History of christianity 02

1 BCE	The Birth of John the Baptist John, the son of Zacharias, a Levite priest, and Elizabeth, a Levite, is born in Jerusalem. He is a relative of Jesus.
1 CE	The Birth of Jesus Jesus is born in Bethlehem of Judea, a province of the Roman Empire, to a virgin by the name of Mary. She and Joseph, her espoused husband, are descendants of Abraham.
2 CE	The Birth of Jesus is Announced An angel of the Lord visits a group of shepherds and announces the birth of Jesus. The shepherds go immediately to pay respect to the Christ child. In addition, three "wise men" or "magi" pay respects to the young Jesus, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Before their journey to pay respect to baby Jesus, the wise men visit King Herod, the Roman-appointed ruler of Galilee. Herod feels threatened by Jesus and thus orders the murder of all male children under the age of two. Being warned of Herod’s plan from an angel of the Lord, Joseph takes Mary and Jesus to Egypt. After Herod's death, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph return to Nazareth.
12	The Young Jesus Speaks to Rabbis in the Temple Jesus’s family visits Jerusalem. He remains in the city when his parents depart for home. Finding him in the Temple, his parents rebuke him gently, but he replies, "I must be about my father's business."
30	Jesus Begins His Public Ministry John the Baptist baptizes Jesus, and all three persons of the Holy Trinity are present Jesus spends forty days fasting in the wilderness and is tempted by Satan. He refuses to give in, and angels minister to him. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus lays out the basis for all Christian ethics, revisiting the Mosaic laws and building upon them.
30-33	Jesus's Ministry Jesus calls his twelve disciples apostles, giving them special authority. Others join the mission of the disciples and they are sent out to spread the gospel of Christ. Jesus and his apostles travel throughout Judea and Galilee. They teach through parables, perform miracles, and baptize believers.
33	Jesus is Crucified Jesus enters Jerusalem to the cheers of the people and the Temple hierarchy sees him as a threat. Jesus gives the greatest commandment upon his entrance into Jerusalem: "‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Following the Passover meal, the basis of the later Sacrament of the Eucharist, he is arrested for blasphemy. The Sanhedrin—the Jewish judicial body—puts him on trial and condemns him. Jewish authorities cannot inflict capital punishment, so they turn Jesus over to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, who condemns him at the insistence of the crowd. Jesus is crucified at a hill called Golgotha or Calvary. Through his death on the cross, he takes on himself the sins of the world, in what Christians call the atonement and redeems the sins of all mankind. Christians believe that belief in Jesus and this gift of grace, will lead to an eternal life in the presence of God in heaven. The body of Jesus is given to the disciples, and they bury him in what comes to be called "the Garden Tomb." Three days after his crucifixion, Jesus is resurrected. He appears to Mary Magdalene, and then to the apostles. Jesus preaches and is seen by many, then ascends into heaven.
33	The Christian Church Begins in Jerusalem Jesus’s disciple, Peter, assumes leadership of the church, placing the center of leadership at Jerusalem. On Pentecost, forty days after the Ascension, the Holy Spirit descends on the members of the church.
Early 1st century	The Missionary Activities of the Apostles Begin The apostles begin their ministry to preach to gospel to the world. As they preach, believers in Jesus suffer persecution by the Jewish establishment.
Mid 1st century	The Disciples are First Named "Christians" "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."
Mid/Late 1st century	The Disciples’ Missionary Work Expands According to the Bible, Peter is commanded in a vision to expand missionary efforts to include gentiles. The apostles travel and preach, establishing branches of the church in many cities of the Roman Empire, including Rome itself.
50-90	The Epistles are Authored and Circulated Letters by Apostle Paul, called epistles, circulate as instructions to specific Christian congregations. Epistles and historical records by other disciples would follow.
62	The Death of the Apostle James James, the brother of John, is beheaded by King Herod in Jerusalem.
64	Death of the Apostles Peter and Paul The Emperor Nero persecutes Christians in Rome. The Apostles Peter and Paul are martyred during this time.
70	Siege of Jerusalem General Vespasian, and then his son, Titus, (both later emperors of Rome) besieged Jerusalem, ending the last Jewish political entity of the ancient world.
