand to explain to children what is happening in the church and why.
Conversations on the Lives of the Saints cover the lives and deeds of the most famous saints. Every disciple should know the life of his saint.
In conversations on the topic "Modern life" they talk about everyday life phenomena that our Orthodox children encounter and how they should relate to them.

In compiling this textbook, the following textbooks were used: (1) History of the Christian Church in the publication of the Russian Church Gymnasium at the Cathedral of Sorrows of Sorrows in San Francisco (1956), (2) History of the Church, Handbook for the Parish School, Montreal (1968 g.) and (3) Archpriest Peter Smirnov History of the Christian Orthodox Church (1903). The first two textbooks are based on the textbook of Archpriest Peter Smirnov. In our textbook, in the title of each chapter, the number of the corresponding chapter from Smirnov's book is given in clusters.

Nativity

INTRODUCTION

Christianity has had a beneficial effect on the entire world. The pagan world - where power, wealth, pride, cruelty, moral licentiousness prevailed - was gradually reborn under the influence of Christianity. The main values were kindness, love, mercy, modesty, forgiveness, purity of morals. Christianity influenced the whole life of a person, all branches of his complex life and washed everything and everyone. Christian rules and norms for life have become the basis of the laws of all civilized countries. Christianity has become the cradle of a new purified culture; culture built on Christian values and principles (in the USSR they said "universal").

The history of the Christian Church is not only the history of the Church, but it is also the history of the most important thing in every person and nation; it is the history of the spiritual and moral development of mankind. This whole subject and this topic is hushed up by so-called "impartial" historians. The current history textbooks are based on political events and on economic development. A complete picture of historical events cannot be obtained if we do not know and do not understand the history of the Church. The Church is a school of spiritual and moral education and it is precisely because of this that it has tremendous spiritual, moral, educational and cultural significance.

It is especially important to know and understand the History of the Christian Church now, when, on the one hand, there is a campaign against Christian principles in life, and on the other hand, there is a spiritual rebirth and a craving for the spiritual, for the moral and craving for the Lord God.

The history of the Christian Church begins from the day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, that is, from the Day of the Holy Trinity. On the fortieth day after resurrection Jesus christ the Ascension took place. Jesus Christ ascended to heaven in front of his disciples. Ten days, or fifty days after the Resurrection, the Holy Spirit, in the form of tongues of fire over each apostle, descended on them. The apostles, ordinary fishermen, were filled with the Holy Spirit, became brave, smart and began to speak in languages that they did not know before. From that moment, they went to preach, first to the Jews, and then to other nations. Their letters (messages) breathe so much wisdom that they have become part of the Holy Scriptures (Bible). All this is there and is described in the New Testament, in the book of the Acts of the Apostles.

Then history describes the terrible persecution of Christians that lasted three centuries, the final victory of Christianity and its spread throughout the whole world, deviations from the Christian faith (heresies), schisms, Ecumenical Councils, the emergence of new Churches, and Western Christianity (Roman Church and Protestants). The course ends with an overview of Christian denominations in our time.

Our tutorial has the following departments:

The following is in the form of attachments:

Studying the History of the Christian Church, we begin to understand that the Orthodox Church is not one of the many Christian churches. The Orthodox Church is that Church which was founded by the apostles of Jesus Christ almost 2000 years ago and which is spoken of in the New Testament, in which there is apostolic succession, which has truth, which has fullness Christian teaching and which is the only and authentic Church of Christ.
Other churches or have lost contact with the historic Church, or they never had it, and at their own discretion changed and distorted many of its teachings beyond recognition. If one could imagine the Orthodox faith as a Christmas tree, where everything on it is beautiful, deep, abundant and purposeful and has some kind of deep spiritual and moral sense and significance, then many other Christian faiths can be presented as more and more simple and empty tree and in some cases even just one bare artificial trunk.

We must thank the Lord God for granting us such grace as to be members of the true Church of Christ. In no case do we have the right to be proud, since pride is a sin. In addition, pride always contributes to the development of many other sins and vices in a person. Knowledge of the Russian language makes available to us a huge treasure of spiritual books, which are not in Western languages. Therefore, our belonging to the Orthodox faith and knowledge of the Russian language imposes a special responsibility on us; know its teachings, live by this teaching and make special efforts to pass it on to your family, loved ones, friends and everyone else.

THE BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH

1.1 The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles(1)
(Acts 2: 1-4)

Even before the beginning of the suffering on the Cross, our Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would be sent to them. Before his ascension into heaven, He commanded the apostles to remain in Jerusalem and await the descent of the Holy Spirit. According to the commandment of the Lord, the apostles were in Jerusalem, with one accord and in prayer. Among the twelve apostles, in the place of Judas, Matthias, one of the 70 (seventy) disciples, was chosen by lot.

The Holy Spirit descended on the apostles on the tenth day after the Ascension of the Lord. It was one of the great Jewish holidays - the feast of Pentecost - and at the same time it was a Sunday. From early morning the apostles gathered together and prayed. The Most Holy Mother of God was also here.

At the ninth hour (according to the Jewish reckoning at the third hour) a noise was heard from the sky - as if from a strong wind - and filled the whole house where the apostles were. Following the noise, tongues of fire appeared and stopped, one at each of them. This was a sign of the descent of the Holy Spirit. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the apostles changed and became, as it were, different people. Some new light shone in their souls. Everything that the Lord taught, they remembered and understood more clearly and deeper than they understood until now. From simple fishermen and publicans, they became the most enlightened people in the world and began to speak in different languages never learned before. Together with this spiritual enlightenment, they felt vigor and courage in themselves to preach the faith and became ready to lay down their lives for it.

The Holy Spirit, according to the promise of the Lord Savior, is in the Church through the holy sacraments and in other ways incomprehensible to us. He creates spiritual life in us and therefore is called life-giving.

The feast Day of the Holy Trinity (Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles or Pentecost) is celebrated for three days, starting on Sunday on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Christ.

Questions.(1) What did Jesus Christ say to the apostles, even before the beginning of the suffering on the Cross? (2) What did Jesus Christ command the apostles before ascending to heaven? (3) After the Lord's ascension into heaven, where were the apostles, and for what and what did they do? (4) Who were among the apostles? (5) What happened on the tenth day after the Lord's Ascension? (6) What appeared over everyone present? (7) What time did it happen? (8) What happened to the apostles? (9) What does it mean to speak different languages?

1.2 Preaching of the Apostles in Jerusalem(2a)
(Acts 2: 5-39)

After the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, they began to preach. At this time, on the occasion of the holiday, in Jerusalem gathered from different countries, many Jews and pagans who adopted the Jewish faith (proselytes). Walking the streets of the holy city, many of them heard the noise that was before the descent of the Holy Spirit and gathered near the house where the apostles were. They saw how ordinary Galileans left the house and began to preach the high teaching to everyone in the language of his country. Everyone was amazed at the great miracle of God. Among the many people who heard the apostles preach, there were some who laughed at them, saying that the apostles drank sweet wine. In regard to this slander, the Apostle Peter delivered a sermon that made a great impression on the audience. He reminded them of the prophecy of Joel (2:28) that in the days of the Messiah God will send in abundance the gifts of the Holy Spirit to believers. The Messiah is the Lord Jesus Christ. After that, he began to talk about the Lord Jesus Christ. “You took Him and killed Him, but God raised Him up, of which we are all witnesses. He received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father and poured out on us what you now see and hear. " Many of those who heard this sermon accepted the words of the apostle and about three thousand people were baptized that day.

Questions.(1) Who was in Jerusalem at the time of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, and why? (2) What did the apostles begin to do after the descent of the Holy Spirit on them? (3) What did the listeners do? (4) Who preached the first sermon, and what did he speak about? (5) What did those who heard the sermon do?

1.3 Life of the early Christians (3)
(Acts 4: 32-37; 5: 12-16)

The first Christians gathered every day in the temple and listened to the sermon of the apostles. On Sundays, they gathered at home to celebrate the divine Eucharist (liturgy) and communion with the Holy Sacraments. They all lived as one big friendly family, loved each other with all their hearts and helped each other in everything. Many sold their estates and the money received was given to the apostles for distribution to the needy.

The apostles performed many wonderful miracles, and even the shadow of the Apostle Peter healed the sick. Because of this, people carried the sick out into the street, so that the shadow of the passing Apostle Peter would fall on them and heal them. All these sick and possessed people were healed by the Lord God through the holy apostles. The abundance of miracles delighted Christians and further strengthened their faith. They tried in their family and social relations to fulfill the teachings of Jesus Christ, whenever possible, in all its breadth. Thus, the early Christians left a fine example of the true Christian life for all time. The high virtues of the first Christians evoked great respect from the people, and the number of believers grew every day.

Questions.(1) How often did the early Christians meet, and for what purpose? (2) How did the early Christians live? (3) What did Christians do with their property? (4) Could the apostles perform miracles? (5) How was the life of the early Christians different? (6) How did the people feel about the early Christians?

1.4 Election of Deacons (4)
(Acts 6: 1-7)

Among the early Christians were Jews from Palestine and Jews from other countries (Hellenists). Hellenistic Jews complained that their widows received less benefits than the widows of Jews from Palestine. Because of this, the apostles invited the believers to select seven godly men to be in charge of the distribution of offerings to those in need. Seven men were chosen and the apostles prayerfully laid hands on them and thus imparted the grace of the Holy Spirit.

The main responsibility of the deacons was to manage the distribution of benefits to the poor. In addition, they also helped the apostles in the preaching work and in the administration of the sacraments.

Thus, the sacred degree of deacons appeared (deacon means minister) and the apostolic succession was established in the priesthood. Apostolic succession means that Jesus Christ chose the apostles to preach and minister in the Church. These apostles ordained deacons and other servants of the Church, and those new servants and so on to this day. Thus, in the Orthodox Church, the grace of the Holy Spirit is on every spiritual person. Apostolic succession has survived only among Orthodox Christians and in the Roman Catholic Church. Protestant churches do not have it. From the point of view of the Orthodox Church, churches that do not have apostolic succession are not churches, but only Christian societies.

The words
Godly - Honoring God and living according to the Law of God.
Grace - Help sent from above to fulfill the Will of God.

Questions.(1) What prompted the selection of deacons? (2) What were the qualities of the deacons? (3) How did the sacred degree of deacon come about? (4) What were the duties of deacons? (5) What is apostolic succession? (6) Has the apostolic succession survived to the present day? (7) From the point of view of the Orthodox Church, what are the churches that do not have apostolic succession?

1.5 Persecution from the Sanhedrin(5a)
(Acts 4: 1-22; 5: 17-22)

As soon as the Church began to spread, enemies appeared in the face of the Jews who did not believe in Jesus Christ. The Jewish leaders were hostile to the Lord. They saw the progress of the Christian faith and therefore began to take measures against its spread.

Once, after a sermon on the occasion of a healing, the Jewish leaders took the apostles Peter and John from the temple and wanted to kill them. This was stopped by the respected teacher of the law Gamaliel. Therefore, the leaders did not kill the apostles, but only beat them and forbade them to preach about Jesus Christ. The apostles endured this suffering and continued their preaching.

Questions.(1) Who were the early Christians? (2) Who were the first enemies of Christians? (3) Who and whom did you want to kill? (4) How did this assassination attempt end?

1.6 Holy First Martyr Stephen(5 B)
(Acts 6: 8-7: 60)

The first deacon, Saint Stephen, was distinguished by the special gifts of the Holy Spirit and performed many miracles. Once he preached in one of the Jerusalem synagogues. Some Jews entered into an argument with him, but could not prove anything, since the power of the Holy Spirit acted through the words of St. Stephen. Then they falsely accused Saint Stephen of allegedly scolding Moses and even God Himself. Then they found false witnesses and summoned him to trial.

At the trial, everyone drew attention to the face of St. Stephen, it sialo like the face of an angel. In his speech, Saint Stephen said that he honors the righteous from the Old Testament and with the words of the prophets themselves proved that the Old Testament should yield to a more perfect New Testament. At the end of his speech, he said that just as they had killed the prophets before, now they killed Jesus Christ about whom the prophets predicted.

This angered the members of the court terribly. In these difficult moments, the Lord supported Saint Stephen with a joyful vision. He exclaimed that he saw the sky open and that he saw Jesus Christ standing with right side Lord God. This angered the Jews even more, and they seized and took Saint Stephen out of the city, and there they pelted him with stones. Saint Stephen prayed for his tormentors and died with these words: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Before his death, he loudly shouted: "Lord, do not judge them for this sin," and after that he died.

Saint Stephen is called the holy first martyr because he was the first of many Christian martyrs to give his life for the faith. By the murder of St. Stephen and many other Christians, the spread of the Christian faith did not diminish. Quite the opposite, persecution of Christians helped spread the Christian faith.

The memory of the holy First Martyr and Archdeacon Stephen is celebrated on the day of his repose on December 27 / January 9 and on the day of the transfer of his relics on August 2/15.

Questions.(1) Who was Saint Stephen? (2) What did Saint Stephen do, and where? (3) What did the Jews accuse Saint Stephen of? (4) Where did they take Saint Stephen? (5) What did Saint Stephen say at the trial? (6) What did they do to Saint Stephen after the judgment? (7) What did Saint Stephen do when he was killed? (8) What does the first martyr mean? What words does this word consist of? (9) Who are the martyrs? (10) What influence did the martyrs have on the spread of Christianity? History of the Christian Church

THE APOSTLES AND THEIR WORKS

2.1 Baptism of the Samaritans(6a)
(Acts 8: 4-8)

Jews who did not accept Christianity wanted to stop the spread of the Church and therefore began persecuting Christians. But it turned out contrary to their expectations. Due to persecution, Christians began to move to other places, and there they spread their faith.

Philip, one of the seven deacons, began preaching in Samaria. Hearing Philip's words and seeing his miracles, many of the Samaritans believed and were baptized. When they learned about this in Jerusalem, they sent the apostles Peter and John. They passed on to the newly-baptized Samaritans the gifts of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands (that is, they performed the sacrament over them, which is now performed through the anointing of the world).

Questions.(1) Where is the baptism of the Samaritans described? (2) What did the Jews who did not convert to Christianity do? (3) What did the Christians do? (4) What happened to Christianity? (5) Who was Philip? (6) What was Philip doing? (7) Why were the apostles Peter and John sent from Jerusalem?

2.2 Founding of the Church in Antioch (8.1)
(Acts 11: 19-26)

The apostles learned that Christians, former pagans, had appeared in Antioch (Syria). To organize the church, the apostles sent Barnabas there, and he invited Saul. Saul, together with Barnabas, worked for a whole year in Antioch and founded in this city the great and glorious Church of Antioch. Here the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ for the first time began to be called Christians.

Questions.(1) Where is the founding of the church in Antioch described? (2) Who were the Christians in Antioch before the adoption of Christianity (3) Who did the apostles send to Antioch to organize the church? (4) Who and who else was invited to do this work? (5) What kind of church was organized here? (6) What is this church also called? (7) Does this church exist today? (8) Does this church exist in America? (9) Where is the nearest parish of this church? (10) Who are the members of this church? (11) What language do they serve there?

2.3 Apostolic Council (10)
(Acts 15: 1-29)

In Antioch, where the church was organized, there were disagreements among Christians. The ex-Jewish Christians began to teach ex-Gentile Christians that they should observe the rite of Moses. To resolve this dispute, the Antiochian Christians turned to the apostles in Jerusalem. The apostles according to the commandment of Jesus Christ (Matthew 18:17) gathered together and invited the elders of the Jerusalem church to this first Christian council. The apostles Peter, Paul, Barnabas and others spoke at the council. The latter was spoken by the holy Apostle James, whose words expressed the final decision of the council.

The Apostolic Council freed Christians from observing the ritual law of Moses and inspired them to fulfill the moral law. The essence of this law is expressed in the following words so as to “not do to others what you yourself do not want” (Acts 15:29). The council's decision was recorded and sealed with the following significant words: “It is pleasing to the Holy Spirit and to us” (Acts 15:28).

