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Dmitri (Royster) of Dallas

2007-03-19T21:07:21Z

Jsames: /* Life */

[[Image:Arb. Dmitri 2.JPG|right|frame|Archbishop Dmitri of Dallas and the South]]
His Eminence the Most Reverend [[Archbishop]] '''Dmitri (Royster) of Dallas and the South''' is the ruling [[bishop]] of the [[OCA]]'s [[Diocese of the South (OCA)|Diocese of the South]]. He also was assigned as the Exarch of Mexico of the indigenous Mexican Orthodox Church/[[Exarchate]]. His consecration to the episcopate was the first of a convert in America.

==Life==
Abp. Dmitri was born '''Robert Royster''' on [[November 2]], 1923. As a teenager he lived in Teague, Texas (outside of Dallas), and was faithful to his conservative Baptist upbringing. But he, along with his sister, felt that there must be more to the Christian faith than his [[Protestantism|Protestant]] denomination was offering. After a period of inquiry and study, the two young teens were received, together, as Orthodox Christians, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Dallas in 1941. It was at this point that Robert adopted the name ''Dmitri'' (after St. [[Dmitri of Rostov]]). Dmitri was drafted into the US Army in March, 1943, where he served as a Japanese interpreter at the rank of Second Lieutenant. After his military service, he completed his education and served as an instructor of Spanish at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, later becoming a professor of Spanish at SMU. Dmitri also taught at Tulane University in New Orleans for a brief period. During these early years as an Orthodox Christian, Dmitri was active in [[missionary]] work among Mexican-Americans in Texas.

In 1954, he was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[priest]]hood within the [[Orthodox Church in America|Metropolia]]. After his ordination Fr. Dmitri founded St. Seraphim Church in Dallas. He continued his missionary activities among the Mexican-Americans. In 1965, he was contacted by Bishop [[Jose (Cortes y Olmos) of Mexico City|Jose (Cortes y Olmos)]] of the Mexican National Church who with his flock had become interested in becoming Orthodox. Fr. and then Bp. Dmitri presented their situation to the [[Holy Synod]] of the Metropolia. After many visits and exchanges, Bp. Dmitri presented his report recommending acceptance of the Mexican group into the Orthodox Church. After consideration, in February 1972, the Holy Synod, now of the Orthodox Church in America, accepted the Mexican group with formation of an Exarchate in Mexico, with Bp. Dmitri as Exarch.

During 1966, Fr. Dmitri attended [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St. Vladimir's Seminary]] in New York while concurrently teaching Spanish at Fordham University. In 1969, [[Archimandrite]] Dmitri was elected to the episcopate. Then on [[June 22]], he was [[Consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] Bishop of Berkeley as vicar to Abp. [[John (Shahovskoy) of San Francisco]]. The consecration of Bp. Dmitri was the first consecration of a [[convert]] to the episcopate in America. In 1970, Bp. Dmitri was assigned as Bishop of Washington, vicar to Metropolitan [[Ireney (Bekish) of New York|Ireney]]. On [[October 19]], 1971, Bp. Dmitri was elected Bishop of Hartford and New England while continuing as the Exarch of Mexico.

With the formation of the [[Diocese]] of Dallas and the South, Bp. Dmitri was elected its first ruling bishop in the 1970s and was charged with the development of the diocese, which at the time consisted of a few churches in Florida and Texas and several missions. In the 1980s, Bp. Dmitri was elevated to the rank of Archbishop. Under his leadership the Diocese of the South has grown to approximately 60 [[parish]]es and missions (as of 2005), and is one of the most vibrant dioceses of the Orthodox Church in America.

Archbishop Dmitri has authored several books. His theological writings include: Orthodox Christian Teaching: An Introduction to the Orthodox Faith; The Doctrine of Christ; The Parables of Christ; The Miracles of Christ; The Kingdom of God: The Sermon on the Mount; and The Epistle to the Hebrews, A Commentary, which was published in 2003. His Eminence is currently writing a Commentary on the Gospel According to St. Mark. He is also the editor of The Dawn, the Diocesan monthly newsletter.

[[Image:Arb Dmitri and Mission.JPG|thumb|250px|left|
Abp. Dmitri with Holy Apostles Mission in Tulsa, Oklahoma for Land Blessing]]

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before= see created|
title=Bishop of Berkeley|
years=1969-1970|
after=[[Benjamin (Peterson) of Berkeley|Benjamin (Peterson)]]}}
{{succession|
before=Jonah|
title=Bishop of Washington|
years=1970-1972|
after=[[Basil (Rodzianko) of San Francisco|Basil (Rodzianko)]]}}
{{succession|
before= ?|
title=Bishop of Hartford|
years=1972-197x|
after=[[Job (Osacky) of Chicago|Job (Osacky)]]}}
{{succession|
before=see created|
title=Archbishop of Dallas|
years=197x-present|
after=—}}
{{end box}}

==Source==
* ''Orthodox America 1794-1976 Development of the Orthodox Church in America'', C. J. Tarasar, Gen. Ed. 1975, The Orthodox Church in America, Syosett, New York.

==External links==
*[http://orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/resources/hierarchs/oca/current.htm#dmitri_arch Listing] at the Orthodox Research Institute
*[http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/006/5.46.html Tex-Mex Orthodoxy]: Article in Christianity Today on Abp. Dmitri by Khouria [[Frederica Mathewes-Green]]

[[Category:Bishops]]

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File:Arb Dmitri and Mission.JPG

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File:A Timeline of Church History Page 1 2.JPG

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Timeline of Church History

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Jsames: /* Apostolic era (33-100) */

The '''History of the Church''' is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of [[Jesus Christ]] to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic [[Holy Tradition]] of the [[Orthodox Church]].

