Timeline

The Apostolic Age - 30-100

from Pentecost to the death of John — the eyewitness generation

Councils (1)

• Council of Jerusalem 49

Persecutions (2)

• Neronian persecution 64-68
• Domitianic persecution 89-96

Documents (29)

• Apostolic Decree 49
• Epistle to the Galatians 49
• First Epistle to the Thessalonians 50
• Second Epistle to the Thessalonians 51
• First Epistle to the Corinthians 55
• Second Epistle to the Corinthians 56
• Epistle to the Romans 57
• Epistle of James 60
• Epistle to Philemon 61
• Epistle to the Philippians 61
• Epistle to the Colossians 62
• Epistle to the Ephesians 62
• First Epistle of Peter 63
• First Epistle to Timothy 64
• Epistle to Titus 64
• Epistle to the Hebrews 65
• Second Epistle to Timothy 66
• Gospel of Mark 68
• Epistle of Jude 80
• Acts of the Apostles 85
• Gospel of Luke 85
• Gospel of Matthew 85
• Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) 90
• First Epistle of John 95
• Second Epistle of John 95
• Third Epistle of John 95
• Gospel of John 95
• Book of Revelation 95
• First Epistle of Clement 96

The Ante-Nicene Church - 100-325

apostolic fathers, apologists and the persecutions, to the eve of Nicaea

Schisms (6)

• Marcion is expelled at Rome 144
• Tatian leaves the church for the Encratites 172
• Tertullian goes over to the New Prophecy 207
• The Roman schism of Hippolytus begins 217
• The Novatianist schism begins 251
• The Donatist schism begins 311

Persecutions (8)

• Trajanic policy on Christians 107-113
• Persecution under Marcus Aurelius 161-180
• Severan persecution 202-211
• Persecution under Maximinus Thrax 235-238
• Decian persecution 250-251
• Valerianic persecution 257-260
• Great Persecution 303-311
• Licinian persecution 316-324

Edicts (3)

• Edict of Gallienus 260
• Edict of Serdica 311
• Edict of Milan 313

Disputes (6)

• The Marcionite division 144
• The Encratite division 172
• The New Prophecy 207
• The Roman schism of Hippolytus 217
• The Novatianist schism 251
• The Donatist schism 311

Doctrines (5)

• The restoration of all things 230
• The pre-existence of souls 230
• The lapsed may be received back 251
• Baptism outside the Church is void 255
• The Son is created 318

Documents (27)

• Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians 108
• Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians 108
• Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians 108
• Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp 108
• Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans 108
• Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans 108
• Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians 108
• Second Epistle of Peter 110
• Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians 120
• Fragments of Papias 130
• First Apology of Justin Martyr 155
• Martyrdom of Polycarp 156
• Letter of the Churches of Lyons and Vienne 177
• Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs 180
• Against Heresies 180
• To Autolycus 180
• Acts of Thomas 225
• Rescript of Gallienus 260
• Synodal Letter against Paul of Samosata 268
• Edicts of the Great Persecution 303
• Canons of Elvira 306
• Edict of Toleration of Galerius 311
• Letter of Licinius (the Edict of Milan) 313
• Canons of Ancyra 314
• Canons of Arles 314
• On the Incarnation 318
• Church History (Historia Ecclesiastica) 324

Rites (4)

• Baptism by triple immersion 300
• Cheirotonia 300
• Chrismation at the font 300
• The Holy Qurbana of Addai and Mari 300

The Fathers & the Great Councils - 325-451

Nicaea to Chalcedon — the doctrine of God and of Christ defined

Councils (7)

• First Council of Nicaea 325
• Council of Sardica 343
• Council of Ariminum 359
• First Council of Constantinople 381
• Council of Carthage (418) 418
• Council of Ephesus 431
• Second Council of Ephesus 449

Persecutions (2)

• Great Persecution of Shapur II 340-379
• Julian's pagan restoration 361-363

Edicts (1)

• Edict of Thessalonica 380

Disputes (8)

• The Arian crisis 325
• The dispute over the date of Pascha 325
• The rebaptism controversy 325
• The Apollinarian dispute 381
• The dispute over the Holy Spirit 381
• The Pelagian controversy 418
• The Nestorian controversy 431
• The Eutychian dispute 449

Doctrines (18)

• Homoousios 325
• Homoiousios 358
• The Son is like the Father 359
• The Spirit is a creature 360
• The Word takes the place of the human mind 362
• Constantinople is the second see 381
• The Spirit proceeds from the Father 381
• The Spirit is Lord and giver of life 381
• Which books are scripture 393
• The sacrament is not the minister’s 400
• The will suffices without grace 411
• Original sin 412
• Grace is necessary for every good act 418
• Christotokos 428
• Two persons in Christ 428
• Theotokos 431
• One incarnate nature of God the Word 433
• The humanity was absorbed 448

Documents (33)