The Apostle James, bishop of the Jerusalem Church, apparently had the first place (presidency) at the council. Although he was not out of 12, but out of 70 apostles. Here we see the beginning of the third, highest sacred degree of the bishop. The apostolic ministry continues in the church, especially through the bishops. They have the right to give hands to the sacred degrees, teach and judge in the church.

The Apostolic Council took place in the 51st year and served as an example of how common church affairs should be resolved in the future. Following the example of this council, seven Ecumenical Councils were later convened.

Questions.(1) Where is the Apostolic Council described? (2) What happened in Antioch among Christians? (3) Where did the Antioch Christians go? (4) What did Jesus Christ command to do in such cases? (5) What did the apostles do? (6) What was the ruling of the council? (7) What are the signifying words for the decree of the council? (8) What do these words mean? (9) Who presided over the council? (10) The beginning of what sacred degree do we see here? (11) In what year did the Apostolic Council take place? (12) The Apostolic Council served as an example for what other councils?

2.4 Holy Apostle Paul (7,9,11-13)

At a time when the Christian faith was spreading among the Jews and Samaritans, the Lord called a great teacher to preach to the pagans, who was distinguished by great learning. It was the holy apostle Paul.

The Apostle Paul was first called Saul. His parents were Jewish. They had Roman citizenship, which was very important at that time, since Roman citizens had all kinds of privileges. The Apostle Paul was born in the city of Tarsus, in Asia Minor. There he received his primary education, and received his final education in Jerusalem.

Saul was a pure and very gifted youth, but a Pharisee by birth. All the Pharisees hated Christians, so Saul also hated them. He believed that he was doing the will of the Lord God when he was persecuting Christians. Saul took part in the assassination of the holy First Martyr Stephen. He approved of this act and guarded the clothes of the killers. After that, Saul did not stop persecuting Christians.

When Saul heard that there were Christians in Damascus, he went there to bring them to Jerusalem. On the way, he was blinded by a strong light, from which he was blinded. Saul also heard a voice: "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" “Who are You, Lord,” Saul asked. "I am Jesus of Nazareth, Whom you are persecuting." Saul got up and since he could not see anything, his companions took him to Damascus. In Damascus, the Lord appeared in a dream to Ananias (one of the 70 disciples) and told him to find Paul and baptize him. Ananias found him and laid his hands on the Apostle Paul, after which he received his sight. After that, the apostle Paul was baptized and began his sermon.

The Apostle Paul made three large preaching trips to the pagan countries of Asia Minor and the Balkans, and also participated in the Apostolic Council. Before the journey, at the command of the Holy Spirit, the apostles ordained (consecrated) Saul to the episcopate (Acts 13). During his travels, the Apostle Paul took with him the Apostle Barnabas and Silas from 70 to help him. The Apostle Paul was very successful in his preaching work. He founded many church communities and ordained priests (elders). Then, to these communities, he wrote letters. Fourteen of these letters became part of the Holy Scriptures, the New Testament. So, the holy Apostle Paul wrote the following letters:

During his three travels, the apostle Paul was severely persecuted and tested (2 Corinthians 23 et seq.). Through the prayers of the Apostle Paul, the Lord worked great miracles, and also over Paul himself and preserved him.

The Apostle Paul suffered during the persecutions of the emperor Nero. He, as a Roman citizen, was assigned the execution of the noble - beheading. It was June 29, 1967. He was executed along with the Apostle Peter, who was crucified, but to his own will upside down.

The memory of the holy Apostle Paul is celebrated, together with the Apostle Peter, on the day of their repose: the holy Primate Apostles Peter and Paul, June 29 / July 12.

Questions.(1) What else was the name of the holy Apostle Paul? (2) Among whom did the apostle Paul preach? (3) What was Paul like when he was young? (4) Why did he persecute Christians? (5) Why did Paul go to Damascus? (6) What happened to Paul on the road to Damascus? (7) What was Paul doing in Damascus? (8) How many preaching trips did Paul take? (9) What did he do while traveling? (10) What did the apostle Paul write? (11) How did the holy Apostle Paul die?

2.5 Saint Apostle Peter (14)

The Holy Apostle Peter preached in Palestine. He, like the Apostle Paul, also participated in the Apostolic Council. After the council, he preached in Syrian Antioch, in the cities of Asia Minor, in Alexandria and in Rome. Most of all he preached to the Jews, and the Apostle Paul to the Gentiles.

In Egypt, he ordained his collaborator Mark to the bishopric of the Alexandrian Church. According to the Apostle Peter, the Evangelist Mark wrote the Gospel, which in ancient times was also called the Peter's Gospel.

The Apostle Peter wrote two conciliar epistles that became part of the Holy Scriptures, the New Testament. They're called:

These epistles are called conciliar, since they were not sent to individual churches or individuals, but were written for all Christians.

In these epistles, the Apostle Peter teaches to endure temptation with courage, to lead a strict, holy and abstinent life and to avoid all false teachings.

The Apostle Peter was executed during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Nero, together with the Apostle Paul, on June 29, 67. Since he considered himself unworthy of the same death with Christ, he was crucified upside down at his own request.

The memory of the holy Apostle Peter is celebrated, together with the Apostle Paul, on the day of their repose: the holy Primate Apostles Peter and Paul, June 29 / July 12.

Questions.(1) Where did the apostle Peter preach? (2) What meeting did the apostle Peter attend? (3) By whom and what was written according to the words of the apostle Peter? (4) What did the apostle Peter write? (5) How did the apostle Peter die?

2.6 Holy Apostle James the Righteous (15)

The Holy Apostle James was a relative of the Lord (or the son of Joseph from his first wife, or the son of Mary, the sister of the Mother of God). He is one of all the apostles who did not travel but was the first bishop of Jerusalem. As the Bishop of Jerusalem, he presided over the Apostolic Council. This fact is important, since Catholics are trying to prove that the apostle Peter was considered the first.

The Holy Apostle James wrote the first liturgy and one epistle. In this letter he comforts Christians in suffering and teaches that one cannot be saved by faith alone without good works.

The Apostle James led a strict ascetic life for which he was considered a righteous man. Through his teaching and life, he converted many to Christianity. The apostle James was killed by hostile Jewish leaders.

Questions.(1) Whose relative was the apostle James? (2) What was the apostle James doing? (3) What fact in the life of the apostle James refutes the claims of the Catholics? (4) What did the apostle James write? (5) What kind of life did Saint James lead? (6) How did Saint James die?

2.7 Holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark and Luke (17)

The scripture of the New Testament is divided into two parts; to the "Four Gospels" or simply "Gospel" and "Apostle".(See Table 2.7.1). The word “gospel” in Greek means good or good news, and the word “apostle” means “messenger”.

The first part of the Holy Scripture of the New Testament "Gospel", consists of four books describing the life and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. All these books are also called gospels and were written by the holy apostles and evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. All four of these Gospels describe the same events; but each is slightly different. This is especially true for the first three. The Fourth Gospel, in most cases, describes those events that are not in the first three.

Saint Matthew (of the 12 apostles) preached for a long time in Judea and wrote the first Gospel for them. Saint Mark (of the 70 apostles) was a collaborator of the Apostle Peter and was ordained bishop of the Alexandrian Church by him. Saint Luke (of the 70 apostles) was a physician and artist. According to legend, he painted icons of the Mother of God and the apostles Peter and Paul. All three were martyred, preaching the faith of Christ.

The second part of the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament "Apostle", consists of 23 books describing the works of some of the apostles and their teaching.

The holy Apostle Luke, in addition to the Gospel, also wrote the Acts of the Holy Apostles (the first book in the Apostle). Here the apostle described the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, the spread of Christianity and the preaching of the apostles Peter and Paul. From the Acts we also learn about the invocation of the Holy Spirit on those who are baptized, about the ordination of bishops, elders and deacons, about the prayer and fasting of the apostles on important occasions, about kneeling, etc.

The memory of the holy Apostles and Evangelists Matthew, Mark and Luke is celebrated on November 16/29, April 25 / May 8 and October 18/31.

Questions.(1) How is New Testament scripture divided? (2) What do these words mean? (3) What does the first part describe? (4) Who wrote the first part? (5) How did the writers of the first part die? (6) What does the second part describe? (7) Who wrote the second part? (8) What do we know about the holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew? (9) What do we know about the holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark? (10) What do we know about the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke?

2.8 Holy Apostle John the Theologian (16)

The Holy Apostle John the Theologian wrote the Gospel (fourth), three Epistles and the Apocalypse (Revelation).

Once upon a time to Saint John, bishops and priests showed three Gospels written by the holy apostles and evangelists Matthew, Mark and Luke. John confirmed them as the exact truth. Then they began to ask him to write down the conversations of Jesus Christ which are not in these three Gospels. Thus, the fourth Gospel was written. In his epistles, Saint John writes instructions about Christian love. The Apocalypse contains prophecies about the church and the world.

The Apostle John the Theologian, according to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ, took care of His Most Pure Mother. Saint John preached in Palestine, and after Her Assumption in the cities of Asia Minor, where there were pagans. All the other apostles had already ended their lives, and John continued to work for the benefit of the Church. He survived the persecution of the Church by Nero, the fall of Jerusalem and the second persecution by Domitian.

In the last years of his life, Saint John spoke only one admonition: "Children, love one another." When his disciples asked why he always repeats this, he said “this is the most necessary commandment; if you fulfill it, then you will fulfill all of Christ's law. "

Saint John the Theologian, one of the 12 disciples, died a peaceful death in the one hundred and fifth (105) year of life.

The memory of the holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian is celebrated on May 8/21, as well as on the day of his repose on September 26 / October 9.

Questions.(1) What did the holy Apostle John the Theologian write? (2) Describe the writings of Saint John. (3) For whom did Saint John care? (4) Where did Saint John preach? (5) What instruction did Saint John give at the end of his life? (6) How old was Saint John when he died? (7) What kind of death did Saint John die?

2.9 Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called (17.6)

The Holy Apostle Andrew is called the First-Called, because he was the first of the apostles who followed Jesus Christ. He was the brother of the apostle Peter. Saint Andrew preached on the shores of the Black Sea, walked along the Dnieper River. On the Kiev mountains, the holy apostle erected a cross and foretold the future enlightenment of Russia by Christ's faith.

The Apostle Andrew suffered a martyr's death in Asia Minor. He was crucified on a cross of a special shape, which is therefore called St. Andrew's.

The memory of the holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called is celebrated on the day of his repose on November 30 / December 13.

Questions.(1) Why is the holy Apostle Andrew called the First-Called? (2) Who was his brother? (3) Where did he preach? (4) What did he do in the Kiev mountains? (5) What did he predict? (6) What kind of death did the apostle Andrew die?

GOSPEL (4 books)
Matthew:	1st Gospel (from 12 ap.)
Mark:	2nd Gospel (from 70 ap.)
Luke:	3rd Gospel (from 70 ap.)
John:	4th Gospel

APOSTLE (23 books)
Luke:	Acts
Jacob:	Message (brother of the Lord)
Peter:	Epistles (2) (brother of the Apostle Andrew)
John:	Messages (3)
Judas:	Message
Paul:	1. Romans
	2. Epistle to the Corinthians (2)
	3. Epistle to Galatians
	4. Epistle to the Ephesians
	5. Epistle to the Philippians
	6. Epistle to the Colossians
	7. Epistle to Thessalonians (2)
	(or Thessalonians)
	8. Epistle to Timothy (2)
	9. Epistle to Titus
	10. Epistle to Philemon
	11. The Epistle to the Hebrews
John:	Revelation (Apocalypse)

Persecution of Christians

3.1 Persecution of the Jews

As soon as the Church began to spread, enemies appeared in the face of the Jews who did not believe in Jesus Christ. The first Christians were Jews who followed Jesus Christ. The Jewish leaders were hostile to the Lord. At the very beginning, the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. Then, when the preaching of the apostles began to spread, persecution of the apostles and other Christians began.

Jews could not come to terms with the power of the Romans and therefore did not like the Romans. The Roman procurators treated the Jews very cruelly, oppressed them with taxes and insulted their religious feelings.

In the 67th year, the uprising of the Jews against the Romans began. They were able to free Jerusalem from the Romans, but only temporarily. Most of the Christians took advantage of their freedom of exit and went to the city of Pella. In the 70th year, the Romans brought in new troops, which very brutally suppressed the rebels.

After 65 years, the Jews rebelled against the Romans again. This time Jerusalem was completely destroyed and it was ordered to plow through the streets as a sign that here is no longer a city, but a field. The Jews who survived fled to other countries. Later, on the ruins of Jerusalem, a small city "Elia Capitolina" grew up.

The fall of the Jews and Jerusalem means that the great persecution of Christians by the Jews has stopped.

Questions.(1) Who were the early Christians? (2) How did Jews treat Christians who did not follow Jesus Christ? (3) Who lived and who ruled Jerusalem? (4) What was the attitude of the Jews towards the Romans, and why? (5) What happened from 67 to 70 in Jerusalem? (6) What happened 65 years later and why? (7) What is the significance of the fall of Jerusalem for the Church?

3.2 Persecution from the Gentiles (19)

When the persecution of the Church by the Jews ended, terrible persecutions by the pagans began in the Roman Empire. This persecution continued for two and a half centuries.

The main and more general reason for the persecution of Christians by pagans is the complete opposite of Christian teaching to the customs, mores and views of paganism. The pagans tolerated all faith, as long as it did not interfere with their life as before. The Christian faith in everything changed the whole way of life:
1. Instead of selfishness, she preached love,
2. In place of pride she put humility;
3. Instead of luxury, which reached terrible proportions in the Roman Empire, she taught abstinence and fasting,
4. eradicated polygamy,
5. raised the importance of slaves,
6. appealed to the rich for mercy and charity.

The history of persecution of Christians in the first three centuries can be divided into three periods:
1. The Roman government throughout the first century did not pay special attention to the spread of Christianity. If Christians are persecuted, it is because of personal motives on the part of the emperors, and not because of the laws.
2. At the beginning of the second century Christians were persecuted for reasons of government. For a long time these persecutions have a random character and depend on the arbitrariness of the rulers, on the views and character of the rulers.
3. From the middle of the third century onwards, persecution takes on a more intense and fierce character. Christianity is persecuted as a sect hostile to the empire, with the aim of completely eradicating it.

1. The first period of persecution. The first period of persecution was under the emperor Nero and Domitian. Nero accused Christians of burning Rome. The years 64th to 68th were terrible for Christians: they were crucified on crosses, given to be eaten by wild animals, sewn into sacks, which were doused with tar and lit during festivities.

2. The second period of persecution. In the second period, the most severe persecutions were from the emperors Trajan, Marcus Aurelius and Seprimius of the North.

Emperor Trajan (98-117) strictly forbade the existence of secret societies, which had their own laws, except for the general state ones. In his time, Christians were not wanted, but if someone was accused by the judicial authorities of belonging to Christianity, then he was executed.

Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180) hated Christians. Under him they began to search for Christians; a system of torture and torture was introduced to force them to renounce their faith. Christians were driven out of their homes, scourged, stoned, rolled on the ground, thrown into prisons, deprived of burial. Never in previous persecutions were there so many martyrs as at this time. It so happened that the bodies of tortured Christians lay in masses on the streets of the city.

3. The third period of persecution. In the third period of persecution, especially fierce persecutions were from the emperors Decius and Diocletian.

Emperor Decius (249-251) was rude and cruel and decided to destroy Christianity. Fortunately, this terrible persecution lasted a short time. The emperor Diocletian (284-305) issued four edicts against Christians, one more brutal than the other, with the aim of exterminating Christianity.
1 edict:
o Christian liturgical gatherings are prohibited;
o Christian temples are being destroyed;
o Lists of Scripture are selected and burned;
o Christians are deprived of their property and civil rights;
O Christians, slaves forever lose the possibility of deliverance;
o During the trial, Christians can be tortured and no complaints will be accepted by them.
2nd edict:
o All clerics are imprisoned like political criminals.
3rd edict:
o From all Christians imprisoned in prison to demand that they offer sacrifice to idols;
o Who will bring, those to release from imprisonment, and who refuses, to torment those with cruel tortures.
4th edict:
o All Christians, absolutely all, are condemned to torture and torment in order to force them to renounce Christianity.

