Difference between revisions of "Timeline of Church History"

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*1452 Unification of Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches in [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] on West's terms, when Emperor [[Constantine XI Palaiologos]], under pressure from Rome, allows the union to be proclaimed.   
 
*1452 Unification of Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches in [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] on West's terms, when Emperor [[Constantine XI Palaiologos]], under pressure from Rome, allows the union to be proclaimed.   
 
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to invasion of the Ottoman Turks, ending Roman Empire; [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] turned into a mosque; martyrdom of [[Constantine XI Palaiologos]], last of the [[List of Byzantine Emperors|Byzantine Emperors]]; many Greek scholars escape to the West with books that become translated into Latin, triggering the [[w:Renaissance|Renaissance]].
 
*1453 [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople falls]] to invasion of the Ottoman Turks, ending Roman Empire; [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] turned into a mosque; martyrdom of [[Constantine XI Palaiologos]], last of the [[List of Byzantine Emperors|Byzantine Emperors]]; many Greek scholars escape to the West with books that become translated into Latin, triggering the [[w:Renaissance|Renaissance]].
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==Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)==
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:''Main article: [[Timeline of Church History (Post-Imperial Era (1453-1821))]]''
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*1455 Gutenberg makes first printed [[Bible]]. 
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*1455-56 ''Confession of Faith'' by Patr. Gennadius of Constantinople. 
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*1456-1587 Byzantine [[w:Pammakaristos Church|Church of Theotokos Pammakaristos]] became the seat of the [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]].       
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*1492 Millennialist movements in Moscow, due to end of church calendar (year 7,000, according to the [[Byzantine Creation Era|Byzantine Date of Creation]]). 
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*1503 [[Church of Russia#Non-Possessors|Possessor and Non-Possessor controversy]].     
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*1516 Desiderius Erasmus publishes "[[w:Textus Receptus|Textus Receptus]]" of New Testament on the basis of six late manuscripts of the Byzantine text-type. 
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*1517 [[Maximus the Greek]] invited to Russia to translate Greek service books and correct Russian ones; Ottomans conquer Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria.     
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*1526 [[Non-Possessors]] attack Tsar Vassily III for divorcing his wife and are driven underground.   
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*1529 First Ottoman [[w:Siege of Vienna|Siege of Vienna]], marking Ottoman Empire's apex and end of Ottoman expansion in central Europe.               
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*1551 [[Council of the Hundred Chapters]] in Russia. 
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*1552 Death of [[Basil the Blessed]].   
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*1555 Abp. Gurian begins mission to Kazan.     
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*1568 Pope Pius V recognizes four Great [[w:Doctor of the Church|Doctors]] of the Eastern Church, [[John Chrysostom]], [[Basil the Great]], [[Gregory the Theologian|Gregory of Nazianzus]], and [[Athanasius of Alexandria|Athanasius]].     
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*1569 [[w:Union of Lublin|Union of Lublin]] unites Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania into a single state, the [[w:Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth|Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]], placing the [[w:Ruthenians|Ruthenian]] Orthodox lands of Belarus, and modern Ukraine under direct Roman Catholic rule. 
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*1571 Restoration of [[Church of Cyprus]] to Orthodox rule.   
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*1573-81 Correspondence of Patr. [[Jeremias II of Constantinople]] with Lutherans. 
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*1575 [[Church of Constantinople]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of Sinai]].       
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*1582 Institution of the [[Gregorian Calendar]] by Pope Gregory XIII.
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*1583 [[Sigillion of 1583]] issued against [[Gregorian Calendar]] by council convened in Constantinople. 
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*1587-Present. The relatively modest [[w:Church of St. George, Istanbul|Church of St George]] in the Phanar district of Istanbul becomes the seat of the [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]]. 
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*1589 [[Autocephaly]] and [[canonical territory]] of [[Church of Russia]] recognized, as Patr. Jeremias II of Constantinople raises Metr. Job of Moscow to the rank of [[Patriarch]] of Moscow and of All Russia. 
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*1596 [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], several million Ukrainian and Byelorussian Orthodox Christians, living under Polish rule, leave the [[Church of Constantinople]] and recognize the Pope of Rome, without giving up their Byzantine liturgy and customs, creating the [[Uniate]] church. 