73	Fall of Masada General Titus, after a three-year siege, destroys a group of zealot partisans in a mountaintop fortress called Masada; it is the last remnant of Jewish independence. During the 20th century, Masada becomes a symbol of Jewish nationalism, and is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

THE APOSTOLIC PERIOD

c. 150	Justin Writes His Apology Justin, a Greek philosopher born and raised in Shechem, Galilea, converts to Christianity. He writes The Apology, in which he uses Greek-style logical arguments to explain and justify his faith in Jesus. Justin believed that the Old Testament prophecies and Greek thought were both inspired by God. In Rome, Justin aggravates Crescens the Cynic, and is arrested, tortured and executed. He becomes known as "Justin Martyr."
c. 156	The Martyrdom of Polycarp Bishop Polycarp of Smyrna (modern-day Imzir, Turkey) is arrested and condemned to death, but is offered pardon if he denounces Christianity. He refuses and is burned at the stake. According to tradition, Polycarp was a student of the Apostle John. If so, he may have been the last link to Biblical Period leaders.
165	Christians in Rome Honor Peter A necropolis is built on the Vatican Hill as a memorial to Peter, traditionally considered the first Bishop of Rome.
c. 203	Origen Begins Writing Origen becomes the dean of a Christian school in Alexandria. There, he begins writing about Christianity and Christian doctrine. During his lifetime, he wrote over two thousand books on these topics. Like Justin Martyr, he believed that Greek philosophy and science were preparations for receiving religious truths. For what were viewed as heresies. Rome excommunicates Origen (an act that Eastern churches refuse to recognize), but not before he had become a world-famous scholar, winning acclaim as both the father of orthodoxy and the father of heresies.
251	Cyprian Gathers the Council of Carthage Bishop Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus of Carthage had gathered bishops and reads On the Unity of the Church, outlining his beliefs: First, the Church is the only way to salvation. Second, outside the Church, one cannot live a fully Christian life or receive salvation. Third, Jesus established the Church on Peter, and the bishops, as Peter's successors, hold his authority.
256	Pope Claims Apostolic Authority Pope Stephen becomes first known Bishop of Rome to claim authority as the Christian primate, based on Jesus’s commission to Peter.
285	Diocletian First Divides the Roman Empire Emperor Diocletian splits the Roman Empire into halves, drawing the division line between Italy and Greece. This division is subsequently withdrawn and reinstated by several later emperors.
312	The Roman Emperor Accepts Christianity Constantine receives a vision of a cross in the sky and hears, "By this sign, conquer," which precedes a military victory. Constantine is baptized and converts to Christianity just prior to his death.
313	The Roman Empire Legalizes Christianity Co-emperors Constantine and Licinius issue the Edict of Milan, which grants full legal rights to Christians within the Empire.
325	Nicene Creed The Council of Nicaea (modern-day Iznik, Turkey) adopts what becomes the Nicene Creed, still accepted by Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and many Protestant churches as a fundamental statement of their faith.
330	Constantine Moves the Capital of the Roman Empire Constantine establishes an eastern capital for the Empire at Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey).
364	The Roman Empire is Divided for the Final Time Emperor Valentinian I follows through with Diocletian’s original idea of splitting the Roman Empire in half. After Valentinian, the empire is permanently divided into the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire (also known as the Byzantine Empire).
367	Athanasius Begins the Formal Canonization of the New Testament Athanasius, the Orthodox Bishop of Alexandria, writes a letter listing twenty-seven works as canon43 for Christianity, later known as the New Testament. He includes on his list only books associated with the apostles (the assumed authors) and their acceptance by Christian churches, which often varied. Later, in 397, the Council of Carthage ratified the list, but disagreements continued for decades over its exact composition.
379	The Roman Emperor Abandons the Roman Religion Flavius Theodosius becomes emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (co-emperor with Valentinian at Rome). He is the first to refuse the title Pontifex Maximus of the Roman state religion.
380 Feb. 28	The Term "Catholic" is First Applied to Christians Emperor Theodosius is baptized and issues an edict: Only those who believe in the consubstantiality of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit can be considered catholic Christians. This is the earliest known use of the word "catholic" in a church document.
381	Nicene Creed Reaffirmed The Council of Constantinople reaffirms the Nicene Creed and adds Constantinople to the apostolic sees, placing it second in pre-eminence after Rome.