All kinds of torture and executions were allowed in, and they did not think about any cruelty. A period was appointed for the existence of Christianity (the pagan holiday of Terminals on February 23, 303). At the very dawn of that day, a detachment of soldiers surrounded the Nicomedian temple: the doors of the temple were broken down, the sacred books were burned, the jewels were plundered, and the entire temple was destroyed to the ground. After that, such horrors began that cannot be portrayed. The ferocity of the torturers reached such an extent that the mutilated were treated in order to torture again; sometimes they tortured from ten to one hundred people a day, without distinction of gender or age.

Questions.(1) When did the heathen persecution of Christians begin? (2) How long did this persecution last? (3) What was the main reason for the persecution of Christians by the Gentiles? (4) How long did this persecution last? (5) When and during which emperor did this persecution begin? (6) When and during which emperor did these persecutions end? (7) What did the emperor Diocletian publish and why?

3.3 Holy Martyrs (20)

The righteous these are the holy people who led a righteous life pleasing to the Lord God, who were family people and who lived in the world.

Reverends these are the holy righteous people who retired from the worldly life in society and pleased the Lord God, staying in virginity (not getting married), fasting and prayer, living in deserts and monasteries.

Saints these are the holy bishops and hierarchs who pleased the Lord God with their righteous Life.

Confessors these are those holy Christians who during their lives endured torments, but died peacefully.

Martyrs these are the holy Christians who, for their faith, have accepted cruel torments and even death. The holy martyrs are depicted on icons with a cross in their hands.

Martyrs these are the saints who suffered torment for Christ.

The persecution of the Church not only did not destroy it, but, on the contrary, helped its spread. This happened for several reasons:
1. Since the holy martyrs and martyrs endured suffering with great firmness. In place of the victims, new confessors appeared.
2. Christians who fled brought their faith with them and planted it in their new place of residence.
3. Persecution kept believers on guard of faith and the Church. They were in strong faith, courage and mutual love. Thus, the Church was cleansed of people who were weak and unworthy to be her members.

Of the large number of Christian martyrs in the ancient church, especially remarkable are: Saint Ignatius the God-bearer, Bishop of Antioch, Saint Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna and Saint Justin the Philosopher.

3.3.1 St. Ignatius the God-bearer, Bishop of Antioch (20.1)

Saint Ignatius was a disciple of Saint John the Theologian. It is called the God-bearer because Jesus Christ Himself held him in His hands when he said the famous words: "If you do not turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 18: 3). In addition, Saint Ignatius was like a vessel that always bore the name of God in itself. About 70 he was ordained bishop of the Church of Antioch, which he ruled for over 30 years.

In 107th year, Christians with their bishop refused to take part in the revelry and drunkenness that were arranged on the occasion of the arrival of Emperor Trajan. For this, the emperor sent the bishop to Rome to be executed with the words "to chain Ignatius to the soldiers and send him to Rome to be devoured by wild beasts to amuse the people." Saint Ignatius was sent to Rome. The Antioch Christians accompanied their bishop to the place of torture. On the way, many churches sent their representatives to welcome and encourage him and show him their attention and respect in every possible way. On the way, Saint Ignatius wrote seven epistles to the local churches. In these epistles, the bishop urged to preserve the right faith and obey the divinely instituted hierarchy.

Saint Ignatius gladly went to the amphitheater, all the while repeating the name of Christ. With a prayer to the Lord, he entered the arena. Then the wild beasts were released, and they violently tore the saint to pieces, leaving only a few bones from him. The Christians of Antioch, who accompanied their bishop to the place of torture, collected these bones with reverence, wrapped them up as precious treasures, and took them to their city.

The memory of the holy martyr Ignatius the God-bearer is celebrated on the day of his repose, December 20 / January 2.

3.3.2 St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna (20.2)

Saint Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, together with Saint Ignatius the God-bearer, was a disciple of the Apostle John the Theologian. The apostle ordained him bishop of Smyrna. He was in this position for over forty years and experienced many persecutions. He wrote many letters to Christians in neighboring Churches to strengthen them in a pure and right faith.

The Holy Hieromartyr Polycarp lived to old age and was martyred in persecution by the emperor Marcus Aurelius (the second period of persecution, 161-187). He was burned at the stake on February 23, 167.

The memory of the Holy Martyr Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna is celebrated on the day of his presentation, February 23 / March 8.

3.3.3 Justin the Philosopher (20.3)

Saint Justin, a Greek by birth, in his youth became interested in philosophy, listened to all the philosophical schools known at that time and did not find satisfaction in any of them. Having become acquainted with Christian teaching, he became convinced of its divine origin.

Having become a Christian, he defended Christians from the accusations and attacks of the pagans. There are two well-known apologies written in defense of Christians, and several essays that prove the superiority of Christianity over Judaism and paganism.

One of his opponents, who could not overcome him in disputes, reported him to the Roman government, and he fearlessly and joyfully met his martyrdom on June 1, 166.

The memory of the Holy Martyr Justin, the Philosopher is celebrated on the day of his presentation, June 1/14.

Questions.(1) Who are the martyrs? (2) How are martyrs depicted on icons? (3) Who are the confessors? (4) Who are the saints? (5) Who are the martyrs? (6) Who are the saints? (7) Who are the righteous? (8) How do the Orthodox view their saints? (9) What effect did the martyrs have on the Church? (10) Who was Saint Ignatius the God-bearer? (11) Who was Saint Polycarp? (12) Who was Saint Justin the Philosopher?

3.4 Holy Martyrs (21)

Together with the martyrs in the Church of Christ, there are many women holy martyrs who suffered for the faith of Christ. Of the large number of Christian martyrs in the ancient church, the most remarkable are the saints Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia, the great martyr Catherine, the queen Augusta and the great martyr Barbara.

3.4.1 Sts. Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia (21.1)

The holy martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia lived in Rome in the 2nd century. Sophia was a Christian widow and raised her children in the spirit of the holy faith. Her three daughters were named after the three main Christian virtues (1 Corinthians 13:13). The oldest was only 12 years old.

They were reported to the Emperor Hadrian, who continued to persecute Christians. They were summoned and beheaded in front of their mother. This was around 137. The mother was not executed and she was even able to bury her children. After three days, because of the shock she had experienced, Saint Sophia died.

The memory of the holy martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia is celebrated on September 17/30.

3.4.2 Great Martyr Catherine and Queen Augusta (21.4)

The Holy Great Martyr Catherine was born in Alexandria, came from a noble family and was distinguished by wisdom and beauty.

Saint Catherine wanted to marry only an equal to herself. And then one old man told her about a young man who was better than her in everything. Having learned about Christ and about Christian teaching, Saint Catherine was baptized.

At that time, Maximinus, a representative of the emperor Diocletian (284-305), who was known for his cruel persecution of Christians, arrived in Alexandria. When Maximin summoned everyone to a pagan holiday, Saint Catherine fearlessly reproached him for worshiping pagan gods. Maximinus imprisoned her for disrespect for the gods. After that, he gathered scientists to dissuade her. Scientists could not do this and declared themselves defeated.

Queen Augusta, the wife of Maximin, heard a lot about the beauty and wisdom of Catherine, wished to see her, and after the meeting she herself also converted to Christianity. After that, she began to defend Saint Catherine. For everything, it was King Maximinus who killed his wife Augusta.

Saint Catherine was first tortured with a wheel with sharp teeth, and then her head was cut off on November 24, 310.

The memory of the holy Great Martyr Catherine is celebrated on the day of her repose, November 24 / December 7.

3.4.3 Holy Great Martyr Barbara (21.5)

The Holy Great Martyr Barbara was born in Iliopolis in Phoenician. She was distinguished by her extraordinary intelligence and beauty. At the request of her father, she lived in a tower specially built for her, far from her family and friends, with one teacher and several slaves.

Once looking at a beautiful view from the tower and after a long reflection, she came to the idea of the one Creator of the world. Later, when her father was absent, she met Christians and converted to Christianity.

When her father found out about this, he gave her up to cruel torments. Torment did not affect Varvara in any way and she did not renounce her faith. Then the holy Great Martyr Barbara was sentenced to death and her head was cut off.

The memory of the holy Great Martyr Barbara is celebrated on the day of her repose, December 4 / December 17.

Questions.(1) Who were the saints Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia? (2) Who were the saints Great Martyr Catherine and Queen Augusta? (3) Who was the holy great martyr Barbara?

3.5 Constantine the Great (22)

Emperor Constantine was the son of Constantius Chlorus, who ruled the western part of the Roman Empire, and Saint Helena, Equal to the Apostles. In 306, Constantine was proclaimed emperor.

War broke out in 312. Before one decisive battle, after noon, when the sun was already in the west, Constantine saw the sign of the cross in the sky with the words "In this sign, conquer." At night in a dream, the Lord appeared to him with the same sign and said that with this sign he would defeat the enemy. Constantine was victorious and entered Rome solemnly.

After this victory, Constantine, together with his son-in-law, publishes the first manifesto, which allows everyone, without any exception, to accept Christianity. The second manifesto was published in 313. It returned to Christians all the places where they conducted their services, which were taken away from them. Also, Christians were given back all their property that had been taken away during the persecution.

Emperor Constantine devoted his whole life to the good of the Church and did so much good to her that he earned the title of Equal to the Apostles. Since his time, state institutions, laws and military service have been conducting their business according to Christian teachings.

Here are some of the measures taken by Emperor Constantine in favor of Christians:
1. Stopped pagan games,
2. Freed the clergy from civil offices and church lands from general duties,
3. Abolished the death penalty by crucifixion,
4. Issued a strict law against the Jews who rebelled against the Church,
5. Allowed the freeing of slaves at the churches,
6. Forbidden individuals to make sacrifices to idols and turn to fortune telling themselves at home, leaving this right only to societies,
7. He commanded throughout the empire to celebrate Sunday,
8. Canceled the laws against celibacy that were formerly among the Romans (in the fencing of Christian virgins and virgins),
9. Grant the Church the right to receive property by will,
10. Allowed Christians to occupy the highest government positions,
11. He began to build Christian churches and forbade the introduction of imperial statues and images into them, according to the existing custom in pagan temples.

The greatest resistance to Emperor Constantine was in Rome, where there was a strong pagan party. In the end, the emperor decided to leave Rome and move the capital to Constantinople. Constantinople became the Christian center and capital of the Roman Empire. From the time of Constantine, Jerusalem again began to be called by this name, instead of the name Aelia Capitolina, given to him under Hadrian.

Constantine's mother, Holy Empress Helen, on his instructions, went to Palestine. Here she found the cross of the Lord and built temples at Calvary, on the Mount of Olives and in Bethlehem.

During the time of Constantine, schism, disputes and unrest appeared in the Church. This was the wrong teaching (heresy) of Arius. To stop this turmoil, Emperor Constantine, following the example of the Apostolic Council, convened the first Ecumenical Council. This is one of his great services.

Loyal to the Church with all his soul, Constantine died peacefully, in the midst of prayer on May 21, 337. History gave him the name of the Great; Constantine the great. The Church, for his great services, calls him Equal to the Apostles; Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine. Equal to the apostles means that he is equal, according to his merit, to the apostles.

The memory of the saints Equal to the Apostles Kings Constantine the Great and his mother Helena is celebrated on the day of the repose of Saint Constantine, May 21 / June 3.

Questions.(1) Who were the parents of Emperor Constantine? (2) What happened to Constantine during one battle? (3) What distinguished the Emperor Constantine? (4) What difficulties did Emperor Constantine have in Rome? (5) From where and where did Emperor Constantine move the capital of the Roman Empire? (6) What did his mother, Queen Helena, do? (7) What difficulties were there in the Church at that time? (8) What did Emperor Constantine do to stop these difficulties? (9) How do historians call Constantine and how the Church, and why?

3.6 The last persecution from the Gentiles (23)

The last struggle of paganism with Christianity was during the time of Emperor Julian. Emperor Julian was the nephew of Constantine the Great and was distinguished by his hatred of Christians.

Despite not all the measures taken by Emperor Constantine, paganism was still strong in the Roman Empire. Emperor Julian at first simply oppressed Christians and encouraged paganism. Then he gradually turned to open violence. Christians awaited with horror the return of the times of Nero, Decius and Diocletian. However, Julian was unable to restore paganism. He was killed in a battle with the Persians and after his death the persecution of Christians ceased.

Julian's successors continued to care for the establishment of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. New Christian churches were built, and pagan churches were destroyed. Idolatry has become a criminal offense.

Questions.(1) Who was the Emperor Julian and how was he different? (2) What happened during the Emperor Julian? (3) What happened after the death of Emperor Julian?

Heresies, splits and cathedrals

4.1 Heresies and schisms (24)

Heresy this is a teaching that is in disagreement with the Orthodox faith. Heresy is also called false teaching; that is, false teaching or wrong teaching.

At the very beginning of the Church, when Christian teaching was not yet established, there were controversies, false teachings (false teachings) and splits. Christian teaching has been distorted by various other teachings. Some of the heresies were: Jews, Gnostics, Montanists, Antitrinitarians, and Manicheists.

1. Judaizers

under the influence of Judaism.

denied the deity of Jesus Christ,

2. Gnostics or pagan were under the influence of paganism. They recognized two world principles - God and matter, taught about the eternal struggle between them, about the lower deities dominating between heaven and the world - zones and about blind fate.

3. Montanists were infected pride. Montand applied to himself the Savior's prophecy about the sending of the Comforter (John 15:26, 16: 12-13) and announced that it was he who was sent by God to renew the Church. They appeared in the second century. The Montanists were different great excitement of feelings and self-admiration, the desire to allegedly restore the discipline and life of the first Christians in the Church and by mortification of the flesh. The Montanists only considered themselves spiritual Christians, and considered all others spiritual and carnal.

4. Anti-Trinitarian rejected the dogma of the Holy Trinity and recognized only one God the Father. They appeared in the second century. According to their teaching, this God the Father in Christ became a man, was crucified, suffered and died.

5. Manicheists wanted to replace Christianity and restore the ancient pagan Zoroaster religion. They taught that two kingdoms exist independently: the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness, and that they are in constant struggle with each other.

Split

this is when a group separates from the Church, but preserves the Orthodox teaching. Along with heresies, schisms appeared in the Church. Of the schisms in the ancient church, the schisms of the Novocyan and Donatists are especially known.

Questions.(1) What is heresy? (2) What happened at the beginning of the Church, and why? (3) Who are the Jews? (4) Who are the Gnostics? (5) Who are the Montanists? (6) Who are the anti-Trinitarians? (7) Who are the Manicheists? (8) What is schism?

4.2 Ecumenical Councils (25)

Over time, various questions of church organization and faith began to arise; false doctrines (heresies) appeared. It became necessary to gather and develop church rules, and it was also necessary to more accurately define the Christian teaching. For this, Ecumenical Councils began to be convened. All councils asserted the wrongness of various heresies. All of them either decreased or increased the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. There were seven cathedrals in total.

The Ecumenical Councils met following the example of the Apostolic Council, which took place in Jerusalem in the 51st year (Acts 15: 1-35). The apostles and other priests gathered when they had a disagreement. Representatives of different churches attended these councils. Many of them were known for their spirituality, holiness, and learning. All churches were equal, and after prayers and debates, various issues were resolved by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This is evident from the decree of the Apostolic Council where it was said: "It is pleasing to us and the Holy Spirit" (Acts 15:28).

There were seven Ecumenical Councils in total. Not all councils are recognized by the Church as legitimate ecumenical councils. For example, the Roman Church, after separating from other churches, began to convene its so-called Ecumenical Councils.

The commemoration of the first 6 Ecumenical Councils is celebrated on Sunday 16/29 October: or on the next Sunday: Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the 6 Ecumenical Councils.

First Ecumenical Council. The first Ecumenical Council was convened by Saint Constantine Equal to the Apostles in the city of Nicea in 325 to resolve the disagreements that arose over the heresy of Arius. Arius taught that the Lord Jesus Christ was not God. The council was attended by 318 bishops. On it, the false teaching of Arius was rejected and 8 members of the Creed were developed. The Creed summarizes what Christians believe. Orthodox Easter was also established at this cathedral; rules for determining the holiday of Easter. (On the first Sunday after the spring full moon and after the Jewish Passover.)