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*ca. 1600-1700 Conversion of Albania to Islam mainly through discriminatory tax system, the ''Djize''.         
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*1625 ''Confession of Faith'' by Metrophanes Kritopoulos written. 
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*1627 Pope [[Cyril Lukaris]] of Alexandria presents [[Codex Alexandrinus]] to King Charles I of England for safe keeping. 
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*1633 Ethiopian emperor [[w:Fasilides of Ethiopia|Fasilides]] expels Jesuits and other Roman Catholic missionaries from Ethiopia. 
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*1642 [[Council of Jassy]] (Iaşi) revises [[Peter Mogila]]'s confession to remove overtly Roman Catholic theology and confirms canonicity of certain [[Deuterocanon|deuterocanonical]] books.     
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*1646 [[w:Union of Uzhhorod|Union of Uzhhorod]] joins 63 Ruthenian Orthodox priests from the Carpathian Mountains to Roman Catholic Church on terms similar to [[Union of Brest]].           
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*1652-1658 Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow]] revises liturgical books to bring them into conformity with the Greek liturgical customs, leading to mass excommunication and schism of dissenters, who become known as [[Old Believers]].           
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*1672 [[w:Synod of Jerusalem|Synod of Jerusalem]] convened by Patr. [[Dositheos II of Jerusalem|Dositheos Notaras]], refuting article by article the Calvinistic confession of [[Cyril Lucaris]], defining Orthodoxy relative to Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, and defining the Orthodox Biblical canon; acts of this council are later signed by all five patriarchates (including Russia).
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*1682 The ''Sabaite [[Typikon]]'' was published in its final form in Russia; from 1682 to 1888 the Greek and Russian Churches shared a common [[Typikon]]. 
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*1685 Orthodoxy introduced in Beijing by [[Church of Russia]].     
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*1698 Consecration of the first Orthodox [[Church of China|Church in China]], in the name of Sophia (Divine Wisdom), when Emperor Kangxi ordered a Buddhist temple to be cleared for Russian inhabitants in Beijing.
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*1700 The ''[[Byzantine Creation Era|Creation Era]]'' calendar in Russia, in use since AD 988 was changed to the [[Julian Calendar]] by Peter the Great.
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*1700-02 Submission of the dioceses of Lemberg (Lviv) and Luzk (Lutsk) in the [[w:Galicia (Central Europe)|Galician]] area of Ukraine to Roman Catholic Church completes [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], so that two-thirds of the Orthodox in western Ukraine had become Greek Catholic.     
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*1715 Metr. [[Arsenios of Thebaid]] sent to England by Pope [[Samuel of Alexandria]] to negotiate with [[Non-Jurors|Non-Juror]] Anglican bishops. 
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*1716-25 Correspondence of Ecumenical Patriarch and Russian Czar with English Non-Jurors. 
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*1721 Czar [[Peter I of Russia]] replaces Russian patriarchate with a ruling [[holy synod]]. 
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*1724 [[Melkite Greek Catholic Church|Melkite]] schism, in which many faithful from the [[Church of Antioch]] become [[Uniate]]s.
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*1728 The [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]] formally replaced the ''[[Byzantine Creation Era|Creation Era]]'' (AM) calendar with the ''[[w:Anno Domini|Christian Era]]'' (AD).
 +
*1731 Death of [[Innocent of Irkutsk]]. 
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*1754 Hesychast Renaissance begins with the [[Kollyvades Movement]]. 
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*1755 Synod of Constantinople declares Roman Catholic baptism invalid and ordered baptism of converts from Roman Catholicism.   
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*1756 ''[[Sigillion of 1756]]'' issued against the [[Gregorian Calendar]] by Patr. [[Cyril V of Constantinople]].     
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*1767 Ottoman Empire legally divides [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem)|Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] among claimants. 
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*1767-1815 [[w:Suppression of the Society of Jesus|Suppression of the Jesuits]] in Roman Catholic countries, subsequently finding refuge in Orthodox nations, particularly in Russia. 
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*1768 Jews are massacred during riots in Russia-occupied Poland. 
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*ca. 1770 About 1,200 Kiev region Uniate churches return to Orthodoxy under political pressure from Russia. 
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*1774 Russia and Ottoman Empire sign [[w:Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca|treaty of Kuchuk-Kainarji]], bringing Russia for the first time into the Mediterranean as the acknowledged protector of Orthodox Christians. 