[[Image:A Timeline of Church History Page 1 2.JPG]]

==Apostolic era (33-100)==
*33 The [[Holy Spirit]] descends on the day of [[Pentecost]], filling the followers of [[Jesus Christ]] with power from on high.
*34 St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] founds the See of Antioch.
*37 St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] travels to Britain and lands in Glastonbury.
*49 Apostolic Council of Jerusalem rules that Gentiles do not have to become Jews before becoming Christians.
*50 The [[Apostle Matthew]] finishes the [[Gospel of Matthew]] in Aramaic.
*62 Martyrdom of [[Apostle James the Just]], the Lord's brother and bishop of Jerusalem.
*63 St. [[Aristobulus]] consecrated as first Bishop of Britain.
*64-67 Persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero.
*64 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Paul]] in Rome.
*67 Martyrdom of the [[Apostle Peter]] in Rome; [[Apostle Linus]] elected first [[bishop]] of Rome.
*68 Suicide of Emperor Nero.
*69 St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] consecrated to the [[bishop|episcopacy]] in Antioch.
*70 [[Apostle Mark]] writes his [[Gospel of Mark|Gospel]]; the Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed by the Romans; expulsion of the Christians from the synagogues.
*71 [[Apostle Mark]] introduces Christianity to Egypt.
*75 Judea, Galilea and Samaria are renamed ''Palaestina'' by the Romans.
*80 [[Gospel of Luke]] written by the [[Apostle Luke]]; Jewish historian (and former general) [[Josephus]] writes the ''Antiquities''.
*85 [[Acts of the Apostles]] is composed by the [[Apostle Luke]].
*95 [[Apostle John]] writes the [[Book of Revelation]].
*96-98 Persecution of Christians under Emperor Domitian.
*96 [[Gospel of John]] written by [[Apostle John|that apostle]] as a supplement and further theological illumination of the [[Synoptic Gospels]].
*100 Death of the [[Apostle John]] the Theologian.

==Ante-Nicene era (100-325)==
*107 Martyrdom of [[Ignatius of Antioch]].
*130 [[Conversion]] of [[Justin Martyr]].
*132 Jews, led by Bar Kochba, whom some identify as the Messiah, revolt against Rome.
*135 [[Christmas]] instituted as a [[feast day|holy day]] in Rome.
*136 Emperor Hadrian crushes the Jewish resistance, forbids Jews from ever entering Jerusalem, and changes the name of the city to ''Aelia Capitolina''; first recorded use of the title ''Pope'' for the bishop of Rome by Pope [[Hyginus of Rome|Hyginus]].
*144 Excommunication of [[Marcion]] for his [[heresy|heretical]] rejection of the [[Old Testament]] and for his semi-[[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] teachings, particularly [[Docetism]].
*150 St. [[Justin Martyr]] describes the [[Divine Liturgy]].
*155 Martyrdom of [[Polycarp of Smyrna]].
*156 Beginning of [[Montanism]].
*165 Martyrdom of [[Justin Martyr|Justin]].
*180 St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]] writes ''Against Heresies''.
*190 [[Pantaenus]] founds the [[Alexandrian school|Catechetical School at Alexandria]].
*197 [[Quartodeciman]] controversy.
*200 Martyrdom of St. [[Irenaeus of Lyons]].
*203 Emperor Septimus Severus issues an edict against Christianity and [[Judaism]].
*206 King Abgar IX converts Edessa to Christianity.
*215 Conversion of [[Tertullian]] to [[Montanism]].
*225 Death of [[Tertullian]].
*232 Heraclas becomes Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria on the death of Demetrius.
*246 [[Paul of Thebes]] retreats to the Egyptian desert and becomes the first Christian hermit.
*249-251 Persecution under the Emperor Decius.
*251-253 Persecution under Emperor Gaius.
*253-260 Persecution under Emperor Valerian.
*260 [[Paul of Samosata]] begins his heretical preaching against the divinity of Christ.
*264 Excommunication of [[Paul of Samosata]].
*284 [[Diocletian]] ascends the Roman imperial throne, and begins the most severe persecution against the Christians. During his reign, an estimated 1 million [[martyr]]s are slain for Christ.
*285 St. [[Anthony the Great]] flees to the desert to pursue a life of prayer.
*301 St. [[Gregory the Illuminator]] converts King Tiridates I of Armenia to the Christian faith.
*304 [[Alban]], protomartyr of Britain, killed by Roman authorities.
*310 Armenia becomes the first Christian nation.
*311 Rebellion of the [[Donatism|Donatists]] in Carthage.
*312 Conversion of [[Constantine the Great]], who defeats Maxentius at the [[Battle of Milvian Bridge]] and becomes Emperor of the West.
*313 The [[Edict of Milan]] is issued by St. [[Constantine the Great]] and his co-emperor Licinius, officially declaring religious freedom in the Roman Empire and specifically naming toleration for Christianity.
*314 Condemnation of [[Donatism]] as a heresy.
*318 Publication of "De incarnatione" by St Athanasius. This influenced the condemnation of the teaching of [[Arius]]
*318 St. [[Pachomius the Great]], a disciple of [[Anthony the Great]], organizes a community of ascetics at Tabennis in Egypt, founding cenobitic [[monasticism]].
*320 Expulsion of [[Arius]] by St. [[Alexander of Alexandria]].
*323 [[Constantine the Great]] builds a church on the site of the martyrdom of St. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] in Rome.