The memory of the 1st Ecumenical Council is celebrated on the 7th Sunday after Easter: Holy Father of the 1st Ecumenical Council, as well as on May 29 / June 11.

Second Ecumenical Council. The Second Ecumenical Council was convened by the Emperor Theodosius the 1st and took place in Constantinople in the 381st year. The council was assembled against the Macedonian Dukhobors. Macedonius was bishop in Constantinople. He denied the divine nature of the Holy Spirit and called Him creation or power, but he recognized this power as subordinate to both the Father and the Son. The council rejected the false teachings of Macedonia and ended the creed, which was called the Niceo-Constantinople creed. This creed is a guideline for the Church throughout time. The unchanged symbol of faith remained only with Orthodox Christians. (The Roman Church and after it all the Protestants changed the 8th member).

Third Ecumenical Council. The third Ecumenical Council took place in Ephesus in 431 AD and was assembled against Nestorius the worshiper. Nestorius argued that Jesus Christ was a man in whom God dwelt, like in a temple. Therefore, he called Jesus Christ the God-bearer and not the God-man, but the Blessed Virgin Mary the Mother of God, and not the Mother of God. This council rejected the teachings of Nestorius.

Commemoration of the 3rd Ecumenical Council is celebrated on September 9/22.

Fourth Ecumenical Council. The Fourth Ecumenical Council took place in Chalcedon in 451 AD and was assembled against Eutyches and Dioscorus of the Monophysites. The Monophysites asserted that in the Lord Jesus Christ there is only divine nature. The Council confirmed that the Lord Jesus Christ is true God and true man. In addition, the council drew up 30 church rules and worked out the rights and indicated the districts of the five leading bishops (patriarchs).

Commemoration of the 4th Ecumenical Council is celebrated on July 16/29(see section Bibliography: Seven Ecumenical Councils).

Fifth Ecumenical Council. The Fifth Ecumenical Council was held in Constantinople in 553 and was assembled against three teachers of the Syrian Church. These three teachers wrote heretical compositions. The council condemned one of them as a heretic, and the other two only their writings, which were heretical.

Commemoration of the 5th Ecumenical Council is celebrated on June 25 / July 8(see section Bibliography: Seven Ecumenical Councils).

Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Sixth Ecumenical Council was held in Constantinople in the 680th year and was assembled against the Monothelites. The Monothelites argued that the Lord Jesus Christ has two natures, but one action and one will. At this council, the teaching of the Monothelites was condemned and it was determined to recognize in Jesus Christ two natures - the Divine and the human, and according to these two natures there are two wills.

The Fifth-Sixth (Trul) Ecumenical Council. The Fifth-Sixth (Trul) Ecumenical Council took place eleven years later. The Council supplemented the Fifth and Sixth Ecumenical Councils and therefore is called the Fifth-Sixth. The council adopted eighty-five apostolic canons, rules of six Ecumenical and seven Local Councils, and some of the holy fathers as its leadership for the Church. Then the rules of the Seventh Ecumenical Council and two more local ones were added to these rules. These rules lie at the basis of church government and are in the book which is called "Kormchaya" in Russian and "Nomokanon" in Greek.

As mentioned above, the Memory of the Holy 6 Ecumenical Councils is celebrated on Sunday 16/29 October: or on the next Sunday.

Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Seventh Ecumenical Council was held at Nicea in 787 and was assembled against the Iconoclasts. This was the last Ecumenical Council. Iconoclastic heresy appeared 60 years before the cathedral, under the emperor Leo the Isaurian. Since he wanted to attract the Mohammedans - who did not have icons - to Christianity, he gradually began to persecute icons and icon-worshipers. At this council, the iconoclastic heresy was rejected.

Commemoration of the Saints The Father of the 7th Ecumenical Council is celebrated on Sunday 11/24 October or the next Sunday.

After the Seventh Ecumenical Council, iconoclasm reappeared and for about 25 years still worried the church. The veneration of icons was finally established and approved at the Local Council of Constantinople in 842. At this Council, in honor of this statement, the feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy was established.

The Feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy is celebrated on the first Sunday of Great Lent.

Questions.(1) What is an Ecumenical Council? (2) Why were the Ecumenical Councils convened? (3) By what example were the Ecumenical Councils convened? (4) How many Ecumenical Councils were there? (5) What was worked out at the First and Second Ecumenical Councils? (6) What was decided at the Seventh? (7) What else was worked out at all the Ecumenical Councils?

4.3 Separated Eastern Churches (25.1)

Some Eastern churches, due to various difficult circumstances, during the Ecumenical Councils, separated from the union with the Orthodox Church.

Armenian Grigorian Church. In the middle of the 5th century, the Armenians suffered disasters from the Persians, and the Catholicos (the leading bishop) himself was tortured in captivity, in 451. Because of this, they could not be at the 4th Ecumenical Council. (At this council, the heresy of the Monophysites was rejected, who argued that in Jesus Christ there is only a divine nature).

In addition, false rumors began to reach the Armenians that the heretic Nestorius was acquitted at this council. (Nestorius claimed that Jesus Christ was a man in which God dwelt, as in a temple. This heresy was rejected by the 3rd Ecumenical Council).

Perplexity over time intensified and finally, at the end of the 5th century, at one Armenian council (491), the definitions of only the first three Ecumenical Councils were recognized as mandatory and intentionally silent about the 4th. And in the 8th century (726), the Armenian bishops had already directly rejected the 4th Ecumenical Council.

The Armenian Grigoryan Church is of one mind with the Orthodox Church in the main dogmas of faith, but it has some differences, among which are the following:
1. To the trisagion song, which they refer only to Jesus Christ, the words "crucify us" are added,
2. For the sacrament of Communion, unleavened bread is used instead of leavened bread, and wine not combined with water,
3. In Confirmation, the so-called sesame oil is used and
4. The Feast of the Nativity of Christ takes place on January 6, on the same day as the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord.

Society of Nestorians. The members of the Nestorian society are also called Chaldean Christians. They live in the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates and partly in Syria. At first, when they fell away from the Church, they were distinguished by learning, but then their enlightenment began to decline. They borrowed from the Jews: the rituals of purification after touching the dead, the celebration of Sunday, just as the Jews celebrate the Sabbath. Nestorians have no icons.

Jacobites. Jacobites live in Syria, Mesopotamia and other countries of the East. They adhere to the Monophysite heresy. (The Monophysites claim that in Jesus Christ there is only a divine nature. This heresy was rejected by the 4th Ecumenical Council). The Jacobites got their name from Jacob Baradeus in the 6th century. At the head of this society is the patriarch, who is also called Antioch. He always bears the name Ignatius, as the successor of Saint Ignatius the God-bearer. In worship and in church rituals, they are closer to Orthodoxy than the Nestorians.

Coptic church community. Copts are the indigenous people of Egypt. They adhere to the Monophysite heresy. In the 7th century, out of hatred for the Greek emperors who patronized Orthodoxy, the Copts changed. By this they contributed to the rapid conquest of Egypt by the Mohammedans.

Abyssinian church community. The Abyssinians, like the Copts, adhere to the Monophysite heresy and in their customs have many similarities with them. But they, even more than the Copts, departed from Orthodoxy. Abyssinians follow Jewish food laws and celebrate Saturday as well as Sunday. During the service they perform sacred dances.

The Maronites. The Maronites live on the slopes and valleys of the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountains. It is the only sect in the east that is based on Monothelite delusions. (The Monofelt claim that Jesus Christ has two natures, but one action and one will. This heresy was rejected by the 6th Ecumenical Council). The Maronites have kept worship in their own language, receive communion under both forms, and have married priests.

Questions.(1) What is the Armenian-Gregorian Church? (2) What is the Nestorian Society? (3) Who are the Jacobites? (4) What is the Coptic Church Community? (5) What is the Abyssinian Church Community? (6) Who are the Maronites?

THE HOLY FATHERS, APOLOGETES, MONASTERY AND CHURCH GOVERNMENT

5.1 Holy Fathers and teachers of the Church (26)

From apostolic times to the present time, there is an unbroken line of holy fathers and teachers of the Church. Church Fathers are those Church writers who are glorified for the holiness of life. Church writers who are not recognized as saints are called teachers of the Church. All of them were distinguished by their learning, intelligence and piety.

The fathers and teachers of the Church in their creations preserved the apostolic traditions and explained faith and piety. In difficult times, they defended Christianity against heretics and false teachers. In their lives, they were role models. Our Christian faith is the Apostolic faith, as stated in the Creed, since it was received from the apostles themselves. But besides, our faith is also Fatherly, as it is interpreted and explained by the Holy Fathers. They are also the lawful grace-filled successors of the Holy Apostles.

St. Athanasius the Great (297-373). He was the first and great fighter against Arianism, participated in the First Ecumenical Council and was the Archbishop of Alexandria. During his almost half a century of ministry, St. Athanasius was expelled from Alexandria five times, spent about twenty years in exile and imprisonment. Until the last minute of his life he fought against heretics and worked for the establishment of peace and like-mindedness in the Church. Despite all his labors and exploits, he wrote many works in which he defended and explained Christianity.

Memory of St. Athanasius the Great, Archbishop of Alexandria. celebrated on January 18/31.

St. Basil the Great (329-379). St. Basil the Great was the archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia. He wrote a lot on various subjects of faith and morality, wrote the rite of the Apostolic Liturgy, known under his name, and composed many prayers. He defended the Church from the Arians and arranged many shelters for the sick and the poor. His work "Conversations for a Six-Day Day" is especially famous.

Memory of St. Basil the Great is celebrated on January 1/14, as well as together with other saints: Cathedral of three saints: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, January 30 / February 11.

St. Gregory the Theologian (326-389). He was a bishop, defended the Church from the Arians, participated in the Second Ecumenical Council, led a holy lifestyle and wrote many works on Christianity. For his creations, St. Gregory received the title of theologian and ecumenical teacher.

The memory of saint. Gregory the Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople, is celebrated on January 25 / February 7, and also, as mentioned above, together with other saints: Cathedral of three saints: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, January 30 / February 11.

St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Mir-Lycia (+343). He took part in the First Ecumenical Council, fought against Arianism, was distinguished by meekness, humility and gentleness, he loved to give alms in secret. The relics of St. Nicholas were transferred to Italy, to the city of Bari, where they are now.

The memory of St. Nicholas, Archbishop Mir of Lycia, the miracle worker, is celebrated on December 6/19, as well as on the day of the transfer of his relics to Bari on May 9/22.

St. John Chrysostom (347-407). He was the Archbishop of Constantinople. One of the most famous writers and preachers of the Christian faith. He wrote up to 800 interpretations and conversations. He wrote many interpretations on various books from the Holy Scriptures. It is considered the best interpreter of the Holy Scriptures. St. John wrote the rite of the Liturgy, which is served today with us. Died in exile and his last words were "Thank God for everything".

The memory of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, is celebrated on the day of the transfer of his relics, January 27 / February 9, as well as, as mentioned above, together with other saints: Cathedral of three saints: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, January 30/11 February.

Blessed Augustine(+340 g). He was the Bishop of Ippon. In his youth he sinned, but then he corrected himself. Greatest preacher and church writer. He fought against heretics. His famous works "On the City of God" and "Confession". In the first work, he proves the superiority of Christianity over paganism. The second book is his autobiography, in which he humbly and frankly writes about his sins, right up to his conversion to Christianity.

Blessed Augustine is considered a Teacher of the Church, but not a saint. (The Roman Church considers him a saint.)

St. John Damascene (+ c. 780). He was a minister at the Caliph of Damascus, and then retired to a monastery. He defended the Church from iconoclasts, was a church writer, known as a theologian and hymnist. He compiled canons for Holy Easter, Christmas and other great holidays. He wrote the first systematic exposition of the Orthodox faith.

Questions(1) Who are the Holy Fathers? (2) Who are the teachers of the Church? (3) Who was St. Athanasius the Great and how did he distinguish himself? (4) Who was St. Basil the Great and how did he distinguish himself? (5) Who was St. Gregory the Theologian and how did he distinguish himself? (6) Who was St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and how did he distinguish himself? (7) Who was St. John Chrysostom and how did he distinguish himself? (8) Who was Blessed Augustine and how did he distinguish himself? (9) Who was John of Damascus, and how did he distinguish himself?

5.2 Apologists(21a)

The persecution of Christians contributed to the appearance in the church of apologists, that is, defenders of the Christian faith. Apologists wrote works of apology, in which they defended the faith from all attacks. The most famous of the apologists are as follows:

In particular, Origen was famous for his extraordinary talents and colossal works. At the age of eighteen, he was already the head of the Alexandrian school and the head of the struggle that this school waged with the learned representatives of paganism. He is credited with up to 6,000 compositions and was given the name "adamant" that is diamond. His writings on the explanation of Scripture are especially respected. Origen's fame is a little overshadowed by the fact that he allowed some extremes in his works.

Questions.(1) Who are the apologists? (2) Why did they appear? (3) Name a few apologists. (4) Who was the most famous apologist? (5) Is everything he wrote accepted by the Church?

5.3 Monasticism (27)

The origin of monasticism. From the very beginning of the Christian Church, many of the believers strove to achieve the highest spiritual and moral perfection. Some voluntarily renounced property and distributed it to the poor, others, imitating the Ever-Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist, the Apostles Paul, John and James, took a vow of virginity, spent time in unceasing prayer, fasting and abstinence. Such ascetics were called ascetics.

Christian ascetics believed that it was easier for them to fulfill their vows away from the world. Therefore, they leave cities and villages and live in the mountains and deserts. They were called anchorites (hermit in Greek), and eremites (hermit in Greek).

During the persecution of Christians, Christians had to flee and hide in every possible way. This certainly contributed to monasticism. When the persecution ended, many pagans began to convert to Christianity, without much faith. The purity of the Christian life began to weaken and this also contributed to monasticism, since in order to achieve the Christian life, believers began to go to monasteries.

St. Anthony the Great. First, monasticism appeared in the east, in Egypt. Anthony the Great is considered the father of monasticism. Anthony was born around the year 250 of noble and wealthy parents who raised him in piety,

At first Saint Anthony himself retired in the wilderness. After twenty years, students gradually appeared. Calm, restrained, equally affable to everyone, the old man soon became the mentor of many. St. Anthony died at a ripe old age (106 years old, in 356) and for his services received the title of the Great.

Hermits. The Monk Anthony founded hermit monasticism. Several hermits, under the guidance of one mentor (abbas - father, in Hebrew), lived separately from each other in huts and caves (sketes). There they prayed, fasted and did some kind of work and helped the poor. Several sketes, under the leadership of one abba, were called lavroe.

Sociable monasticism. During the lifetime of Anthony the Great, another kind of monasticism appeared: cenobitic monasticism. The founder of this family is considered to be the Monk Pachomius the Great. Monks gathered in one community, worked for the common good and obeyed the same rules. Such communities were called cinemas or monasteries. The Abbas of these communities were called archimandrites.

The meaning of monasticism. Despite the fact that monks withdrew from the world to achieve moral and spiritual perfection, monasticism had a great beneficial effect on the entire society. Already one look at the life of monks, lets people know where their true homeland is. The fame of the life and deeds of the holy ascetics attracted many people who sought guidance and consolation. Visitors not only learned their piety themselves, but also told others about them and recorded their deeds (life) and words. The collections of the acts and sayings of the holy ascetics became a textbook and moral guide for all Christians.

Monasteries helped the spiritual and moral good of their neighbors. They were the center and example of piety, spiritual enlightenment, education and were the center of pure and intact faith. But the main merit of monks for society is constant prayer for the Church, the fatherland, the living and the dead.

Monasteries also helped the bodily well-being of their neighbors. The monks themselves got their food and shared with the poor. At the monasteries there were strangers (hotels for pilgrims), where the monks received and nourished the pilgrims. Alms were sent from the monasteries to the poor and prisoners in dungeons.

Helping the spiritual, moral and physical well-being of believers, monasticism helped spread the faith of Christ and the final fall of paganism. The high life of the monks amazed the pagans and for them was proof of holiness. Christian religion.