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*1779 Death of [[Kosmas Aitolos]]. 
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*1782 First publication of ''[[Philokalia]]''; [[autonomy]] of [[Church of Sinai]] confirmed by [[Church of Constantinople]]. 
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*1793-95 Over 2,300 Uniate churches became Orthodox under Tsarina Catherine the Great.   
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*1794 Missionaries, including [[Herman of Alaska]], arrive at Kodiak Island, bringing Orthodoxy to Russian Alaska; death of [[Paisius Velichkovsky]] of Moldova and Mt. Athos. 
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*1796 [[Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain|Nicodemus the Hagiorite]] publishes ''[[Unseen Warfare]]'' in Venice. 
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*1798 Patriarch [[Anthimios of Jerusalem]] contended that the [[w:Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Empire]] was part of the [[w:Divine Providence|Divine Dispensation]] granted by [[God]] to protect [[Orthodoxy]] from the taint of [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]] and of Western [[w:Secularism|secularism]] and [[w:Irreligion by country|irreligion]].
 +
*1800 ''[[The Rudder]]'' published and printed in Athens.       
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*1805 Death of [[Makarios of Corinth]], a central figure in the Kollyvades movement.     
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*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]].     
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*1819 Council at Constantinople endorses views of Kollyvades fathers.
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==Modern era (1821-1917)==
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:''Main article: [[Timeline of Church History (Modern Era (1821-1917))]]''
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*1821 Metr. [[Germanos of Patra]] declares Greek independence on Day of [[Annunciation]] ([[March 25]]), also [[Kyriopascha]]; martyrdom of Patr. [[Gregory V of Constantinople]], Abp. [[Kyprianos of Cyprus]], and Abp. [[Gerasimos of Crete]] in retaliation.     
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*ca. 1830 [[Slavophile movement]] begins in Russia. 
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*1831 Return of 3,000,000 [[Uniate]]s with the [[Orthodox Church]] at Vilnius in 1831. 
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*1832 [[Church of Serbia]] becomes ''de facto'' [[autocephaly|autocephalous]]. 
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*1833 [[Church of Greece]] declares [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]]; death of [[Seraphim of Sarov]]. 
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*1839 Synod of Polotsk abolishes [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]] in all areas under Russian rule as Greek Catholic dioceses in Lithuania and Belarus re-enter the Orthodox Church.   
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*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]]." 
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*1850 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes [[autocephaly]] of [[Church of Greece]]. 
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*1851 Translation into English of [[Septuagint]] by Lancelot C. L. Brenton; Ottoman Empire recognizes France as supreme Christian authority in Holy Land and grants it possession of the [[Church of the Nativity (Bethlehem)|Church of the Nativity]]. 
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*1852 Ottoman Empire makes division of [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem)|Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] permanent. 
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*1853-56 [[w:Crimean War|Crimean War]] fought between Russia and the Ottoman Empire together with Britain and France, beginning over which church would be recognized as the "sovereign authority" of the Christian faith in the Holy Land. 
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*1854 [[Immaculate Conception]] declared [[dogma]] by [[Roman Catholic Church]]. 
 +
*1859 [[w:Constantin von Tischendorf|Constantin von Tischendorf]] discovers [[w:Codex Sinaiticus|Codex Sinaiticus]] at [[St. Catherine's Monastery (Sinai)|St. Catherine's Monastery]].
 +
*1860 Death of [[Alexei Khomiakov]], co-founder of the [[Slavophile movement]]. 
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*1864 First Orthodox [[parish]] established on American soil in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Greeks; death of [[Jacob Netsvetov]].
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*1865 [[Church of Romania]] declares its [[autocephaly|independence]] from the [[Church of Constantinople]]. 
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*1869 Russian synod authorizes corrected text of [[Western Rite]] liturgy and Benedictine offices. 
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*1870 [[Papal Infallibility]] declared [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] dogma necessary for salvation by First Vatican Council. 
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*1871 [[Nicholas of Japan|Nikolai Kasatkin]] establishes Orthodox mission in Japan. 
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*1872 Council in Jerusalem declares [[phyletism]] to be [[heresy]]; [[Church of Bulgaria]] gains ''de facto'' [[autocephaly]] by a decree of the Sultan.   