==Nicene era (325-451)==
*325 [[First Ecumenical Council]] held in Nicea, condemning [[Arianism]], setting the [[Paschalion]], and issuing the first version of the [[Nicene Creed]].
*326 Discovery of the [[True Cross]] by the Empress St. [[Helen]]a.
*326 King Miraeus of Georgia becomes Christian.
*328 [[Athanasius the Great]] becomes bishop of Alexandria.
*329 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]] ordains St. [[Frumentius]] (Abba Selama) to the [[priest]]hood and commissions him to apostolic work in Ethiopia.
*330 Amoun and [[Macarius the Great]] found monasteries in the Egyptian desert.
*336 St [[Athanasius the Great]] of Alexandria goes into exile in Treves until 338. He told the Europeans about the rule of St [[Pachomius the Great]], thus awakening interest in [[monasticism]] in Europe
*340 Conversion of [[Wulfila]] to [[Arianism]], subsequently missionizing the Goths with his heretical doctrine.
*348 Death of St. [[Pachomius the Great]].
*350 St. [[Ninian]] establishes the church Candida Casa at Whithorn in Galloway, Scotland, beginning the missionary effort to the Picts.
*356 Death of St. [[Anthony the Great]].
*358 [[Basil the Great]] founds the monastery of Annesos in Pontus, the model for Eastern [[monasticism]].
*360 St. [[Martin of Tours]] founds first French monastery at Liguge.
*361 [[Julian the Apostate]] becomes Roman emperor.
*367 St. [[Athanasius of Alexandria]] writes his [[Pascha]]l letter, listing for the first time the [[canon]] of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Holy Scriptures]].
*373 Death of St [[Athanasius the Great]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*374 Election of [[Ambrose of Milan|Ambrose]] to the episcopacy of Milan.
*375 St. [[Basil the Great]] writes ''On the Holy Spirit'', confirming the divinity of the [[Holy Spirit]].
*376 Visigoths converted to [[Arianism|Arian]] Christianity.
*380 Christianity established as the official faith of the Roman Empire by Emperor St. [[Theodosius the Great]].
*381 [[Second Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, condemning [[Pneumatomachianism|Macedonianism/Pneumatomachianism]] and [[Appollinarianism]], declaring the divinity of the Holy Spirit, confirming the previous [[Ecumenical Council]], and completing the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]].
*395 St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] becomes bishop of Hippo.
*398 St. [[John Chrysostom]] becomes [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople.
*400 Translation of the [[Holy Scriptures]] into Latin as the [[Vulgate]] by St. [[Jerome]].
*401 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes the ''Confessions''.
*403 Abduction of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to serve as a slave; he escapes a while later and returns to Britain.
*407 Death of [[John Chrysostom]] in exile.
*410 Fall of Rome to the Visigoths.
*411 [[Pelagius]] condemned at a council in Carthage.
*412 St [[Cyril of Alexandria|Cyril]] succeeds his uncle Theophilus as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*415 [[Pelagius]] cleared at a [[synod]] in Jerusalem and a provincial synod in Diospolis (Lydda); St. [[John Cassian]] founds convent at Marseilles.
*416 Councils in Carthage and Milevis condemn [[Pelagius]] and convince Pope Innocent I of Rome to excommunicate him.
*418 A council in Carthage anathematizes [[Pelagianism]] by way of endorsing [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] anthropology.
*426 St. [[Augustine of Hippo]] writes ''The City of God''.
*428 [[Nestorius]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*431 [[Third Ecumenical Council]] held in Ephesus, condemning [[Nestorianism]] and [[Pelagianism]], confirming the use of the term ''[[Theotokos]]'' to refer to the Virgin Mary; the council also grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Cyprus]]; [[Palladius]] is sent by the Pope of Rome as a missionary bishop to Ireland.
*432 Return of [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]] to Ireland to begin missionary work.
*433 The [[Formulary of Peace]] completes the work of the [[Third Ecumenical Council]] by reconciling [[Cyril of Alexandria]] with [[John of Antioch]].
*444 Death of St [[Cyril of Alexandria|Cyril]], Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*445 Founding of the monastery at Armagh in northern Ireland.
*449 The "robber synod" of Ephesus. Dioscurus was chairman, with an order from the Emperor to acquit Eutyches.
*450 First monasteries established in Wales.

==Byzantine era (451-843)==
*451 [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]] meets at Chalcedon, condemning [[Eutychianism]] and [[Monophysitism]], affirming that Christ has two natures; this eventually led to a [[schism]], with the [[Church of Alexandria]] being divided into Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian factions, with a similar schism occurring in the [[Church of Antioch]] along with it.
*452 Proterios, who was appointed Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria to replace Dioscuros (who had been deposed at the Council of Chalcedon) convened a synod in Alexandria to try to reconcile the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian groups.
*466 [[Church of Antioch]] elevates the bishop of Mtskheta to the rank of Catholicos of Kartli, thus rendering the [[Church of Georgia]] [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*477 Bishop Timothy ("the Wild Cat") of Alexandria, who opposed the Council of Chalcedon, exiled the Orthodox bishops from Egypt.
*484 Founding of the Monastery of St. Sabbas in the Judean wilderness; Synod of Beth Papat in Persia declares the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian doctrine]] as the official theology of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]], centered in Edessa.
*488 Death of Peter the Fuller, the non-Chalcedonian Patriarch of Antioch.
*490 St. [[Brigid of Kildaire|Brigid]] founds the monastery of Kildare in Ireland.
*521 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] is born.
*529 The pagan University of Athens is closed, and replaced by a Christian university in Constantinople.
*529 St. [[Benedict of Nursia]] founds the monastery of Monte Cassino and codifies Western [[monasticism]]; [[Council of Orange]] condemns [[Pelagianism]].
*533 Mercurius is elected Pope of Rome and takes the name of [[John II of Rome|John II]], the first pope to change his name upon election.
*533 Foundation of the Diocese of Selefkia in Central Africa by the Emperor Justinian.
*534 Roman Empire destroys the Arian kingdom of the Vandals.
*537 Construction of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople begun by Emperor St. [[Justinian|Justinian the Great]].
*541 [[Jacob Baradeus]], bishop of Edessa, organizes the [[Oriental Orthodox|Non-Chalcedonian Church]] in western Syria (the "Jacobites"), which spreads to Armenia and Egypt (the "Copts").
*544 Founding of the monastery at Clonmacnoise in Ireland by St. [[Ciaran of Clonmacnoise|Ciaran]].
*546 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Derry in Ireland.
*553 [[Fifth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople in an attempt to reconcile the Chalcedonians with the non-Chalcedonians— the ''Three Chapters'' of [[Theodore of Mopsuestia]], [[Theodoret of Cyrrhus]], and [[Ibas of Edessa]] are condemned for their pro-[[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] nature, and [[Origen]] and his writings are also condemned.
*556 St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] founds the monastery of Durrow in Ireland.
*563 Consecration of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] in Constantinople; St. [[Columba of Iona|Columba]] arrives on [[Iona]] and establishes his [[monastery]] there.
*569 Final schism between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians in Egypt. Henceforth there were two Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria: the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Orthodox Patriarch. The Coptic Patriarch later moved to Cairo. The Chalcedonians (Greek Orthodox) were also called "Melkites".
*570 Birth of Mohammed, founder of [[Islam]].
*580 Monte Cassino is sacked by the Lombards and the monks flee to Rome.
*589 At the [[Council of Toledo]] in Spain, the [[Filioque]] is added to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]] in an attempt to combat [[Arianism]].
*590 Irish missionary St. [[Columbanus]] founds monasteries in France (Luxeuil in Burgundy).
*596 St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends St. [[Augustine of Canterbury|Augustine]] along with forty other monks to southern Britain to convert the pagans.
*601 [[Augustine of Canterbury]] converts King St. [[Ethelbert of Kent]] and establishes the see of Canterbury.
*615 Death of [[Columbanus]] in Italy.
*627 Pope St. [[Gregory the Dialogist]] sends Paulinus to found the see of York and convert King St. [[Edwin of Northumbria]].
*635 [[Lindisfarne]] sees the establishment of the monastery that would convert northern England by the missionary saint [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Aidan]], a monk from [[Iona]]; Cynegils, king of Wessex, converts to Christianity.
*636 Capture of [[Jerusalem]] by the Muslim Arabs.
*638 Arabs allow Jews to return to Jerusalem.
*639 Muslim conquest of Syria.
*641 The capture of the great city of Alexandria by Muslim Arabs.
*642 Muslim conquest of Egypt.
*650 Final defeat of [[Arianism]] as Lombards convert to Orthodox Christianity.
*657 Founding of [[Whitby Abbey]] in Yorkshire, England.
*662 Death of St Maximus the Confessor.
*663 Emperor Constans II is the last Eastern emperor to set foot in Rome.
*664 [[Synod of Whitby]] held in northern England, harmonizing Celtic and Roman liturgical practices in England; [[Iona|Ionian]] monk [[Wilfrid of York|Wilfrid]] appointed as Archbishop of York.
*668 St. [[Theodore of Tarsus]] is appointed as archbishop of Canterbury.
*670 Composition of ''Caedmon's Hymn'' by St. [[Caedmon]] of Whitby.
*680-681 [[Sixth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, condemning [[Monothelitism]] and affirming the [[Christology]] of St. [[Maximus the Confessor]], affirming that Christ has both a natural (human) will and a divine will. Patriarch [[Sergius of Constantinople]] and Pope [[Honorius of Rome]] are both explicitly [[anathema]]tized for their support of the Monothelite [[heresy]].
*685 First monastics come to [[Mount Athos]].
*687 Destruction of [[Whitby Abbey]] by Danish raiders.
*692 [[Quinisext Council]] (also called the ''Penthekte Council'' or the ''Council in Trullo'') is held in Constantinople, issuing [[canon]]s which are seen as completing the work of the Fifth and Sixth [[Ecumenical Councils]], and declaring the [[Church of Jerusalem]] to be a [[patriarchate]].
*698 Muslim conquest of Carthage.
*716 Monastery at [[Iona]] conforms to Roman liturgical usage.
*716 St [[Boniface]]'s first missionary journey to Frisia.
*726 Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] starts his campaign against the [[iconography|icons]].
*731 The Venerable [[Bede]] completes the ''[[Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]''.
*732 Muslim invasion of Europe is stopped by the Franks at the Battle of Tours.
*754 [[Iconoclastic Council]] is held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor [[Constantine V Copronymus]], condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
*754 Death of St Boniface, the Apostle of Germany.
*780 Death of St John of Damascus.
*787 [[Seventh Ecumenical Council]] is held in Nicea, condemning [[Iconoclasm]] and affirming the [[veneration]] of the [[iconography|holy icons]], declaring that worship is due to God alone, and that the honor paid to icons passes to its prototype.
*800 [[Charlemagne]] is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by [[Leo III of Rome]] on [[Christmas]] day.
*793 Sack of Lindisfarne. Viking attacks on England begin.
*826 St. [[Ansgar]] arrives in Denmark and begins preaching; King Harald Klak of Denmark converts to Christianity.
*836 Death of St Theodore the Studite.
*843 The [[Triumph of Orthodoxy]] occurs on the first Sunday of [[Great Lent]], restoring the [[iconography|icons]] to the churches.