Seeing the high piety of the monks, the archpastors began to elevate the priesthood to them. Later, the custom arose to build the highest degree of episcopacy only on monks.

Questions.(1) Why did believers start going to monasteries? (2) Whom do monks imitate? (3) Who is considered the founder of monasticism? (4) What kind of monasticism did he establish? (5) What is laurel? (6) What other kind of monasticism is there? (7) Who founded this family? (8) How did the monasteries act on other believers?

5.4 Church administration (28)

The Christian Orthodox Church consists of a group of Orthodox churches that are independent from each other. All these churches are equal, but administratively not related to each other. There is no central government in the Orthodox Church, but all churches recognize each other and have a common teaching.

When it was necessary to have a decision for the entire Orthodox Church (that is, all Orthodox churches), then ecumenical councils were convened, which were attended by representatives of all Orthodox churches. This "catholicity" is one of the most basic qualities of the Church. The Creed is also spoken of in the Creed: "I believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church." (In English it is translated as "I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church").

The ecclesiastical hierarchy (hierarchy) in the Church was established by Jesus Christ himself. He chose twelve apostles and gave them the authority to teach the people, administer the ordinances, and govern the Church. For all this, He sent down the Holy Spirit on the apostles, who gave them special gifts for their preaching and other labors.

In the course of time, the apostles, according to the will of God and the needs of the Church, ordained first deacons, then elders, and finally bishops. The deacons distributed offerings and helped the elders and bishops in the divine services. The elders taught and performed the services. The bishops taught, worshiped, and directed the Church.

Already in the apostolic age, the power of the metropolitans or regional bishops, that is, the first of the bishops, began to rise. The bishops were subordinate to the metropolitans, and the metropolitans made all important decisions together with the rest of the bishops. Local councils were called for such meetings. Later, the leading bishops began to be called archbishops, and then patriarchs. The patriarchs were at the head of the local Church.

From the very beginning, the external structure of the Church corresponded to the external structure of the state, and in this case, the Roman Empire. In the main centers of the state, centers of church government began to form. Then these centers began to be called patriarchates, since the patriarch was in them; that is, the head of the local Church. Thus, five ancient patriarchies or churches were formed:

The first church to be founded was the Jerusalem Church, and the last one was Constantinople. Antioch is now called Syria, and Constantinople is now Istanbul in Turkey.

Each church was headed by a patriarch, and in the Roman Church, the patriarch was called a pope. In ancient times, all bishops were called popes as “pope” in Greek is father. All churches had equal rights. (The Roman Church believes that the power over all churches belonged to the Pope.)

Later, new patriarchies were formed, that is, Orthodox churches:

Due to different and complex historical circumstances, there are now several independent Orthodox churches, but without a patriarch:

Over time, various local historical events took place, according to which the regions of the patriarchs either decreased or increased. Great events took place in the world, such as the invasion of Europe by new peoples, the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the emergence and rapid spread of Mohammedanism. All this changed the position of many countries and peoples and was reflected in different ways on the organization of local churches.

Popes' area spread from Western Europe to Africa. The area of the Patriarchs of Constantinople was also large, but they were in every possible way constrained by the emperors of Constantinople. The areas of the Jerusalem, Alexandria and Antioch patriarchs were very small and were ruled by hostile Mohammedans.

Questions.(1) Who is the head of the entire Orthodox Church? (2) How many ancient churches were there? (3) What persons make up the church hierarchy? (4) Who is at the head of each Orthodox Church? (5) What do the Churches do when an important issue needs to be resolved? (6) What other Orthodox churches exist? (7) Do they all have patriarchs at their head? (8) Over the course of time, what happened to the different churches?

WESTERN CHURCH

6.1 Popes' aspiration for primacy (29)

Popes' striving for primacy in the Church can be seen from the very beginning of Christianity. The reason for this was the glory of Rome and the Roman Empire, and with it the spread of the Roman Church.

When the capital of the Roman Empire was moved to Constantinople, this further exaggerated the importance of the pope. He became the first person in Rome. To strengthen the ecclesiastical significance of the Roman Church, the popes began to teach that the Lord Jesus Christ allegedly appointed the Apostle Peter to be the head of the apostles and the prince of the Church. This headship, after the death of the Apostle Peter, passed to the Pope.

Popes have always used every opportunity to exalt their importance and show their authority in the Church. Such cases were presented when difficulties arose in the Eastern churches and when they, fraternally, turned to the Pope for advice and help.

On the other hand, the emperors of Constantinople tried in every possible way to elevate the importance of their closest patriarch. For example, they gave him the name "Ecumenical Patriarch".

Over the centuries, with the constant striving of the popes to be the head of the Church, a number of errors have appeared in the Roman Church. For instance:
1. Introduced celibacy for the priesthood.
2. Allowed to consume milk and eggs during fasting.
3. Established fast on Saturday.
4. Changed the 8th member of the Creed.

The lust for power of the popes and the deviations from Orthodoxy in the Roman Church were the reasons for the separation of the Roman Church from the Orthodox Church.

Questions.(1) Who is the head of the entire Church? (2) How many ancient Christian churches were there? (3) Who led each church? (4) When did the popes' aspirations for primacy begin? (5) What was the reason for these aspirations? (6) What did the popes preach to justify their aspirations? (7) What occasions did the popes use to exalt themselves? (8) What errors have appeared in the Roman Church?

6.2 Separation of the Western Church (30)

At the beginning of the 9th century, a gradual separation of the Western Church (Roman Church) from the Orthodox Church began. The final break occurred in 1054.

Three separate circumstances contributed to the separation of the Roman Church.

In the 9th century, Patriarch Ignatius was removed from the patriarchal throne in Constantinople. Great unrest and controversy began, and because of this, a local council was convened (861) at which Photius was confirmed. The Pope did not agree with this and thus placed his authority above the conciliar decision.
At the same time, there were disputes between the Roman and Constantinople See over the Bulgarian Church. Despite the fact that the Bulgarians were converted to the Christian faith by Greek preachers, the popes made demands of the Bulgarian Church to submit to their authority. To discuss the matter, a council was convened (867), which rejected the papal demands and condemned the apostasy of the Roman Church.
The final separation of the Roman Church took place at the beginning of the 11th century. Between Pope Leo the 9th and Patriarch Michael Kerullarius of Constantinople, there were disputes about an innovation in the Roman Church, that is, the use of unleavened bread, instead of leavened bread, in proskomedia. Disputes began. The pope's envoys (legates), hoping for success in the disputes, wrote an act of excommunication for the patriarch and for the entire Eastern Church, and during the divine service they placed the Sophia Church on the throne (1054). The Patriarch convened a council in Constantinople, at which the legates were excommunicated from the Church. Since then, all the Eastern churches have stopped commemorating the Pope during the divine service.

The Roman Church expounds all these events in a different way. Since she believes that the Pope is the head of the entire Church, it turns out that the Eastern churches have separated from the Western. It's written in their textbooks and it's taught in schools. The Eastern churches are called “eastern schismatics” and very little is said about them. This opinion is found in almost all Catholic, Protestant and secular sources. Thus, a Western person, even one who has received a higher education, in most cases does not know the truth about the Orthodox Church.

Apostasy of the Roman Church. The Roman Church has been outside the union with the Orthodox Church for almost 1000 years. During this time, she largely retreated from Orthodox teaching... All these deviations can be divided into several groups: deviations in the dogmas of faith, in rituals, in church administration, and deviations in customs.

Deviation from the tenets of faith:(1) Changed the 8th term of the Creed. (2) Teaching about the headship of the pope. (3) The doctrine of indulgences and supererogatory deeds. (4) The doctrine of purgatory. (5) Teaching about the non-participation of the Mother of God in original sin. (6) Teaching about the infallibility of the pope in works of faith.
Ritual digressions:(1) Baptism by pouring instead of immersion. (2) Confirmation is performed only by bishops and over age ones. (3) In communion at proskomidia, unleavened bread is used instead of leavened bread. (4) Communion to the laity under one type of bread. (5) Fasting on Saturday. (6) Permission for milk and eggs on fast days.
Deviation in Church Administration:(1) Celibacy for the priesthood. (2) Institution of the dignity of cardinals. (3) Prohibiting lay people from reading the Bible.
Deviations from custom:(1) Use of organs in worship. (2) Seating in the church. (3) Open altars. (4) Simultaneous celebration of masses (lunches) on different thrones. (5) Worship in Latin only. (6) Calls during worship. Some of these deviations seem insignificant at first glance, but all complications are hidden behind them. All of them, and many other deviations, led to the development of pride, lust for power, the usurpation of power by the popes, the Inquisition, the Reformation and, ultimately, a departure from the true Christian spirit, not only in the Church, but in the whole society.
Questions(1) When did the separation of the Roman Church begin, and when did it become final? (2) What three circumstances contributed to the final rift between the Roman and Eastern churches? (3) How did the final separation come about? (4) How is this incident viewed in the West and why? (5) How many years has the Roman Church been out of alliance with the rest of the Orthodox Churches? (6) What happened in the Roman Church during this time? (7) What deviations have occurred in the doctrines of faith? (8) What were the deviations in the rituals? (9) What deviations have occurred in church government? (10) What deviations in custom have occurred?
6.3 Origin of the Reformation (31)
From the middle of the 11th century, after the Roman Church separated from the Orthodox East, papal authority rose more and more. At the end of the 11th century, the Crusades began. They were undertaken with the aim of freeing the holy places and Eastern Christians from the Muslim rule. But, the power-hungry popes, also directed them to the exaltation of their power.

With the enlightenment in the West, it became clearer the retreat of the popes and the Western Church from the Christian spirit. The popes, to pacify their opponents, began to resort to cruel measures (inquisition). But this annoyed the disaffected even more. Finally, courageous opponents of the papal authority began to appear.

In the middle of the 15th century, a movement began in the west towards the study of the classical languages and literature of the ancient peoples. At the same time, they were forbidden to read the Bible. This led to the fact that Western Christians could not distinguish the behavior of popes from the eternal truths of the Christian faith that the Church kept. As a result, their irritation and discontent with the popes was carried over to the whole Church. Unbelief began to spread in literature and society.

In the 16th century, several individuals, in different places, made attempts to reform the Western Church. These were Luther in Germany and Zwingliy and Calvin in Switzerland (Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin). These were people with good intentions who wanted to save faith from spreading unbelief. But they took on an impossible task. Moreover, for all their theological scholarship, Western reformers knew very little about the Orthodox Church in the east. In this church they could see the pattern of the true apostolic Church. Because of this, the attempts of the reformers suffered from contradictions and inconsistencies. At first, they were free-minded, and in the end they themselves began to use cruel measures.

Ultimately, the reformers seized a significant portion of the Western Church (90 million) from the popes. These Christians not only did not return to Orthodoxy, but on the contrary, they moved further away from it.

Questions.(1) What happened to the power of the popes after the western church separated from the east? (2) What caused the discontent in the Roman Church? (3) What started to happen in the 16th century? (4) What were the names of the refomators and where did they appear? (5) What were the qualities of the reformers? (6) What did the reformers lack? (7) How many people left the Western Church for the reformers?
6.4 Lutherans or Protestants (32)
During the time of Pope Leo the 10th, the sale of indulgences was announced. The German monk Martin Luther rebelled against this, and he began to preach against such blasphemy and issued 95 statutes against the abuse of the papacy (1520). Thanks to favorable conditions, the Lutheran faith began to spread rapidly.

The Lutheran confession kept some of the deviations from Orthodoxy, which the Roman Church allowed. Such as:
1. Change of the 8th member of the Creed.
2. Baptism by pouring instead of immersion.
3. In communion at proskomidia, unleavened bread is used instead of leavened bread.
4. Use of organs in worship.
5. Seating in the church.
6. Open altars.
In addition to these deviations, the Lutheran faith has introduced many new deviations. The main tenets of Lutheranism are revered: 1. The doctrine of justification by faith alone, without good deeds. 2. Teaching about the only source of faith - Holy Scripture, with the idea to explain to each believer according to his own mind. In other words, Luther rejected Sacred Tradition.
Luther rejected the following:
1. Necessity established by the Lord through grace: the Church, hierarchy, sacraments, as well as prayers to the saints, veneration of icons and relics.
2. Church customs that were established for the exercise of a person in virtue: fasting, monasticism, holidays, except for the Lord, travel to holy places, etc.
By rejecting Holy Tradition, Lutheranism undermines the authority of Holy Scripture itself. According to Lutherans, everyone can not only interpret the holy books, but can also reject those books in which he sees a contradiction to any of his preconceived opinions.
Rejecting the sacred hierarchy and the very sacrament of the Priesthood, the Lutherans severed their ties with the apostolic Church and became a community of laity, not a Church. A Lutheran pastor is simply a layman chosen by the community to preach.

In many places, Luther stopped his reform on the floor of the road. For instance:
1. The sacrament of Baptism and Communion is kept. But since the ordinance of the Priesthood is rejected, then these ordinances are also deprived of their power.
2. The sacrament of Communion rejects the transubstantiation of the Holy Gifts and learns that in bread, with bread and under bread, the believer receives the true body of Christ.
3. Prayers to the saints are rejected, but churches are still dedicated to them.
4. The veneration of icons is prohibited, but Lutheran churches are adorned with sacred images.
Questions.(1) What did Luther rebel against? (2) Who was Luther and what did he do? (3) What did the Lutherans detain from the Roman Church? (4) What are the main tenets in the Lutheran religion? (5) What does the doctrine of justification by faith alone, without good works, mean? (6) What does the teaching about the only source of faith - the Holy Scriptures - mean? (7) What did Luther reject, what was established by the Lord through grace? (8) What church practices did Luther reject? (9) What are the consequences of choosing to allow every layperson to interpret scripture in his own way? (10) What are the consequences of rejecting the church hierarchy? (11) Where did the reform stop halfway through? 6.5 Reformers or Calvinists (33)
Zwinglius. Almost at the same time with Luther (1519), and also regarding the sale of indulgences, he acted as a reformer of the Church, a cathedral preacher in Switzerland, in the city of Zurich, named Zwingli (Ulrich Zwingli). In Switzerland, the reform process went even faster than in Germany and immediately assumed large proportions.

Zwinglius not only accepted everything that was rejected by Luther in the Catholic Church, but went beyond it. He taught that the sacraments are only signs with which a person shows his faith to the Church. The Eucharist is only a symbolic remembrance of the suffering of Jesus Christ and a sign of fellowship among believers.

The community of followers of Zwingliya separated from the Lutherans and united with the followers of Calvin.

Calvin. Calvin was born in France and there he first began his reformist activity, then continued it in Switzerland, in Geneva.

In the doctrine of justification, Calvin went further than Luther. He taught that since a person is justified only by faith, and faith is a gift of God, then the believer is already God's chosen one, predetermined to the kingdom of heaven. Foreseeing the fall of man, God has already decided which of the people will be saved.

Reformed worship is the very opposite of worship in the Catholic Church. The Catholic churches are rich in rituals, and the temples of the reformers are just prayer halls without any images or decorations. An ordinary table is set for communion.

Questions.(1) What did Zwinglius rebel against? (2) Who was Zwinglius and what did he do? (3) What did Zwinglius teach? (4) What happened to the followers of Zwinglius? (5) Who was Calvin, and what did he do? (6) What did Calvin teach? (7) What is Reformed worship?
6.6 Anglicans or Episcopals (34)
At the time when the Reformation began, Henry the 8th (1509-1547) reigned in England. First (1522) he opposed Luther as a defender of the faith.

Ten years later, Henry broke off his alliance with the pope for not allowing him to divorce his wife Catherine and marry the queen's maid of honor, Anne Boleyn. A year later, in 1533, by order of the king, the English parliament passed a law on the independence of England from the pope in church affairs. In 1534 Henry proclaims himself the head of the English church. The marriage to his wife was dissolved by parliament and the king marries Anna. Priest Thomas Cranmer, who advised him to do this, he elevated to the rank of Archbishop of Canterbury (the highest spiritual office in England).

The Anglican faith is essentially Reformed. In some points it approaches the Lutheran (in the disciple of the Eucharist). It kept the episcopal system and some liturgical rites from Catholicism. But Anglican bishops do not have grace, since they do not have apostolic succession. They are also married.