• Canons of Nicaea 325
• Nicene Creed 325
• Decision on the date of Easter 325
• Synodal Letter to the Church of Alexandria 325
• Sentence against Athanasius 335
• Canons of Gangra 340
• Canons of Sardica 343
• Life of Antony 357
• The Dated Creed 359
• Canons of Laodicea 363
• On the Holy Spirit 375
• Cunctos populos 380
• Acts of the Council of Aquileia 381
• Canons of Constantinople I 381
• Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed 381
• Synodal Letter of 382 382
• On the Priesthood 390
• Canon list of Hippo 393
• Canons of Carthage (397) 397
• Confessions 400
• Sentence against John Chrysostom 403
• Vulgate 405
• Canons of the Synod of Isaac 410
• Canons against Pelagius 418
• The City of God 426
• Twelve Anathemas of Cyril 431
• Canons of Ephesus 431
• Sentence against Nestorius 431
• Canons of Orange (441) 441
• Canons of Vaison 442
• Tome of Leo 449
• Confessio 450
• Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus 450

Rites (8)

• The Great Fast 350
• The Divine Liturgy of St Basil 370
• Confirmation by the bishop 400
• The Byzantine hours 400
• The Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom 400
• The Liturgy of St James 400
• The Liturgy of St Mark 400
• The Roman Mass 400

The Post-Chalcedonian Era - 451-604

the eastern schisms and Justinian, to Gregory the Great

Councils (2)

• Council of Chalcedon 451
• Second Council of Constantinople 553

Schisms (1)

• Acacian Schism 484-519

Divisions (2)

• The division over Chalcedon 451 · not restored
• Rome and Constantinople 484-519 · communion restored

Disputes (5)

• The division over Chalcedon 451
• The Acacian schism 484
• The Origenist dispute 553
• The Three Chapters 553
• The Filioque dispute 589

Doctrines (3)

• Two natures in one person 451
• Ever-virgin 553
• The Filioque 589

Documents (13)

• Canons of Chalcedon 451
• Chalcedonian Definition 451
• Henotikon of Zeno 482
• Canons of Orléans 511
• Capitula on grace and free will 529
• Rule of Saint Benedict 530
• Christian Topography 550
• Fourteen Anathemas against the Three Chapters 553
• Canons of the Second Council of Braga 572
• Profession of king Reccared and the anathemas 589
• Pastoral Rule 590
• The Libellus responsionum 601
• Letter to Mellitus 601

Foundations (4)

• The School of Nisibis 472
• Monte Cassino 529
• Clonmacnoise 547
• Iona 565

Rites (1)

• The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts 600

The Early Medieval Church - 604-843

monothelete and iconoclast controversies and the northern missions — to the Triumph of Orthodoxy

Councils (7)

• Synod of Whitby 664
• Third Council of Constantinople 681
• Quinisext Council (in Trullo) 691
• Concilium Germanicum 742
• Council of Clovesho 747
• Council of Hieria 754
• Second Council of Nicaea 787

Persecutions (2)

• First Iconoclasm 726-787
• Second Iconoclasm 814-842

Edicts (1)

• Donation of Pepin 756

Disputes (2)

• The dispute over the wills of Christ 649
• Iconoclasm 754

Doctrines (5)

• One will in Christ 638
• Two wills and two operations 649
• Images of Christ are idols 754
• Icons may be venerated 787
• Veneration is not worship 787

Documents (14)

• Canons of the Fourth Council of Toledo 633
• Canons of the Lateran council 649
• Decision of king Oswiu 664
• Canons of Hertford 673
• Definition against Monotheletism 681
• Canons of the Quinisext council 691
• On the Divine Images 730
• Ecclesiastical History of the English People 731
• Canons of the Concilium Germanicum 742
• Definition (Horos) of Hieria 754
• Donation of Constantine 780
• Canons of Nicaea II 787
• Decree (Horos) on the Holy Images 787
• Capitulare of Frankfurt 794

Foundations (3)

• Lindisfarne 635
• Streaneshalch 657
• Bercingum 674

From Photius to the Schism - 843-1054

the Photian era, the conversion of the Slavs and of Rus, and the road to 1054

Councils (2)

• Fourth Council of Constantinople (Ignatian) 869
• Council of Constantinople (Photian) 879

Schisms (2)

• Photian Schism 863-867
• The Great Schism 1054

Divisions (2)

• Rome and Constantinople 863-867 · communion restored
• Rome and Constantinople 1054 · not restored

Persecutions (1)

• Persecution under al-Hakim 1009-1021

Edicts (1)

• Triumph of Orthodoxy 843

Disputes (2)

• The Photian schism 863
• The Great Schism 1054

Doctrines (1)

• Unleavened bread in the eucharist 1053

Documents (13)

• Synodikon of Orthodoxy 843
• Bibliotheca 845
• Tharisapalli copper plates 849
• The Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals 850
• Canons of the First-and-Second Council 861
• Old Church Slavonic translation of the Scriptures 863
• Canons of 869–870 870
• Acts of the Photian council 880
• Sentence against Formosus 897
• Canons of the Peace of God 989
• Sermon on Law and Grace 1049
• Synodal edict of Michael Cerularius 1054
• Bull of excommunication 1054