==Late Byzantine era (843-1453)==
*846 Muslim raid of Rome.
*852 St. [[Ansgar]] founds the churches at Hedeby and Ribe in Denmark.
*858 St. [[Photius the Great]] becomes patriarch of Constantinople.
*861 Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]] depart from Constantinople to [[Church_of_Russia#Conversion_of_the_Slavs|missionize the Slavs]]; council presided over by papal legates held in Constantinople which confirms St. [[Photius the Great]] as patriarch.
*862 Ratislav of Moravia converts to Christianity.
*863 First translations of [[Holy Scripture|Biblical]] and liturgical texts into [[Church Slavonic]] by Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]].
*863 The Venetians steal relics of St Mark from Alexandria.
*864 Prince [[Boris of Bulgaria]] is [[baptism|baptized]].
*867 Council in Constantinople held, presided over by [[Photius the Great|Photius]], which anathematizes Pope [[Nicholas I of Rome]] for his attacks on the work of Greek missionaries in Bulgaria and the use by papal missionaries of the heretical [[Filioque]]; Pope Nicholas dies before hearing the news of his excommunication; [[Basil the Macedonian]] has Emperor [[Michael III]] murdered and usurps the Imperial throne, reinstating Ignatius as patriarch of Constantinople.
*869-870 The [[Robber Council of 869-870]] is held, deposing St. [[Photius the Great]] from the Constantinopolitan see and putting the rival claimant Ignatius on the throne, declaring itself to be the "Eighth Ecumenical Council."
*870 Conversion of Serbia.
*877 Death of St. [[Ignatius I of Constantinople]], who appoints St. [[Photius the Great|Photius]] to succeed him.
*879-880 The [[Eighth Ecumenical Council]] is held in Constantinople, confirming [[Photius the Great|Photius]] as Patriarch of Constantintople, anathematizing additions to the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed]], and declaring that the prerogatives and jurisdiction of the Roman pope and the Constantinopolitan patriarch are essentially equal; this council is reluctantly accepted by Pope [[John VIII of Rome]].
*883 Muslims burn the monastery of Monte Cassino.
*885 [[Mount Athos]] gains political autonomy.
*885 Death of St Methodius, apostle to the Slavs.
*911 Russian envoys visit Constantinople to ratify a treaty, sent by Oleg, Grand Prince of Rus'.
*912 Normans become Christian.
*957 St [[Olga of Kiev|Olga]] is baptised in Constantinople.
*962 Denmark becomes a Christian nation with the [[baptism]] of King Harald Blaatand ("Bluetooth").
*963 St. [[Athanasius of Athos]] establishes the first major monastery on [[Mount Athos]], the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]].
*973. Moravia assigned to the Diocese of Prague, putting the West Slavic tribes under the jurisdiction of the German Church.
*988 [[Baptism of Rus']] begins with the conversion of St. [[Vladimir of Kiev]].
*995 St. [[Olaf of Norway]] proclaims Norway to be a Christian kingdom.
*1000 Christianization of Greenland and Iceland.
*1008 Conversion of Sweden.
*1009 Patriarch [[Sergius II of Constantinople]] removes the name of Pope [[Sergius IV of Rome]] from the diptychs of the [[Church of Constantinople]], because the pope had written a letter to the patriarch including the [[Filioque]]; Muslims destroy the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in Jerusalem.
*1014 [[Filioque]] used for the first time in Rome by Pope [[Benedict VIII of Rome|Benedict VIII]] at the coronation of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
*1015 Death of St [[Vladimir of Kiev]], Prince of Rus', apostle of the Russians and Ruthenians.
*1017 Danish king Canute converts to Christianity.
*1022 Death of St Simeon the New Theologian.
*1051 [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves]] founded.
*1054 Cardinal [[Humbert]] excommunicates [[Michael Cerularius]], Patriarch of Consantinople, a major centerpoint in the formation of the [[Great Schism]] between East and West.
*1059 Errors of Berengar of Tours conemned in Rome. The term "transsubstantiation" begins to come in to use, ascribed to Peter Damian (1007-1072).
*1066 Normans invade England flying the banner of the Pope of Rome, defeating King [[Harold of England]] at the Battle of Hastings, beginning the reformation of the church and society there to align with Latin continental ecclesiology and politics.
*1071 Turkish capture of Jerusalem.
*1073 Hildebrand becomes Pope [[Grgeory VII of Rome|Gregory VII]] and launches the "Gregorian" reforms (celibacy of the clergy, primacy of the papacy over the empire, right of the Pope to depose emperors).
*1075 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem.
*1088 Founding of monastery of St. [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] on Patmos.
*1095 Launching of the First Crusade.
*1096 Persecution of Jews by Crusaders.
*1098 Anselm of Canterbury completes his "Cur Deus homo", marking a radical divergence of Western theology of the atonement from that of the East.
*1098 Crusaders capture Antioch.
*1099 Crusaders capture Jerusalem.
*1119 Order of Knights Templar founded.
*1144 Bernard of Clairvaux calls for a Second Crusade to rescue the besieged Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, and Louis VII of France and Konrad III of Germany join the Crusaders, but they are defeated by the Muslims. Muslims take Christian stronghold of Edessa.
*1180 Last formal, canonical acceptance of Latins to communion at an Eastern altar in Antioch.
*1187 Saladin retakes Jerusalem.
*1189 Third Crusade is led by King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England, King Philip Augustus II of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
*1204 Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [[Sacking of Constantinople|sack Constantinople]], laying waste to the city and stealing many holy [[relics]] and other items; [[Great Schism]] generally regarded as having been completed by this act.
*1235 Death of St Sava of Serbia.
*1237 Golden Horde (Mongols) begin [[Church_of_Russia#Mongol_Tartars_over_Russia_.281237-1448.29|subjugation of Russia]].
*1240 Mongols sack Kiev. Prince Alexander Yaroslavich (Nevsky) defeats the Swedish army at the Battle of the Neva.
*1242 Prince Alexander Nevsky's Novgorodian force defeats the Teutonic Knights in the Battle of Lake Peipus, a major defeat for the Catholic crusaders.
*1258 Michael Paleologus seizes the throne of the Nicaean Empire, founding the last Roman (Byzantine) dynasty. He begins the reconquest of the Greek peninusla from the Latins.
*1261 End of Latin occupation of Constantinople.
*1268 Egyptian Mamelukes capture Antioch.
*1291 Fall of Acre. End of crusading in the Holy Land.
*1336 Meteora in Greece is established as a center of Orthodox [[monasticism]].
*1341-1351 Three sessions of the [[Ninth Ecumenical Council]] held in Constantinople, affirming the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] theology of St. [[Gregory Palamas]] and condemning the rationalistic philosophy of [[Barlaam of Calabria]].
*1344 Death of Amda Syon, Emperor of Ethiopia.
*1349 Prince Stephen Dushan of Serbia assumes the title of Tsar (Caesar).
*1354 Ottoman Turks make first settlement in Europe, at Gallipoli.
*1359 Death of St [[Gregory Palamas]], Athonite monk and Archbishop of Thessalonica.
*1379 Western "Great Schism" ensues, seeing the simultaneous reign of three Popes of Rome.
*1383 St Stephen of Perm, missionary to the Zyrians, consecrated bishop.
*1389 Serbs are defeated by Ottoman Turks of Sultan Murad I at the battle of Kosovo Polje.
*1396 First English Bible translated by John Wyclif.
*1417 End of Western "Great Schism" at the Council of Constance.
*1439 Ecclesiastical reunion with the West is attempted at the [[Council of Florence]], where only St. [[Mark of Ephesus]] refuses to capitulate to the demands of the delegates from Rome.
*1448 [[Church of Russia]] declares its independence from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to the invasion of the Ottoman Turks. End of the Roman Empire in the East.