Due to the ambiguity of doctrine, divisions appeared in the Anlican church. Over time, three parties emerged: the high church (closer to Catholicism), the low church (closer to the Reformed) and the broad church, which aims to reconcile the two parties named above.

Puritans or Presbyterians. Puritans (purus - pure) separated from the Anglicans, who wanted to be pure reformers without an admixture of Catholicism. Since they rebelled against the episcopal system and gave the leadership of their society to the elders, they are also called Presbyterians.

Questions.(1) How did the Anglican faith begin? (2) Who is the head of the Church of England? (3) What is the highest spiritual office in the Church of England? (4) What is the essence of the Anglican faith? (5) How do Anglican bishops differ from Orthodox Christians? (6) How is the Church of England divided? (7) Who are the Puritans or Presbyterians?
6.7 Christian societies and sects (34.1)
By rejecting Western Christians from the Roman Church, the Reformation did not satisfy their religious needs. Therefore, immediately after the beginning of Protestantism, many sects emerge from its midst. They all express dissatisfaction with the reform and try to fix it. Far from the Orthodox Church and not knowing it, they fall into more and more new contradictions and are divided into more and more new groups. One part of these sects tries to please the requirements of reason, and the other the requirements of religious feelings.

Anabaptists (also Mennonites) or re-baptized. Anabaptists (also Mennonites) or re-baptized children deny the baptism of children and believe that it is necessary to be baptized in adulthood. They consider themselves the only church of the chosen holy people. They are prohibited from entering the military or civilian service and from taking an oath.

Quakers. During the struggle between Catholics and Reforms, the founder of the Quaker sect, George Fox, decided that there is no truth in any faith and that a person must draw the truth in his heart, through the direct revelation of the Holy Spirit. William Penn organized and distributed it. From him the state of Pennsylvania got its name, since Penn's followers, due to religious persecution, left England for the United States.

Therefore, Quakers have no churches, and simple halls and no pastors. At prayer meeting, they sit on benches and read the Bible and wait for inspiration to be found on someone. If someone finds inspiration, then he begins to either pray or preach, and if not, then after a certain time they diverge.

Questions.(1) Who are the Anabaptists? (2) What are the other names of the Anabaptists? (3) Who are Quakers? (4) Who founded the Quaker sect and who spread it? (5) How are Quaker prayer meetings held, and where?
6.8 Old Catholics (35)
At the Vatican Council, convened by Pope Pius the 9th in Rome in 1870, the dogma of the Pope's infallibility in matters of faith was proclaimed. This new dogma confused many Catholics. In 1871, a congress of dissatisfied with this dogma was held in Munich. The formation of independent communities was started on the basis of the ancient Catholic Church, as it was before the separation from the Orthodox Church.

There were attempts to unite the Old Catholic community with the Orthodox Church, but their teaching has not yet been sufficiently clarified.

Question. Who are the Old Catholics?

Notes (edit)
1. In the Catholic Church, worship takes place in Latin, which is incomprehensible to believers. Therefore, the preaching about Christian love, modesty and philanthropy does not reach the believers. All this contributes to pride and many other vices emanating from it.

2. Protestants do not have confession, saints, communion, holy fathers, icons, beauty, joy in the church.

3. Protestants consider themselves saints, saved, so pride is almost normal.

4. Father Archpriest Peter Smirnov wrote this book over 100 years ago. Since that time, the deviations of the Western Church from the Orthodox teaching have gradually eroded not only the Church itself, but also the entire Western society and lead them into a moral, cultural and economic dead end.

BENEFICIAL INFLUENCE OF CHRISTIANITY

Christianity has had a beneficial effect on the entire world. The pagan world - where power, wealth, pride, cruelty, moral licentiousness prevailed - was gradually reborn under the influence of Christianity. The main values were kindness, love, mercy, modesty, forgiveness, purity of morals. Christianity influenced the whole life of a person, all branches of his complex life and washed everything and everyone. Christian rules and norms for life have become the basis of the laws of all civilized countries. Christian teaching has become the cradle of a new purified Christian culture. Recently, in many countries there has been a gradual departure from Christian principles and values in life.
Content: Foreword; (1) Paganism; (2) Christianity;

An Overview of the History of the Christian Church. He gives an idea of the main moments in the history of Christianity. By reading this overview, you can understand the main events of Christianity. Why did the separation of the churches take place?

Introduction

Orthodox Church(Orthodoxae Ecclesiae Latin.) This is the original and authentic New Testament Church which was founded by Jesus Christ and His apostles. This is described in the "Acts of the Holy Apostles" (in the Holy Scriptures - the Bible). The Orthodox Church consists of national Churches (currently about 12) headed by local patriarchs. All of them are administratively independent from each other and equal to each other. At the head of the Orthodox Church is Jesus Christ Himself, and in the Orthodox Church itself there is no government or any general administrative body.

The Orthodox Church exists without interruption, from its beginning to this day. Since 787, that is, after the 7th Ecumenical Council, there have been no changes in her teaching. In 1054 the Roman Church separated from the Orthodox. Beginning in 1517 (the beginning of the Reformation), many Protestant Churches were founded. After 1054, the Roman Church introduced many changes in the teachings of the Church, and the Protestant Churches even more.

Over the centuries, heterodox (Christian but not Orthodox) churches have changed the original teaching of the Church. The history of the Church was also forgotten or deliberately changed. All this time, the teaching of the Orthodox Church has not changed and has been preserved in its original form until the present time. Someone who recently converted to Orthodoxy (converts) very well said that the existence of the Orthodox Church is one of the greatest secrets of our time - this is, of course, in the West. The teaching of the Orthodox Church can be characterized by its completeness, since it contains everything that is needed for the life and salvation of a person. It is fully consistent with nature and with all sciences: psychology, physiology, medicine, etc. In many cases, it turned out to be ahead of all sciences.

1. The beginning of the Church.

The history of the Christian Church begins with the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles (Acts 2: 1-4) (this day is considered a great holiday in the Orthodox Church). The Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and they became braver, bolder, more courageous and began to speak in languages that they had not spoken before. The apostles - mostly fishermen, without any education, began to very successfully preach the teachings of Jesus Christ in different places and cities.

2. Five ancient churches.

The consequence of the apostolic preaching was the emergence of Christian societies in different cities. Later these societies became Churches. Thus was founded five ancient churches:

(1) Jerusalem Church,

(2) Church of Antioch,

(3) Alexandria Church,

(4) Roman Church,

(5) Church of Constantinople.

The first ancient Church was the Jerusalem Church and the last Church of Constantinople. [The Church of Antioch is now also called the Syrian Church. The city of Constantinople, (now Stanbul) in Turkey].

At the head of the Orthodox Church is Jesus Christ Himself... Each ancient Orthodox Church was led by its own patriarch ( the patriarch of the Roman Church was called PAPO). Individual Churches are also called patriarchates. All churches were equal. ( The Roman Church believes that the Roman Church was the governing church and the Pope was at the head of all five churches.). The first of the ancient Churches to be founded was Jerusalem, and the last was Constantinople.

3. Persecution of Christians.

The first Christians were ancient Jews and experienced great persecution from Jewish leaders who did not follow Jesus Christ and did not recognize His teachings. The first Christian martyr, the holy first martyr Stephen, was stoned to death by the Jews for his Christian preaching.

After the fall of Jerusalem began, many times more terrible, persecution of Christians from the pagan Romans. The Romans were against Christians, since the Christian teaching was the complete opposite of the customs, mores and views of the pagans. Instead of selfishness, it preached love, replaced pride with humility, instead of luxury, taught abstinence and fasting, eradicated polygamy, promoted the emancipation of slaves, and instead of cruelty called for mercy and charity. Christianity morally uplifts and purifies a person and directs all his activities towards good. Christianity was prohibited, severely punished, Christians were tortured and then killed. It was like this until 313 when Emperor Constantine not only freed Christians, but also made Christianity a state faith.

Holy Equal to the Apostles Emperor Constantine

4. Saints in the Church.

The Saints these are those God-loving people who somehow distinguished themselves and Christians deeply respect them. Martyrs, these are the saints who for their faith were tortured to death. Holy martyrs depicted on icons holding a cross.

The names of the holy martyrs, as well as other saints, are recorded in Orthodox calendars. Orthodox Christians remember their saints, study their lives, take their names for themselves and their children, celebrate the days dedicated to them, are inspired by their examples and do their best to imitate them, and also pray to them that they pray to the Lord God for them. Orthodox Russian people celebrate "Angel Day" or "name day", and this is the day of the saint whose name they bear. Your birthday is not supposed to be celebrated or celebrated modestly with your family.

5. Holy Fathers and Teachers of the Church.

From apostolic times to the present time, there is an unbroken line of holy fathers and teachers of the Church. Fathers of the Church are church writers who were glorified for the holiness of life. Church writers who are not saints are called teachers of the Church. All of them in their creations preserved the apostolic tradition and explained faith and piety. In difficult times, they defended Christianity against heretics and false teachers. Here are some of the most famous names: St. Athanasius the Great(297-373), St. Basil the Great(329-379), St. Gregory the Theologian(326-389) and St. John Chrysostom(347-407).

6. Ecumenical Councils.

When it was necessary to resolve some controversial issue or develop some general approach, councils were convened in the Church. The first church cathedral was called by the apostles in 51 and is called By the Apostolic Council... Later, following the example of the Apostolic Council, Ecumenical Councils began to be convened. These councils were attended by many bishops and other representatives of all churches. At the councils, all churches were equal, and after debates and prayers, various issues were resolved. The decrees of these councils are recorded in the Book of Rules (Canons) and have become part of the teaching of the Church. In addition to the Ecumenical Councils, local councils were also held, the decisions of which were later approved by the Ecumenical Councils.

The 1st Ecumenical Council was held in the year 325 in the city of Nicaea... There were 318 bishops present, among them St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myr Lycia. In addition to them, there were many other participants in the cathedral - about 2000 people in total. The 2nd Ecumenical Council took place in 381 in Constantinople. It was attended by 150 bishops. The Creed, the shortest definition of the Christian faith, was approved at the 1st and 2nd Ecumenical Councils. It consists of 12 members, which precisely define the Christian faith and which could not be changed. Since that time, the Orthodox Church has been using the unchanged Creed... The Western Church (Roman and Protestant) still changed the 8th member of the original Creed.

The 7th Ecumenical Council was held in 787 year also in the city of Nicaea. It was attended by 150 fathers. The use of icons was approved at this council. The 7th Ecumenical Council was the last which was attended by all the Churches.

7. Holy Scripture (Bible).

The sacred books that are part of Holy Scripture have been used by Christians from the very beginning of the Church. They were finally approved by the Church in 51st year (85th Canon of the Apostolic Council), 360th year (60th Canon of the local Council of Laodicea), 419th year (33rd Canon of the local Council of Carthage), and also in the 680th year (2nd Canon of the 6th Ecumenical Council in Constantinople).

8. Apostolic succession.

Apostolic succession is a very important sign of the True Church. This means that Jesus Christ chose and blessed His apostles to continue His sermon, and the apostles blessed their disciples, who blessed the bishops and who blessed the priests and so on. Thus, the original blessing of Jesus Christ, which means the Holy Spirit and the affirmation, on every priest in the Church.

Apostolic succession exists in the Orthodox Church and in the Roman Church. The Protestant Churches have lost it. This is one of the many reasons why, in the eyes of the Orthodox Church, Protestant Churches are not Churches, but Christian societies.

9. The Roman Church separates, 1054.

From the very beginning of Christianity, a striving for primacy in the Church appeared in the Roman Church. The reason for this was the glory of Rome and the Roman Empire, and with it the spread of the Roman Church. In 1054 the Roman Church separated from other churches and became known as Roman Catholic Church ... (The Roman Church believes that the Orthodox Churches have separated from her and calls this incident the Eastern Schism). Although the name "Orthodox Church" was used before, the remaining churches, in order to emphasize their insistence on the original teaching, began to call themselves Orthodox Churches. Other names are also used as: Orthodox Christian, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox Catholic, etc. Usually the word "Catholic" is omitted.

10. Orthodox Church after 1054.

After 1054, the Orthodox Church did not introduce any new teachings or changes. New national Orthodox Churches were created by churches by mothers. Mother church, founded a new daughter church. Then, at first, she trained local priests, then bishops, and after that she gradually gave more and more independence, until complete independence and equality were given. An example of this creation of the Russian Church, the Church of Constantinople... The local language is always used in the Orthodox Churches.

11. Roman Church after 1054.

After 1054, the Roman Church introduced many new teachings and changes. Some of them are given below:

one). 14 so-called "Ecumenical Councils" were held. Other churches did not participate and therefore they do not recognize these councils. Each council introduced some kind of new teachings. The last cathedral was the 21st and it is known as Vatican II.

2). The doctrine of celibacy (celibacy) for the clergy.

3). Payment for sins, past and future (indulgences).

4). The Julian (old) calendar has been replaced by the Gregorian (new) calendar. Because of this, there have been changes in the calculation of the date of Easter, which is at odds with the decree of the 1st Ecumenical Council.

5). The 8th member of the Creed has been changed. (Starting from the XI century, the Roman Catholic Church confesses that the Holy Spirit “proceeds from the Father and the Son”: in the Nicene-Constantinople Creed, without even discussing the issue at the Ecumenical Council, one-sidedly, the Roman bishop introduced the addition “and from the Son”, thus by calling Jesus Christ only God, denying the human nature and torment of Jesus Christ as a person).

6.) Posts have been changed, shortened or eliminated.

7). The doctrine of the infallibility of the popes. (According to this dogma, when the pope defines a doctrine concerning faith or morality, then he has infallibility (infallibility) and is not capable of error, which means that he speaks the truth).

eight). Teaching about the innocence of the Mother of God to the original sin of Adam.

12. Protestant Churches.

Due to the many and obvious deviations of the Roman Church from Christian teachings, as well as due to the fact that the monk Martin Lutherdid not know about the existence of the Orthodox Church, he demanded changes in 1517. This fact was the beginning Reformation when many people began to leave the Roman Church for the new so-called Protestant Churches. It was a movement to improve the Church, but the result was even worse.

Since the Protestants were dissatisfied with the leadership of the Roman Church, then they almost erased 1,500 years of the Christian experience of the Church and left only the Holy Scriptures (the Bible)... Protestants do not recognize confession, icons, saints, fasting - everything that is needed for life, correction and salvation of a person. It turned out that they detained the Holy Scriptures, and the Orthodox Church, which developed and approved the Holy Scriptures not recognized.

Due to the fact that they did not recognize the Holy Fathers who largely explained the Christian faith, but only use the Bible, they created ambiguity in teaching and gradually many different sects (churches) arose. Now, in the whole world, about 25,000 different sects, who call themselves Christian! As mentioned above, in the Protestant Churches there is no apostolic succession. This is one of the many reasons why The Orthodox Church does not recognize them as churches, but only by Christian societies.

___________________________________________________________________________

Modern Orthodox Churches:

1. Jerusalem Church,

2. Church of Antioch,

3. Alexandrian Church,

4. Church of Constantinople,

5. Russian Church,

6. Serbian Church,

7. Romanian Church,

8. Bulgarian Church,

9. Albanian Church,

10. * Sinai Church,

11. * Greek Church,

12. * Church on the island of Cyprus * Without a patriarch since 2005

_____________________________________________________________________________

Ecumenical Councils and other dates:

0 year - Christmas

51 AD - Apostolic Council

313 - End of the persecution of Christians

325 AD - 1st Ecumenical Council of Nicea (about the Creed and Easter)

381 - 2nd Ecumenical Council of Constantinople (about the Creed)

431 - 3rd Ecumenical Council of Ephesus

451 - 4th Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon

553 - 5th Ecumenical Council of Constantinople

680 - 6th Ecumenical Council of Constantinople

787 - 7th Ecumenical Council of Nicea (about Icons)

988 - Baptism of Rus

1054 - separation of the Roman Church

1517 Reformation, Luther separated from the Roman Church.

Baptism of Rus by Prince Vladimir in 988 in the city of Kiev.

