Early Christianity: Key Events, Councils, and Figures
Edict of Milan
In Milan, Emperors Licinius and Constantine decreed that everyone should have the freedom to follow the religion they chose for their spirit.
Edict of Thessalonica
This edict declared that only Christians, specifically Catholics, were subject to this act, and all others were considered heretics.
Christianity’s New Position in Society
Protected by emperors with economic and legal aid, Christianity became integrated into society:
- Christian calendar: Sunday became the official day off, and important Christian holidays were celebrated.
- Laws were amended to align with Christian morality: Gladiator fights and infanticide were prohibited, death by crucifixion was abolished, slavery was liberalized, and family life was favored.
Heresies
Heresies, or misinterpretations of Christian doctrine, posed a greater danger than persecution, as they divided and confused the Christian community.
Council of Nicaea
This council condemned the doctrine of Arius, who claimed that Jesus Christ was not equal to the Father but was created by God.
Council of Ephesus
The Council of Ephesus condemned Nestorius, who claimed that Christ was not divine in nature and therefore Mary was not the Mother of God but only the mother of Jesus. The council declared that Christ was God and that Mary was the Mother of God.
Council of Chalcedon
This council condemned Eutyches, who theorized that the divine nature of Christ set aside his human nature. The council declared that Jesus Christ is true God and true man.
Formulation of Christian Faith
The spread of Christianity and the rise of heresies led the Church to:
- Define dogmas or formulations of faith to avoid misinterpretation.
- Maintain a teaching authority to guarantee the authenticity of the Christian faith throughout history.
This led to the need for creeds or symbols of faith to acknowledge the main tenets of the Christian faith in writing. The most important were the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed.
The Church Fathers
The Church Fathers lived in the early centuries and were considered such due to their sanctity of life, intellectual prestige, and the uprightness of their doctrine.
They strongly criticized the interference of civil powers in running the church and defended the independence of the church from the emperor. Their teachings emphasized a firm commitment to helping the most needy in society.
Influential Figures
East: St. Athanasius, St. Basil, St. John Chrysostom. West: St. Jerome, St. Ambrose, and St. Augustine.
The Basilica
The basilica was a building for Christian worship. It was the headquarters of the courts and was sized to accommodate many people. It consists of 3 or 5 longitudinal naves separated by columns, the central nave is higher than the aisles, and windows are open on the walls to illuminate the interior. The header has a vaulted apse that houses the altar.
The Mosaic
Mosaic art works are pictures made of pieces of different materials or colors, embedded or attached to a surface to form an image. They were used to decorate the walls of the great basilicas.
The Early Church
There were various ministries that evolved and adapted to the historical circumstances of the moment. The influence exerted during the fourth century by the powers of the Roman Empire on the government structures of the church was very strong. With Charlemagne, the Pope and the Emperor tried to rule by dividing the powers, but the interference of one power in the other’s field was frequent. Pope Gregory VII made an effort to rid the Church of its dependence on temporal power. With Vatican II, some decentralization began in the governance of the Church.