==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
*1455 Gutenberg makes the first printed [[Bible]].
*1480 Spanish Inquisition.
*1492 Millennian speculation in Moscow. The Church calendar ended in 1492, and many were convinced that it marked the end of the seventh and last millennium in the world's history.
*1503 Council at which controversy arose between St Nil Sorsky and St Joseph of Volokalamsk about monastic landholding. Joseph's party were known as the Possessors and the Trans-Volga hermits as the [[Church_of_Russia#Non-Possessors|Nonpossessors]].
*1517 St Maximus the Greek invited to Russia to translate the Greek service books and correct the Russian ones.
*1517 Martin Luther nails his ''Ninety-Five Theses'' to the door at Wittenburg, sparking the Protestant Reformation; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria, when Joakim the Athenian was Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
*1526 Nonpossessors attack Tsar Vassily (Basil) III for divorcing his wife, and are driven underground.
*1534 King Henry VIII declares himself supreme head of the Church of England.
*1536 Publication of John Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian religion".
*1540 Death of Emperor Lebna Dengel of Ethiopia.
*1541 Portuguese expeditionary force arrives in Ethiopia.
*1542 Ethiopians and Portuguese defeat Ahmad ibn Ibrahim Gran of Adal, thus neutralising Adal threat to Ethiopia.
*1547 Council of Trent held to answer the Protestant Reformation.
*1551 Council of the Hundred Chapters in Russia.
*1552 Death of St Basil the blessed, Fool for Christ, critic of Ivan IV Grozny, for whom St Basil's Cathedral in Red Square is named.
*1555 Archbishop Gurian missionary in Kazan (until 1564).
*1564 Jesuits arrive in Poland.
*1569 Martyrdom of St Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow, at the hands of Ivan IV Grozny.
*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].
*1581 Ostrozhsky Bible printed by Prince Kurbsky and Ivan Fedorov.
*1582 Institution of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII.
*1589 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Russia]] recognized; the [[primate]] of the [[Church of Russia]] is styled as "[[patriarch]]."
*1596 At the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Russia]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church.
*1627 Pope and Patriarch Cyril Lukaris of Alexandria presented the famous "Codex Alexandrinus" to King Charles I of England for "safe keeping".
*1642 The [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Moghila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology. Also confirms the canonicity of certain of the deuterocanonical books.
*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customes, leading to the excommunication of dissenters, who become known as the [[Old Believers]].
*1647 An Orthodox Church is erected in Tunisia.
*1652 A school and hospital were established in Old Cairo by Patriarch Joannikios.
*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing, China by the [[Church of Russia]].
*1715 Metropolitan Arsenios of Thebaid sent to England by Pope and Patriarch Samuel of Alexandria to negotiate with non-juror Anglican bishops (those who had refused to take the oath to William and Mary).
*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
*1767 A community of Orthodox Greeks establishes itself in New Smyrna, Florida.
*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland.
*1782 First publication of the ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1794 Missionaries, including St. [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska.
*1811 [[Autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]] revoked by the Russian imperial state after Georgia's annexation, making it subject to the [[Church of Russia]].