P.S. I hope this article has helped to understand the main differences between the Orthodox Church of true Christianity and other churches.

Christianity developed mainly within the Greco-Roman world, where there was a long and very significant historical tradition. Christian writers joined this tradition, and Christian church history began to be processed early enough. Historical writings already existed in the first centuries, and then, in the first half of the 4th century, the church historian Eusebius of Caesarea appeared, who is revered as the father of Church history. Almost all centuries of Church history have found their contemporary writers and are fairly well documented.

The history of the Church begins on the day of Pentecost, i.e. The Church begins her existence in the fullness of the gifts of the Holy Spirit on the day of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. In that wonderful gift of tongues that the apostles and other followers of Christ received, one can see the prediction of the Holy Scriptures about the spread of the faith of Christ throughout the entire Universe.

The following prerequisites existed for the successful spread of Christianity: the creation of a huge Roman Empire, which included several dozen modern states; domination in this empire of Hellenistic culture.

Rome, great for its state and military achievements, was aware of its cultural inferiority. Roman culture was imitative. In the era of Hellenism, all educated Romans were bilingual - they knew both Latin and Greek, like the Russian aristocrats of the early 19th century, who knew, in addition to their native Russian, French.

The Christian sermon was also prepared by the fact that in the 3rd century BC, the translation of the Holy Scriptures (Old Testament) into Greek, the so-called Septuagint, was made. This translation became a means of preaching the Old Testament religion in a pagan environment.

By the time of the coming of Christ into the world and the founding of His Church by Him, almost all the peoples of the then political world were united into one state under one political authority of the Roman people. Rome was called the capital of the Universe (in the days of Byzantium, that would be the name of Constantinople). Shortly before the birth of Christ, Rome passed from a republic to an empire.

In 64 BC, a discord began in the Jewish family of Maccabees (the brothers Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II complain to the Roman emperor about each other). The Roman general Pompey conquers Judea. Power belongs to Hyrcanus II, then to his dignitary, devoted to the Romans and converted to Judaism Antipater. The son of the latter, Herod ruled Jerusalem, and later became king of Judea (in 37 BC with the assistance of one of the triumvirates).

Judea was completely conquered by the Romans, and the Jews in most cases lived outside Palestine. Jews settled in different cities of the Roman Empire and created their own houses of prayer (synagogues).

Synagogues have become a center of attraction for everyone who, in one way or another, was interested in the Old Testament religion. The environment of the Jews of the diaspora became the environment in which the preaching of the Messiah - the Risen Christ - began to spread extremely quickly. As soon as the apostle arrived in any city, he immediately went to the synagogue and preached there. This sermon, usually soon, led to a conflict with the synagogue authorities, and the apostle was expelled. But during the time that he preached, he managed to acquire some followers of Christianity, who constituted the core of the Christian Church in this city. In the initial period of church history, in its first decades - until the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 by the troops of the emperor Vespasian and the military leader Titus - the Christian Church was conscious of itself. She could quite easily realize herself in relation to paganism, but it was much more difficult to do this in relation to the Old Testament religion. After all, Christ preached almost exclusively among the Jews, all the apostles, all the members of the Jerusalem Church were also from the Jews. Moreover, when the preaching began outside Jerusalem and Palestine, this sermon took place among the Jews or among the pagans who sympathized with Judaism - the so-called proselytes. Proselytism was of varying degrees. There were proselytes who fully accepted the Jewish religion, there were those who did not dare to do this, but nevertheless, one way or another, adjoined synagogues. Problems began when the number of pagans (Hellenes) became noticeable among the first Christians, because then the question immediately arose of what relation these Christians had to the Old Testament ritual law. Neither the apostles nor the other early Christians opposed themselves to the Old Testament worship of God.

The book "Acts of the Holy Apostles" tells that the apostles visited the Jerusalem Temple at the appointed hours of prayer, that is, they attended the temple service. And although at the same time they performed a Christian service in their homes, which the author of the book of Acts calls the “breaking of bread” (the Eucharist), nevertheless, the existence of this Christian service did not lead them to deny the need to visit the Jerusalem Temple. But now pagans come to the Church. Should they obey all the prescriptions of the Old Testament ceremonial law? Is their way to the Church of Christ through the acceptance of the Law of Moses or not? Here, different understandings of this problem in the Christian environment collided. In A.D. 49 in Jerusalem there was a Council called the Apostolic Council. This is the first Cathedral that church history knows. This Council is described in the book Acts of the Holy Apostles. The Council was attended by St. Apostle Peter, St. Apostle James, brother of the Lord. The Apostle James was the head of the Jerusalem Church after the apostles left Jerusalem, dispersed to preach in different directions. In addition, St. the apostle Paul.

The Apostle Paul came from the Jews of the diaspora, was born in the Asia Minor city of Tarsus and, as he says about himself, was a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee. Being zealous for fatherly traditions, he came to Jerusalem in order to receive a theological education from the best Jerusalem rabbis and to become a rabbi himself, a teacher of the Law. At first, he was an implacable enemy of the Church of Christ and participated in bloody persecutions of Christians. In the book of Acts, it is said that during the stoning of St. the first martyr Archdeacon Stephen, Paul (then he was still called the Jewish name Saul) guarded the clothes of those who dealt with him. After Christ appeared to Saul, he believed with all the fervor of his great soul, and became the most active and brilliant preacher of the faith of Christ. The Apostle Paul argued that Christ came to save everyone (this is the main content of his sermon), and that He does not save through the observance of the rites of the Old Testament law. St. Apostle Paul realized that he was called to preach among the pagans, and he also turned out to be the defender of pagan Christians in the face of the zealots of the Old Testament Law, of whom there were many in the Christian milieu. The apostle Paul taught that Gentile Christians are not required to fulfill all the prescriptions of the law, and the Council of Jerusalem in 1949 agreed with his arguments. The Council drew up a letter to all Christians, which said that they should refrain from what was offered to idols, from being strangled, from fornication, and not to do to others what they do not want to themselves. Some of these prescriptions are purely moral in nature.

After the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70, the Jewish problem in the early Christian communities loses its acuteness by itself. Christian preaching was very successful, at least within the Roman Empire, where there was lively communication between its different parts, facilitating the spread of Christianity.

The entire first period of church history (33–313) can be characterized by the word persecution. In the period from the beginning of Christianity to the reign of Emperor Trajan, according to Tertullian's apt expression, the Church appeared under the cover of a permitted religion, namely the Jewish one. Since Christians recruited proselytes mainly among the Jews or on the soil that was prepared by the latter, then naturally the Roman state authorities confused them with the Jews and took them for a Jewish sect.

History has not preserved any traces of a reciprocal relationship between Christianity and the Roman emperors during the reigns of the first two emperors, Tiberius (14–37) and Caius Caligula (37–41). The news that Tiberius, having received a report from Pilate about Jesus Christ, wanted to rank Him among the Roman gods, does not have the character of a historical fact.

Christians were first persecuted during the reign of the emperor Claudius (41–54), but together with the Jews and as a result of mixing with them. Friendly to the Jewish king Herod Agrippa, Claudius in the first year of his reign, taking measures against the restless Jewish population, limited himself to only banning religious gatherings in Rome. The most devout Jews recognized their position in Rome as impossible and expelled from the capital. After the death of Herod Agrippa (after the 44th year), Claudius took another measure, about which only the Roman pagan historian Suetonius speaks, namely, that Caesar then "the Jews, causing disorder and unrest on the initiative of Christ, drove out of Rome." In this historical evidence, the first trace of a direct clash between the emperor and Christianity is felt, although, however, such an interpretation is disputed by many scholars. But the vast majority of scholars believe that Chrestus stands for Christ, that is, it was about the disputes around the teachings of Christ.

Thus, in the 50-60s. the representatives of the Roman authorities did not imagine that they were facing the fact of a new religion that was not permitted by Roman law, and these "Nazarenes" (that is, Christians) seemed to them one of the many confessions into which the permitted Jewish religion was disintegrating. Therefore, having appeared in Rome in the spring of 61, the Apostle Paul used his freedom to preach his doctrine. Thus, even the Romans who served in Palestine itself (and, therefore, who had more opportunity to get acquainted with the true nature of Christianity), did not understand the essence of Christ's teaching and did not distinguish it from Judaism. Nevertheless, it must be admitted that after some four years, in the very capital of the Roman Empire, the government would be able to conduct a process against Christians precisely for religion, moreover, conduct it in such a way as not to affect a single Jew.

The surviving news of Tacitus (Annal. XV, 44) about the persecution of Christians under the emperor Nero contains quite a lot of unclear things. This persecution was initiated by a particular circumstance. On the night of July 18-19, 64, a colossal fire broke out in Rome. First, the shops surrounding the Circus Maximus caught fire. The flame raged uncontrollably for 6 days and 7 nights, and the last flares died down only after 10 days. Of the 14 parts of the city, only four survived, three parts burned to the ground, and in seven there are few traces of half-burnt houses. Nero was not in the city at that time, and when he arrived, his golden palace was on fire. He tried to alleviate the plight of the victims. But popular rumor stubbornly accused him of setting fire to Rome; there were rumors that Nero, from a nearby hill, was enjoying the spectacle of a grand fire and, while playing the lute, sang the fire of Troy among his entourage. To deflect this rumor, Nero pointed out other arsonists and began a famous trial against Christians. The Judicial Commission opened its sessions a few weeks after the terrible fire.

According to Tacitus, “in order to stifle this rumor, Nero put the culprits on the people whom the people already hated for their vices and called Christians. The founder of this party, Christ, was executed by death during the reign of Tiberius by the procurator Pontius Pilate. Suppressed for the first time, now this malevolent sect has reappeared, and moreover, not only in Judea, but also in the capital, where it flocks and loudly declares everything that is unnatural and shameful. Thus, at first those who recognized themselves as Christians were seized, and then, on their instructions, many persons were captured, who were caught not so much in arson as in hatred of the human race. " It was them that Nero subjected to exquisite executions. And "although these people were guilty, they aroused pity and compassion for themselves, because they died not for the common good, but to satisfy the cruel whim of one (the tyrant)."

Slander and circumstantial evidence were presented against the Christians that they were such misanthropists who could well have committed arson. The investigation, obviously, provided much more material for accusing Christians not of fire, but of hatred of the human race. Thus, the process, which began with the investigation of the arson, little by little took on a religious connotation, although the question of the permissibility or impermissibility of the Christian religion was not raised in all its adherence to principles.

It should be recognized that religion served, if not the reason, then at least the legal basis for the beginning of this process. They were looking for arsonists; but the Roman police themselves of that time needed a sign by which to look for these arsonists, and they hoped to discover them in the ranks of the followers of some suspicious religion, who themselves confessed to belonging to this society. Therefore, under Nero, Christians suffered for the name of Christ. But they could be brought to justice as foreigners. Their testimony may not have been a direct confession of Christianity. And if they did not hide the fact that they are Christians, then this served only as an intermediate link in their accusation; for, in any case, they were accused of arson. The fierce people themselves are trying to throw those accused of arson into the fire; therefore, in fulfillment of this will of the people, they were sewn into tarred clothes and lit in the form of torches to illuminate the imperial gardens during the festivities.

Thus, Professor V.V. Bolotov (XIX century), and at the beginning and at the end we have a prosecution for arson. This persecution was the persecution of people who are accused by the laws of all states, but it did not come to direct persecution for the name of Christ. We are dealing here with a miscarriage of justice that was deliberate. The expression of Tacitus: "Nero subdidit reos (framed the guilty)" may mean that Nero gave a general instruction.

The persecution of Christians, or, more precisely, the process of the Roman fire under Nero, did not begin until August 64, and could only be in September of this year. More cautious historians think that the persecution under Nero did not last much longer. Some now believe that the whole case was limited to the persecution in Rome in 64 and did not continue even until 65. From the very fact of the arson, it is clear that the persecution could only extend to Christians who lived in Rome and its environs. but could not be general.

The so-called second persecution of Christians took place in the last years of Domitian's reign (81–96). Titus Flavius Domitian was one of the most suspicious princes known to the Roman Empire. He was constantly inclined to fear conspiracies, and, perhaps, under none of the Roman emperors, philosophers and in general persons who for some reason seemed suspicious, lived in Rome so badly as under this Caesar.

With the persecution of Domitian, church tradition links the Apostle John the Theologian to the island of Patmos. This is stated by Eusebius (III, 18), who refers in this case to Irenaeus (Adv. Haer. V, 30, 3). The legend that the Apostle John was previously summoned to Rome under Nero and, thrown here in a cauldron of boiling oil, remained unharmed, is in Tertullian (De praescr. 36).

Then the persecution takes on a religious character and becomes more bloody and cruel.

What, then, were the Christians accused of by the heathen persecutors? Little was known about Christians, and what they knew, they did not understand correctly. Misunderstanding of the Eucharistic worship gave rise to absurd and terrible accusations of ritualistic murder of infants in order to allegedly drink their blood. The refusal to venerate the pagan gods and pay the emperor divine honors and religious worship to Caesar provoked political accusations of unreliability.

Christians were persecuted on the basis of purely random acts. The Romans did not encourage magic, witchcraft, equating them with such harmful acts as poisoning with poison. Many phenomena of the Christian life were such that they could give rise to suspicion. The extraordinary facts of martyrdom during torture were incomprehensible to the pagans, who did not believe in the moral strength of the martyrs and thought that they were dealing with skilled magicians. The sacred books of Christians could also be categorized as "books of magicians." Roman law threatened with confiscation houses where such books would be found; the books themselves were burned, and the magicians were crucified on the cross or given to be eaten by beasts or burned. Such accusations could lead to persecution of Christians.

Christians were also accused of not honoring the gods according to Roman law. Not only XII tables, but also customary law said that a good sovereign, just as he himself must honor the gods according to the laws, so equally compel his subjects to do this. And since Christians refused to worship the gods, they could always be accused of what the Greeks called a crime against religion. This was the first and most important crime that Christians were accused of.

The accusation of a crime against religion could turn into an accusation of a state crime. Those who refused to sacrifice to the gods showed contempt for state power. Thus, a crime against religion turned into a crime against power, which consisted in the fact that a person denied the supremacy of power in these matters. The persons guilty of such a crime were subjected to the deprivation of water and fire, that is, they were subjected to exile, because in this case the stay of the accused in his city became impossible; and in Rome, Christians accused of this were given up to be devoured by wild beasts or burned alive.

Many Roman emperors tried not so much to unleash repressions against Christians, but, on the contrary, to introduce the persecutions initiated at the initiative of the pagans, at the initiative of local, provincial rulers, into some narrower framework. From the middle of the 3rd century until the very end of the persecution, that is, until the beginning of the 4th century, the imperial power takes the initiative of the persecution and becomes the head of the anti-Christian campaign. What explains this hostility towards Christianity? It is psychologically explained by the completely natural hatred of the crowd for everything spiritually significant, for everything out of the ordinary. Spiritually Christianity was incomparably higher than paganism. And the point is not only that Christianity has set much higher ideals. By the time the Christian Church appeared, the pagan world was in a state of deep crisis and decay; it was a spiritually fading world, while the Church was full of spiritual burning and the most powerful vital energy. Naturally, the first Christians stood out sharply against the background of pagan society, and they themselves were forced to break the ties that connected them with this society.

Christianity was a kingdom not of this world - to such an extent it differed from the spirit of the cultured Greco-Roman world prevailing at that time. If an educated cultured person believed in everything, if he did not have a religion, only fragments of it remained, nevertheless he firmly believed in Roman culture, the power of Rome, in its high significance for the world, for civilization. Even many who converted to Christianity were so imbued with this idea that the famous eschatological passage from the second letter to the Thessalonians (2,6) was explained in such a way that the Antichrist cannot come while Rome exists. This idea was reflected in the famous verse of Horace: "Blessed sun, so that you never see anything higher than Rome."

Christians collectively denied Roman culture. But the deniers of Roman culture did not leave for the desert, they lived in society, raised their children in hatred of Roman culture. To the above verse of Horace, Christians opposed their own: "Thy kingdom come," that is, let Rome end with all its culture. And only a few could understand that Christianity in this respect is hostile not only to Rome, but to the entire pagan world and its pagan culture. It should be noted that the Christians of that time were not careful. Often among Christians there were rumors that the end of the world would soon come, and some Christians gloatedly said that all Rome with its culture would soon collapse and terrible horrors would befall its inhabitants. Therefore, Christians were viewed as enemies of culture and political life.