382	Jerome Translates the Bible into Latin Pope Damasus commissions Jerome to create an official Latin translation of the Bible. This version is known as the Vulgate Bible. The gospels are completed around 383 and the rest of the scriptures are finished around 405. It remains the basis of the Roman Catholic Bible.
413–426/427	The First Writings of the "Early Christian Fathers" Appear Augustine writes and publishes his City of God, a collection of twenty-two volumes refuting non-Christian claims of divine power and outlining the story of mankind. It is the earliest known work of those later called "the early Church fathers."
431	The Orthodox Council Creates the Orthodox Church of Cyprus The Third Ecumenical Council of Ephesus grants ecclesiastical independence to the Orthodox Church of Cyprus with the Archbishop of Nicosia (who is elected by the clergy and laity) as autocephalous head.
451	The Council of Chalcedon The Council of Chalcedon (present-day Kadiköy, Turkey) shapes all future Christological definitions concerning the humanity and divinity of Christ. Their answer is that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine.
451	Pope Saves Rome from Sack by the Huns Pope Leo I convinces Attila the Hun to withdraw from the north of the Danube. Leo, as Bishop of Rome, is formally given religious authority over Gaul, Spain, and North Africa by the Emperor Valentinian III.
476	Roman Church Survives the Fall of Rome Flavius Odoacer (or, Odovacer) conquers and sacks Rome; it is historically considered the fall of the Western Roman Empire. However, remnants of rulership remained under self-styled emperors who had established their capitals in other cities. The Roman Catholic Church is the only imperial organization to survive the sacking. The Eastern Empire (later referred to as the "Byzantine Empire") continues unscathed.
597	Rome Formalizes Ties with English Christians Sent as a missionary to England by Pope Gregory, Augustine establishes an episcopal see as Archbishopric of Canterbury, which becomes the symbolic seat of English Christianity.
c. 6th century	Orthodox Patriarch Creates Georgian Orthodox Church The Patriarch of Antioch grants ecclesiastical independence to the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Early/mid 6th century	The Athanasian Creed Appears The earliest known copy of the Athanasian Creed is part of a collection of homilies by Caesarius of Arles, who died in 542. This creed has been accepted by Roman Catholic and some Protestant churches and describes beliefs on the Trinity and the Incarnation of Jesus as son of God. It concludes with warnings that absolute adherence to these truths is essential to salvation. The use of this creed seems to have started in France and Spain (6th and 7th centuries). It then expanded to Germany (9th century) and arrived in Rome (after the 9th century). Although it has historically been attributed to Athanasius (died 373), scholars since the 17th century generally agree that it was written in France during the 5th century, perhaps by Vincent of Lérins (c. 440), whose surviving writings contain very similar wording.
Late 6th / early 7th century	The Apostles' Creed is Finalized The Apostles’ Creed reaches its present form. Based on earlier baptismal creeds, it is a statement of religious principles still accepted by the Roman Catholic church and many Protestant churches.
632-642	Destruction of Patriarchates Begins the Religious Divide Between West and the East Muslims capture Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. The episcopal sees cease to exist, leaving Rome (the heir of Peter) and Constantinople (the Emperor) as the seats of Christian religious authority.
751	The Pope Becomes a Diplomat With the approval of Pope Zachary, Pippin seizes the Frankish throne from Childeric III, the first known overt act of papal secular diplomacy.
753	Roman and Orthodox Churches Cut their Political Ties Pope Stephen II of Rome and the Frankish King Pepin the Younger form an alliance. The Pope sanctions Pepin’s family as Frankish royalty and Pepin commits himself to protect Rome. Rome's political ties to Constantinople and the Eastern Roman Empire are severed.
755-756	Roman Church Headquarters Become an Independent State Pepin successfully defends Rome against a Lombard attack. The "Donation of Pepin" grants to the Pope certain Italian territories, later called the Papal States. The Pope becomes a secular sovereign, a position he retains to the present as head of Vatican City.
800	Pope Becomes a King-Maker Charles I, king of the Franks since 768, defends Pope Leo III against accusations of misconduct; after extensive negotiations, Leo publically repents. On Dec. 25, Pope Leo crowns Charles as Holy Roman Emperor. He is called Charles the Great, or more popularly, Charlemagne.

Source : www.faithology.com