==Modern era (1821-present)==
*1821 Greek independence declared on the Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]).
*1829 The Treaty of Adrianople ends the Greek War of Independence, culminating in the creation of the modern Greek state.
*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]].
*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1848 ''[[Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs]]'' sent by the primates and synods of the four ancient patriarchates of the Orthodox Church, condemning the [[Filioque]] as heresy, declaring the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to be [[heresy|heretical]], [[schism]]atic, and in [[apostasy]], repudiating [[Ultramontanism]] and referring to the Photian Council of 879-880 as the "[[Eighth Ecumenical Council]]."
*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Greece]].
*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared dogma by [[Roman Catholic Church]].
*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by the First Vatican Council.
*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks.
*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan.
*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be a [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.
*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Serbia]].
*1881 Wave of anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia causes mass migrations of Jews (2.5 million Jews settle in the United States, thousands settle in Palestine).
*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Romania]].
*1898 Last Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed.
*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]].
*1905 Seat of Orthodox bishop in America moved from San Francisco to New York, as immigration from Eastern Europe and the reception of ex-[[Uniate]]s shifts the balance of Orthodox population to eastern North America.
*1908 Fr Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the first Orthodox priest there. After a short time he left for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans.
*1917 [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by the political chaos in Russia.
*1918 The Bolshevik Revolution throws the [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Orthodox mission in America; St. [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov]], Tsar of Russia is martyred together with his wife St. [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children.
*c1921 The [[Church of Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, and the Patriarch of Alexandria is henceforth known as the Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and all Africa]].
*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by the [[Church of Constantinople]].
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Poland]].
*1924 Bishop Daniel William Alexander convenes a meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the African Orthodox Church in New York under George McGuire.
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]].
*1925 First Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptised in Tanganyika by Fr Nikodemos Sarikas.
*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of the African Orthodox Church. Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established.
*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, and establish African Orthodox Church there.
*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, and establishes African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna.
*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Albania]].
*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded.
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1943 First constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna.
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts is discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria. The Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognises and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda.
*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] are discovered near Qumran in Egypt.
*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II).
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to the [[Church of China]].
*1958 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] with the reception of multiple [[Western Rite]] parishes into Orthodoxy.
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including the abolition of the ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and the introduction of the Novus Ordo.
*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the excommunications of 1054.
*1967 [[Church of Macedonia]] declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]]. To date, this declaration has not been recognised by any other Orthodox Church.
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America]] reconciles with the [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]]. The Church of Russia grants autonomy to the [[Church of Japan]].
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metropolitan [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Archbishop [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]].
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]].
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at the [[Antiochian Village]] held by the majority of Orthodox hierarchs in North America votes to do away with the notion of Orthodox Christians in America being a "diaspora."
*1998 [[Church of Constantinople]], not recognizing Russia's right to issue a [[tomos]] of [[autocephaly]] in 1951, issues its own tomos for the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
*2003 The [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] is granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by the [[Church of Antioch]].
*2004 Pope John Paul II returns the [[relics]] of Ss. [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to the [[Church of Constantinople]].

==Notes==
*Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.
*The division of Church History into separate eras as we do here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though we have tried to group periods according to major watershed events.
*This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the [[Orthodox Church]], though a number of non-Orthodox events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]

==Published works==

The following are published writings that provide an overview of Church history:

'''From an Orthodox perspective'''

* [[Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia|Ware, Timothy]]. ''The Orthodox Church: New Edition''. (ISBN 0140146563)

'''From a [[Heterodox]] perspective'''

* Boer, Harry R. ''A Short History of the Early Church''. (ISBN 0802813399)
* Cairns, Earle E. ''Christianity Through the Centuries: A History of the Christian Church''. (ISBN 0310208122)
* Chadwick, Henry. ''The Early Church''. (ISBN 0140231994)
* Collins, Michael, ed.; Price, Matthew Arlen. ''Story of Christianity: A Celebration of 2000 Years of Faith''. (ISBN 0789446057)
* Eusebius Pamphilus; Cruse, C.F. (translator). ''Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History''. (ISBN 1565633717)
* Gonzalez, Justo L. ''A History of Christian Thought, Volume 1: From the Beginnings to the Council of Chalcedon''. (ISBN 0687171822)
* Gonzalez, Justo L. ''A History of Christian Thought, Volume 2: From Augustine to the Eve of the Reformation''. (ISBN 0687171830)
* Gonzalez, Justo L. ''A History of Christian Thought, Volume 3: From the Protestant Reformation to the Twentieth Century''. (ISBN 0687171849)
* Gonzalez, Justo L. ''The Story of Christianity, Volume 1: The Early Church to the Reformation''. (ISBN 0060633158)
* Gonzalez, Justo L. ''The Story of Christianity, Volume 2: Reformation to the Present Day''. (ISBN 0060633166)
* Hall, Stuart G. ''Doctrine and Practice in the Early Church''. (ISBN 0802806295)
* Hastings, Adrian, ed. ''A World History of Christianity''. (ISBN 0802848753)
* Hussey, J. M. ''The Orthodox Church in the Byzantine Empire: Oxford History of the Christian Church''. (ISBN 0198264569)
* Jones, Timothy P. ''Christian History Made Easy''. (ISBN 1890947105)
* Noll, Mark A. ''Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity''. (ISBN 080106211X)
* [[Jaroslav Pelikan|Pelikan, Jaroslav]]. ''The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, Volume 1: The Emergence of the Catholic Tradition (100-600)''. (ISBN 0226653714)
* Pelikan, Jaroslav. ''The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, Volume 2: The Spirit of Eastern Christendom (600-1700)''. (ISBN 0226653730)
* Pelikan, Jaroslav. ''The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, Volume 3: The Growth of Medieval Theology (600-1300)''. (ISBN 0226653749)
* Pelikan, Jaroslav. ''The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, Volume 4: Reformation of Church and Dogma (1300-1700)''. (ISBN 0226653773)
* Pelikan, Jaroslav. ''The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, Volume 5: Christian Doctrine and Modern Culture (since 1700)''. (ISBN 0226653803)
* Schaff, Philip. ''History of the Christian Church''. (ISBN 156563196X)
* Wace, Henry; Piercy, William C., ed. ''A Dictionary of Christian Biography: Literature to the End of the Sixth Century A.D. With an Account of the Principal Sects and Heresies''. (ISBN 1565630572)
* Walton, Robert C. ''Chronological and Background Charts of Church History''. (ISBN 0310362814)