The entire educated world of that time was drawn into the political life of their fatherland. Christians, on the other hand, were indifferent to politics and avoided it on principle. Even Tertullian said that Christianity is so beautiful that emperors would become Christians if the world could be without emperors, or emperors could be Christians. Thus, Christianity and the state, in the eyes of Christians, were incompatible concepts. The pagans were also surprised that Christians shied away from taking up public office and showed complete indifference to public interests. The same indifference was expressed by Christians in the election of emperors. They preferred not to speak out in favor of one or another of the pretenders to the Roman throne and not to nominate their own.

Professor V.V. Bolotov noted that in vain did the Christians point out their political reliability, that they did not take part in any revolution. Even this was imputed to them, since, in the eyes of the Roman man, they turned out to be shamefully indifferent to political good and evil. In judgments about the emperors who reigned at that time, and their predecessors, the pagan intelligentsia and Christians sharply disagreed. The best emperors were persecutors of Christians; the personally vicious found sympathy for themselves in a Christian society that was not persecuted by them. Commodus was hated by the pagan Romans and fell at the hands of a murderer, while Christians lived easily with him. Heliogabalus, about whom nothing good can be said about a ruler, did not persecute Christians. Alexander Sever, about whom opinions fluctuated, in the eyes of Christians was the ideal sovereign. Philip the Arabian, known only for celebrating the millennium of Rome during his reign, was considered by Christians to belong to their community. Gallienus, who stood on the road to tyranny, was the best sovereign for Christians.

Testimonies of Christian martyrs are very precious historical testimonies. First of all, you need to understand the meaning of the word "martyr" in its entirety. The Russian word "martyr" conveys the Greek word "martis", but the Greek word is more ambiguous. A martyr is one who suffers torture, “martis” is above all a witness. A witness to the truth of Christ in the face of the pagan world, a witness even to death and suffering death. Martyrs are fighters of the faith; their torment is a feat with a touch of solemnity; therefore, the Christian martyr is not a passive sufferer, but a hero-doer. Those who perceived the word "martis" in the fullness of its meaning, saw in it, first of all, an expression of the fact that the preaching of faith is conducted not in words, but throughout life, without stopping before death. If preachers in the modern sense can only be people who are especially gifted or, say, more educated, everyone could be martyred preachers. Tertullian wrote: "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." And indeed, it was on the blood of the martyrs that it was built Church of Christ, and, at times, the example of the martyrs was much more convincing and bright than the word of many preachers.

Lecture number 4

History of the CHRISTIAN Church, II period:

The textbook "History of the Ancient Church" prepared by the researchers of the St. Tikhon Orthodox University for the Humanities is a new milestone in the teaching of church history in the educational institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The team of authors led by K.A. Maksimovich did a great job. A modern textbook should include all the achievements of the relevant scientific discipline. It is safe to say that this criterion is satisfied by the book that the reader is holding in his hands.

The first volume of the study guide contains factual material starting from the moment of the incarnation of God the Word. Even Eusebius of Caesarea, composing the first "Church history", wrote: "Whoever is going to write the history of the Church must begin from the hour when Christ - from Him we were rewarded to receive our name - laid the foundation for His economy" (Book 1. 8). This is what modern authors do, which testifies to the solid and unified basis of the Christian historiographic tradition.

The manual provides an opportunity for both a cursory study of the material and for in-depth study. The questions placed at the end of the paragraphs will allow students to focus on the most important events of the period of church history under consideration, to reflect on them, having mastered the systemic, comparative and other methods of operating with historical data.

History of the Ancient Church: Part I. 33-843

Textbook / Edited by K. A. Maksimovich

M .: Publishing house PSTGU, 2012. - p. 592: ill.

ISBN 978-5-7429-0756-5

History of the Ancient Church: Part I. 33 - 843 - Content

FOREWORD by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk

INTRODUCTION

Notes on the methodology and principles of material presentation

Periodization of the history of the Ancient Church

SECTION I. History of the early Church. Church in the pagan empire (33-313)

1.1. General information. The emergence and early years of the history of the Church

1.2. Church and the Roman pagan state

1.2.a. Perception of Christianity in Roman society

1.2.b. State policy towards Christians. History of persecution

1.2.c. The attitude of Christians to the pagan state

1.2.y. The spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire

1.3. History of Institutions and Worship

1.3.a. Church institutions in the 1st-3rd centuries

1.3.b. Publication (catechesis)

1.3.c. Liturgical Life of the Early Church. Sacraments

1.3.y. Church calendar. Fasts and Holidays

1.3.d. Ecclesiastical Discipline, Ecclesiastical Judgment, and the Beginning of Canon Law

1.3.e. Christian art and architecture of the first centuries

1.4. History of dogmas. Apologetics. Fight against heresies

1.4.a. The origin and main trends in the development of early Christian theology. Apologists

1.4.b. Theological schools in the early Church

1.4.c. The first church schisms and heresies

1.4.y. Gnosticism

Conclusion to Section 1

SECTION II. Church in the Christian Empire (313-843)

II.1. Period characteristics

II.2. Church and Christian state

II.2.a. Church and state during the reign of Constantine I the Great (306-337)

II.2.b. Church and state in the IV-middle of the VI century. Formation of the Christian Empire

II.2.c. Church and state after Justinian (second half of the 6th century - 725)

II.2.y. Church and state during the controversy over icons (725-843)

Conclusion

II.3. History of Institutions and Worship

II.3.a. Evolution of church institutions in the IV-IX centuries

II.3.b. The origin and development of monasticism

II.3.c. Liturgical life. Sacraments

H. 3.g. Worship circles. IIhosts and holidays

II.3.d Formation of the canon of Holy Scripture

II.3.e. Church discipline, judgment and law

II.3.g. Christian art IV - mid-IX century

II.4. History of dogmas. Fight against heresies

II. 4.a. Christian triadology between 318 and 325 The rise of Arianism

II.4.b. Struggle against Arianism after the First Ecumenical Council. Athanasius of Alexandria and Basil the Great

II.4.c. Christian Triadology and Christology from 360 to 381

II.4.y. Christology after 381

II. 4.d. Theological controversy of the era of iconoclasm

II.5. Mission of the Eastern Church

Conclusion to Section II

SUBJECT INDEX

INDEX OF OWN NAMES AND TITLES

APPENDIX. Chronological tables

Roman and Byzantine emperors (I-IX centuries)

Patriarchs of Constantinople (315-847)

Popes (up to 844)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Reference publications

2. Research

3. Abbreviations

4. Online Church History Resources

History of the Ancient Church - Periodization of the history of the Ancient Church

The periodization of the history of the Church presents a number of specific difficulties. The fact is that the division of history into periods requires certain criteria. The history of states is usually divided into periods according to the forms of government. For example, for Rome it is the period of the kings, the period of the republic, the period of the empire; for the policies of Ancient Greece - the archaic period (the formation of the polis structure), the period of the classical polis, the period of Hellenism (the crisis of the polis organization and the formation of Hellenistic monarchies). How, then, to construct a periodization of the Church, which is neither a state nor a state institution, but, on the contrary, includes a number of institutions, different in nature and origin? So, if the Church is understood as a liturgical meeting, then its history should be divided into periods according to the evolution of liturgical forms (ranks) of worship.

If we represent the Church as a hierarchy of the priesthood and the laity, then the periodization will depend on the stages of the formation of the hierarchy. If we put theological problems and the struggle against heresies at the center of periodization, then the periods will be completely different than in the previous two cases.

These methodological problems have not yet been resolved in traditional monographs and textbooks on Church history. Therefore, there is no single periodization of the history of the Church. Each author solved this problem arbitrarily, depending on personal approaches and preferences. As a rule, the pre-Nicene and post-Nicene periods were distinguished in the history of the Ancient Church. The latter, in turn, was divided into the period of the Ecumenical Councils (325-787) and the period after the Ecumenical Councils. Almost all periodizations highlight the unity of the Church as a separate criterion - therefore, the schism between East and West in 1054 and the beginning of the Reformation in the West (1517) are considered key points.

The disadvantages of this classification are obvious: firstly, it is unclear on what basis the “ante-Nicene” period is distinguished (for the history of the Church, the 313rd year is much more important than the 325th year), and secondly, it is not clear why a separate period of the Ecumenical Councils should be distinguished - after all, with its end the formation of church worship was not completed, and the dogma was formulated only in the main and basic features (moreover, at the end of the period, dogmatic differences are already noted between the East and the West in connection with the Filioque formula). In the field of church-state relations, the actual overcoming of the conflict between the Church and the state regarding the veneration of icons took place only in 843, and this event had nothing to do with the Ecumenical Councils.

Due to the insufficient scientific substantiation of the traditional periodization of church history, for this manual, it was decided to take a complex criterion of periodization, taking into account both the external and internal history of the Church.

The external history of the Church presupposes the coverage of her relationship with external, non-church institutions - primarily with the state.

The history of the Church in the Roman Empire, and especially in Byzantium, should certainly be viewed in close connection with the history of the state. Despite the fact that the secular power had a limited influence on church affairs, already starting from the 4th century. without secular (imperial) power, it was impossible to resolve a single issue of principle for the Church. Not only Ecumenical, but even some Local Councils were convened on the initiative of the emperors. The emperors confirmed the metropolitans and patriarchs elected by the Church, fought against heretics, and provided the Church with tremendous material and diplomatic support.

It can be said without exaggeration that the church-state ideology of Byzantium saw in the emperor the earthly head of the Church, just as the Lord Jesus Christ is its heavenly head. The blessing of the Church in the person of the Patriarch of Constantinople was a necessary condition for the legitimate occupation of the throne by the next emperor. The Byzantines well understood the inextricable link between the Church and the empire - that is why the "Ecclesiastical History" of Socrates Scholastic is divided into books according to the terms of the reign of the emperors: book. I - the reign of Constantine the Great (306-337), pr. II - the reign of Constance 7 / (337-361), etc.

For her part, the Church borrowed a lot from the state - especially in the field of jurisprudence and church legislation. Many ecclesiastical institutions received the first legal sanction not in the conciliar canons, but in the laws of the Byzantine emperors. Collections of ecclesiastical law (nomokanons) included not only canons, but also state laws. Already in the V century. the state and the Church form a single legal system in which one institution helps and supports the other.

Internal history presupposes a comprehensive account of the development of dogma, worship and major church divisions (occurring precisely either on dogmatic grounds, or for reasons of a disciplinary and liturgical nature).

An unsolvable methodological problem is that it is impossible to draw up a single periodization for the history of the Eastern and Western Churches. During the first ten centuries Christian history The East (Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem and a number of smaller ecclesiastical centers) and the West (Rome, and up to the 5th century and Carthage) were a single Church, but even then their fates were so different that it was impossible to fit them into a single periodization ... For this reason, and in accordance with tradition, the main emphasis both in periodization and in the presentation of the material is placed on the history of the Eastern Church.

The complex criteria-based periodization adopted in this manual is as follows:

Period I: approx. 33-313 biennium History of the Christian Church in a pagan state - the Roman Empire. The period of the illegal existence of the Church in the state and sporadic persecution of Christians. This is also the period of the formation of the main church institutions, hierarchy, worship, the period of the first dogmatic disputes, the emergence of local heresies and schisms.

II period: 313-1453 History of the Church in the Christian Empire - Byzantium.

This period is divided into a number of sub-periods:

a) 313-565 The period of theological development and adoption of basic church dogmas, overcoming the most dangerous heresies (Arianism, Nestorianism, Monophysitism). The beginning of the Ecumenical Councils. Formation of a new patriarchy of the Ecumenical Church with its center in Constantinople. Formalization of the "pentarchy" system of the five Orthodox patriarchates. The final addition of the Christian Empire with the legal registration of ecclesiastical law as an integral part of the imperial law of Byzantium ("Codex" and Church novellas by Justinian).

Ideological substantiation of harmonious cooperation ("symphony") of the empire with the Church, the final formation of ideology Orthodox monarchy(according to H.-G. Beck, "political orthodoxy"). The first conflicts between Constantinople and the Roman Church over questions of dogma and church government.

b) 565-725 gt. The period of formalization of the basic dogmas and church institutions. The spread and overcoming of the Christological heresies of the Monophysite persuasion - monoenergy and Monothelism. Loss of Byzantine control over the eastern provinces of the empire. Adoption of the corpus of canons of the Ecumenical Church at the Sixth (Trull) Ecumenical Council (Constantinople, 691-692). Continuation of the linguistic, cultural and spiritual separation of the Latin West and the Greek East.

c) 725-843 A period of theological disputes about icons and persecutions unleashed by the Byzantine state against icon-worshipers (the persecution did not affect the Western Church, which was outside the Empire). 843 is the most important moment in the restoration and renewal of the Eastern Church after the iconoclastic persecution, which is directly stated in the Prologue to the Synodikon of Orthodoxy: "We are celebrating the day of renewal."

d) 843-1054 A period of growing contradictions between the Christian West and the East. Theological controversy about unleavened bread (Eucharist on unleavened bread) and Filioque. The schism between Rome and Constantinople under patr. set. Photius. The fall in 1054 of the Western Church from universal Orthodoxy is a major event that influenced the entire subsequent history of Christianity.

e) 1054-1204 The period of church and political conflicts between Byzantium and the West. The beginning of the Crusades and the clash of Byzantine interests with the interests of the rising Western states - first of all Venice and Genoa, and then the Holy Roman Empire. Western influence on the imperial court and the Church of Constantinople. Fight against new heresies. The capture of the Field of Constantine by the knights of the IV Crusade in 1204, change of the residence of the Ecumenical Patriarch.

f) 1204-1453 The gradual decline of Byzantine influence in the Mediterranean against the background of regular and every time failed attempts at union with the Roman Church. Formation of new autocephalous Churches in the Balkans. The period ends with the liquidation of the Orthodox Byzantine statehood in 1453 and the transition of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople under the full control of the Muslim other faiths. After that, the center of universal Orthodoxy passes to Moscow - the third Rome.

The main stages in the history of the Christian Church

Several stages can be distinguished in the history of the Church:

1) 34-313 biennium - from apostolic times to the recognition of the Christian faith under the Emperor Constantine the Great. This is a period of rapid expansion of the Church through the labors of the apostles and their disciples. After the destruction of Jerusalem in the 70s, a small Christian community turns into the Universal Church, covering the Middle East, part of Europe, North Africa, India, Ethiopia. During this period, the canon of the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament was formed, the hierarchical organization of the Church was formed, and the forms of liturgical life were determined. The history of persecutions against the Church is associated with the same period - first by the Jews, then large-scale persecutions by the pagan authorities, the Roman emperors.

2) 313-1054- from the time of Constantine the Great to the division of the Church into Eastern and Western (Orthodox and Catholic). At this time, the Orthodox Byzantine Empire arose. An active struggle against heresies is being waged and a doctrine is being formulated (the era of the seven Ecumenical Councils, 325–787). However, during the same period, disagreements arose between the eastern and western parts of the Church, which subsequently led to their separation.

3) 1054-1453- from the division of the Churches to the fall of the capital of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople. In Byzantium, this period was characterized by a difficult political situation and a spiritual crisis, which ultimately led to the fall of the Orthodox Empire under the blows of the Muslim Turks. The center of Orthodoxy moved to another Christian state - Russia. The Western Church, without losing its political power, increasingly deviated from the apostolic tradition. In the 16th century, as a protest against the abuse of the Catholic hierarchy, Protestantism appeared in the West (the Reformation movement, p. 1517 g.); its largest movements were Lutheranism, Calvinism, and Anglicanism. But Protestantism also did not bring about the healing of the Western Church. Subsequently, many different sects separated from Protestantism (and is still separating). The Eastern Church, on the other hand, has preserved and to this day keeps the purity of the Christian faith.

4) XVI – XXI centuries.- this is the time of the independent development of the Local Orthodox Churches (among which the largest is the Russian Orthodox Church).

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