Early Church History: Councils, Fathers, and Structure
The New Situation of the Church
The calendar is Christian. Sunday became the official day off and celebrates important holidays of Christianity. Laws are amended contrary to Christian morality: gladiatorial fights are banned, infanticide is deleted, the death penalty by crucifixion is removed, and family life is promoted.
Council of Nicaea
Condemned the doctrine of Arius, who asserted that Jesus was not inferior to the Father, therefore, Christ was not God, but someone created by God.
Council of Ephesus
Nestorius stated that in Christ there was no divine nature, and therefore Mary was not the Mother of God but only the Mother of Jesus.
Council of Chalcedon
Condemned Eutyches’ theory, which affirmed that the divine nature of Christ nullifies their human nature.
The Formulation of the Christian Faith
The rapid expansion of Christianity and the heresies caused the Church to see the need to:
- Define the dogmas or formulations of faith to avoid misinterpretations.
- Maintain a teaching or authority to ensure the authenticity of the Christian faith throughout history.
The Golden Age of the Fathers of the Church
In the East:
- St. Athanasius at Alexandria, the great defender of the thesis of the Council of Nicaea.
- St. Basil in Caesarea, author of the early monastic rules and defender of a poor church.
- St. John Chrysostom in Antioch, the great preacher who reformed the customs of the clergy and lambasted the excesses of the court.
In the West:
- St. Jerome: was the author of the Vulgate, declared the official text of the Church.
- St. Ambrose of Milan: excellent orator, poet, and musician who defended the independence of the Church against the emperor.
- St. Augustine: one of the fundamental pillars of Christian theological reflection.
Basilica Plan
It is divided into longitudinal space by means of ships with arches.
Abside
The most important space of the basilica because the altar is located there.
Baptistery
The place where they celebrated the ritual of baptism.
Atrium
Square courtyard surrounded by columns with a fountain in the middle.
Narthex
Portico to the temple.
The Mosaics
These are artistic works made with pieces of different materials and colors embedded or attached to a surface to form a picture. Some of the best known are those of St. Vital and St. Apollinaris in Italy.
Being in the World Serves
The Church wants to exercise a function of serving society and the kingdom of God. From the retired life of the monks in monasteries to the activity of the mendicant orders that devote their lives to preach in word and deed the kingdom of God. From the religious orders dedicated to the ideal of giving their lives to others until the crowd of lay people who live the gospel in service to society.
Hierarchically Structured
The Pope is entrusted with the same service that Peter had in the group of Twelve: to keep the unity of all Christians worldwide. For that, he appoints the bishops and summons the councils. The successors of the Apostles are the bishops and their responsibilities are:
- To teach and convey the message of the gospel.
- To chair liturgical celebrations.
- To ensure community governance by addressing their problems.
Different Levels of Communion
Universal Church
The follower of Jesus is united with all Christians the world over political, racial, or cultural differences. In front of the Church is the Pope.
Diocesan Church
The universal church is organized into particular churches or dioceses, presided over by a bishop. Christian communities’ dioceses are formed by small communities. The most important are the parishes.