==External links==

*[http://saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html A Timeline of Church History] provided by [http://saintignatiuschurch.org/ St. Ignatius of Antioch Orthodox Christian Church]

===History of Orthodox Christianity===
A 3-part series by GOTelecom - QuickTime format

* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] - Journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] - After the stabilization of the Church, the journey continues through the period of the Nicene Creed, Patristic Scriptures, Divine Liturgy and Icons. During this same period, however, the official division of East and West is witnessed and concludes with a gradual rift in matters of faith, dogma, church customs, politics and culture
* [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] - The Church becomes the only institution perceived by Greeks as the preserver of their national identity during 400 years of Turkish rule. By the end of the 19th century, a worldwide Orthodox community is born and the Church expands its influence to major social and philanthropic concerns

[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Featured Articles]]

[[bg:Времева лини�? на църковната и�?тори�?]]

Dmitri (Royster) of Dallas

2007-03-16T15:10:32Z

Jsames: /* Life */

[[Image:Arb. Dmitri 2.JPG|right|frame|Archbishop Dmitri of Dallas and the South]]
His Eminence the Most Reverend [[Archbishop]] '''Dmitri (Royster) of Dallas and the South''' is the ruling [[bishop]] of the [[OCA]]'s [[Diocese of the South (OCA)|Diocese of the South]]. He also was assigned as the Exarch of Mexico of the indigenous Mexican Orthodox Church/[[Exarchate]]. His consecration to the episcopate was the first of a convert in America.

==Life==
Abp. Dmitri was born '''Robert Royster''' on [[November 2]], 1923. As a teenager he lived in Teague, Texas (outside of Dallas), and was faithful to his conservative Baptist upbringing. But he, along with his sister, felt that there must be more to the Christian faith than his [[Protestantism|Protestant]] denomination was offering. After a period of inquiry and study, the two young teens were received, together, as Orthodox Christians, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Dallas in 1941. It was at this point that Robert adopted the name ''Dmitri'' (after St. [[Dmitri of Rostov]]). Dmitri was drafted into the US Army in March, 1943, where he served as a Japanese interpreter at the rank of Second Lieutenant. After his military service, he completed his education and served as an instructor of Spanish at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, later becoming a professor of Spanish at SMU. Dmitri also taught at Tulane University in New Orleans for a brief period. During these early years as an Orthodox Christian, Dmitri was active in [[missionary]] work among Mexican-Americans in Texas.

In 1954, he was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[priest]]hood within the [[Orthodox Church in America|Metropolia]]. After his ordination Fr. Dmitri founded St. Seraphim Church in Dallas. He continued his missionary activities among the Mexican-Americans. In 1965, he was contacted by Bishop [[Jose (Cortes y Olmos) of Mexico City|Jose (Cortes y Olmos)]] of the Mexican National Church who with his flock had become interested in becoming Orthodox. Fr. and then Bp. Dmitri presented their situation to the [[Holy Synod]] of the Metropolia. After many visits and exchanges, Bp. Dmitri presented his report recommending acceptance of the Mexican group into the Orthodox Church. After consideration, in February 1972, the Holy Synod, now of the Orthodox Church in America, accepted the Mexican group with formation of an Exarchate in Mexico, with Bp. Dmitri as Exarch.

During 1966, Fr. Dmitri attended [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St. Vladimir's Seminary]] in New York while concurrently teaching Spanish at Fordham University. In 1969, [[Archimandrite]] Dmitri was elected to the episcopate. Then on [[June 22]], he was [[Consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] Bishop of Berkeley as vicar to Abp. [[John (Shahovskoy) of San Francisco]]. The consecration of Bp. Dmitri was the first consecration of a [[convert]] to the episcopate in America. In 1970, Bp. Dmitri was assigned as Bishop of Washington, vicar to Metropolitan [[Ireney (Bekish) of New York|Ireney]]. On [[October 19]], 1971, Bp. Dmitri was elected Bishop of Hartford and New England while continuing as the Exarch of Mexico.

With the formation of the [[Diocese]] of Dallas and the South, Bp. Dmitri was elected its first ruling bishop in the 1970s and was charged with the development of the diocese, which at the time consisted of a few churches in Florida and Texas and several missions. In the 1980s, Bp. Dmitri was elevated to the rank of Archbishop. Under his leadership the Diocese of the South has grown to approximately 60 [[parish]]es and missions (as of 2005), and is one of the most vibrant dioceses of the Orthodox Church in America.

[[Image:Arb Dmitri and Mission.JPG]]

Archbishop Dmitri with Holy Apostles Mission in Tulsa, Oklahoma for Land Blessing

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before= see created|
title=Bishop of Berkeley|
years=1969-1970|
after=[[Benjamin (Peterson) of Berkeley|Benjamin (Peterson)]]}}
{{succession|
before=Jonah|
title=Bishop of Washington|
years=1970-1972|
after=[[Basil (Rodzianko) of San Francisco|Basil (Rodzianko)]]}}
{{succession|
before= ?|
title=Bishop of Hartford|
years=1972-197x|
after=[[Job (Osacky) of Chicago|Job (Osacky)]]}}
{{succession|
before=see created|
title=Archbishop of Dallas|
years=197x-present|
after=—}}
{{end box}}

==Source==
* ''Orthodox America 1794-1976 Development of the Orthodox Church in America'', C. J. Tarasar, Gen. Ed. 1975, The Orthodox Church in America, Syosett, New York.

==External links==
*[http://orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/resources/hierarchs/oca/current.htm#dmitri_arch Listing] at the Orthodox Research Institute
*[http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/006/5.46.html Tex-Mex Orthodoxy]: Article in Christianity Today on Abp. Dmitri by Khouria [[Frederica Mathewes-Green]]

[[Category:Bishops]]

User:Jsames

2007-03-16T14:15:28Z

Jsames: New page: '''John G. Sames '''Tulsa, Oklahoma''' ---- Image:jsames.jpg Founding member of Holy Apostles Orthodox Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma of the Orthodox Church in America (http://tulsa.orthod...

'''John G. Sames

'''Tulsa, Oklahoma'''

----
[[Image:jsames.jpg]]

Founding member of Holy Apostles Orthodox Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma of the Orthodox Church in America (http://tulsa.orthodoxinternet.com/) (http://www.oca.org/DIRlisting.asp?SID=9&KEY=OCA-SO-TULHAM). First generation American of Greek descent. Mother Helen was from Kalamata, Greece; father Anastaci was born in Oklahoma City from parents John and Anna from Stefani, Greece. Was raised attending St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Oklahoma City. Moved to Tulsa in 1985 and attended Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Active in all aspects of the parish life including chanting, choir, parish council, building committees and auxiliary organizations. Currently proto-reader at Holy Apostles; Father and Grandfather were psalti in the Church. Hold BS in Accounting from Northeastern Oklahoma State University and an MBA from Oklahoma City University. Married to Elaine, one child Jesse (Peter) who is 10 years old.

Dmitri (Royster) of Dallas

2007-03-15T22:21:31Z

Jsames:

His Eminence the Most Reverend [[Archbishop]] '''Dmitri (Royster) of Dallas and the South''' is the ruling [[bishop]] of the [[OCA]]'s [[Diocese of the South (OCA)|Diocese of the South]]. He also was assigned as the Exarch of Mexico of the indigenous Mexican Orthodox Church/[[Exarchate]]. His consecration to the episcopate was the first of a convert in America.[[Image:Arb. Dmitri 2.JPG]]

==Life==
Abp. Dmitri was born '''Robert Royster''' on [[November 2]], 1923. As a teenager he lived in Teague, Texas (outside of Dallas), and was faithful to his conservative Baptist upbringing. But he, along with his sister, felt that there must be more to the Christian faith than his [[Protestantism|Protestant]] denomination was offering. After a period of inquiry and study, the two young teens were received, together, as Orthodox Christians, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Dallas in 1941. It was at this point that Robert adopted the name ''Dmitri'' (after St. [[Dmitri of Rostov]]). Dmitri was drafted into the US Army in March, 1943, where he served as a Japanese interpreter at the rank of Second Lieutenant. After his military service, he completed his education and served as an instructor of Spanish at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, later becoming a professor of Spanish at SMU. Dmitri also taught at Tulane University in New Orleans for a brief period. During these early years as an Orthodox Christian, Dmitri was active in [[missionary]] work among Mexican-Americans in Texas.

In 1954, he was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[priest]]hood within the [[Orthodox Church in America|Metropolia]]. After his ordination Fr. Dmitri founded St. Seraphim Church in Dallas. He continued his missionary activities among the Mexican-Americans. In 1965, he was contacted by Bishop [[Jose (Cortes y Olmos) of Mexico City|Jose (Cortes y Olmos)]] of the Mexican National Church who with his flock had become interested in becoming Orthodox. Fr. and then Bp. Dmitri presented their situation to the [[Holy Synod]] of the Metropolia. After many visits and exchanges, Bp. Dmitri presented his report recommending acceptance of the Mexican group into the Orthodox Church. After consideration, in February 1972, the Holy Synod, now of the Orthodox Church in America, accepted the Mexican group with formation of an Exarchate in Mexico, with Bp. Dmitri as Exarch.

During 1966, Fr. Dmitri attended [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St. Vladimir's Seminary]] in New York while concurrently teaching Spanish at Fordham University. In 1969, [[Archimandrite]] Dmitri was elected to the episcopate. Then on [[June 22]], he was [[Consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] Bishop of Berkeley as vicar to Abp. [[John (Shahovskoy) of San Francisco]]. The consecration of Bp. Dmitri was the first consecration of a [[convert]] to the episcopate in America. In 1970, Bp. Dmitri was assigned as Bishop of Washington, vicar to Metropolitan [[Ireney (Bekish) of New York|Ireney]]. On [[October 19]], 1971, Bp. Dmitri was elected Bishop of Hartford and New England while continuing as the Exarch of Mexico.

With the formation of the [[Diocese]] of Dallas and the South, Bp. Dmitri was elected its first ruling bishop in the 1970s and was charged with the development of the diocese, which at the time consisted of a few churches in Florida and Texas and several missions. In the 1980s, Bp. Dmitri was elevated to the rank of Archbishop. Under his leadership the Diocese of the South has grown to approximately 60 [[parish]]es and missions (as of 2005), and is one of the most vibrant dioceses of the Orthodox Church in America.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before= ?|
title=Bishop of Berkeley|
years=1969-1970|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=Jonah|
title=Bishop of Washington|
years=1970-1972|
after=[[Basil (Rodzianko) of San Francisco|Basil (Rodzianko)]]}}
{{succession|
before= ?|
title=Bishop of Hartford|
years=1972-197x|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=—|
title=Archbishop of Dallas|
years=197x-present|
after=—}}
{{end box}}

==Source==
* ''Orthodox America 1794-1976 Development of the Orthodox Church in America'', C. J. Tarasar, Gen. Ed. 1975, The Orthodox Church in America, Syosett, New York.

==External links==
*[http://orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/resources/hierarchs/oca/current.htm#dmitri_arch Listing] at the Orthodox Research Institute
*[http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/006/5.46.html Tex-Mex Orthodoxy]: Article in Christianity Today on Abp. Dmitri by Khouria [[Frederica Mathewes-Green]]

[[Category:Bishops]]