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*1875 Uniate diocese of [[w:Chełm|Chelm]] in Poland incorporated into Russian Orthodox Church under Alexander II, with all of the local Uniates converted to Orthodoxy. 
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*1876 [[Theophan the Recluse]] begins issuing a translation of the ''[[Philokalia]]'' in Russian.   
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*1879 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes [[autocephaly]] of [[Church of Serbia]]; death of [[Innocent of Alaska]]. 
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*1882 Synod of Constantinople gives conditional approval to use of Roman liturgy and Benedictine offices. 
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*1885 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes [[autocephaly]] of [[Church of Romania]]; [[w:Revised Version|English Revised Version]] published; [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] officially removes all of [[Apocrypha]] from [[w:Authorized King James Version|King James Bible]].
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*1888  ''[[Typikon]] of the Great Church of Christ'' is published with revised church services, prepared by Protopsaltis George Violakis, issued with the approval and blessing of the Ecumenical Patriarch, while the ''Sabaite (monastic) [[Typikon]]'' continues to be used in Russia.
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*1889 Federation of [[w:Old Catholic Church|Old Catholic Churches]], not in communion with Rome, at the [[w:Utrecht Union|Union of Utrecht]]. 
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*ca. 1890 ''[[Unseen Warfare]]'' further revised by [[Theophan the Recluse]].   
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*1891 Death of [[Ambrose of Optina]].     
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*1895 Reply of Synod of Constantinople to Pope Leo XIII.       
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*1898 Last ethnically Greek patriarch of [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]] deposed; [[Western Rite]] diocese organized in Czechoslovakia by [[Church of Russia]]. 
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*1899 Restoration of Arabs to the [[Church of Antioch|Patriarchal throne of Antioch]]. 
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*1900 [[Martyrs of China|Martyrdom of Orthodox Christians]] in Chinese Boxer Rebellion (Yihetuan Movement). 
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*1901 [[Evangelakia Events (Athens, 1901)|"Evangelakia" riots]] in Athens Greece in November, over translations of [[New Testament]] into [[w:Dimotiki|Demotic (Modern) Greek]], resulting in fall of both government and Metropolitan of Athens.   
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*1904 [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]] publishes the [http://kainh.homestead.com/files/noteptxt.pdf "Patriarchal" Text of the Greek New Testament], based on about twenty Byzantine manuscripts; petition to Russian synod by Abp. [[Tikhon of Moscow|Tikhon (Belavin)]], Bp. [[Raphael of Brooklyn|Raphael (Hawaweeny)]], and Fr. [[John Kochurov]] to permit adaption of services taken from Anglican Book of Common Prayer for use by Orthodox people. 
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*1905 Death of [[Apostolos Makrakis]]; Tsar [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas Romanov's]] decree on freedom of religion results in about 250,000 [[w:Ruthenians|Ruthenians]] returning to [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Uniatism]]; seat of Russian 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. 
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*1907 Archim. [[Eusebius Matthopoulos]] founds [[Brotherhood of Theologians Zoe|Zoe Brotherhood]]; Commission on Anglican and Old Catholic Affairs of Russian synod reports in favor of adaptation of services from Book of Common Prayer and sets out criteria. 
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*1908 Fr. Nikodemos Sarikas sent to Johannesburg, Transvaal, by Ecumenical Patriarchate as first Orthodox priest there, leaving after a short time for German East Africa (later Tanzania) because of the opposition of Johannesburg Greeks to mission among Africans. 
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*1908 Death of [[John of Kronstadt]].     
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*1912 Death of [[Nicholas of Japan]].
 +
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==Communist era (1917-1991)==
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: ''Main article:  [[Timeline of Church History (Communist Era (1917-1991))]]''
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*1917 [[w:Bolshevik Revolution|Bolshevik Revolution]] throws [[Church of Russia]] into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Russian Orthodox mission in America; restoration of Moscow Patriarchate with [[Tikhon of Moscow|Tikhon]] as patriarch; [[Church of Georgia]]'s [[autocephaly]] restored ''de facto'' by political chaos in Russia.
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*1917-40 [[w:Persecution of Christians in the Soviet Union|Persecution of the Orthodox Church in Russia]] begins, with 130,000 priests arrested, 95,000 of whom were executed by firing squad.   
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*1918 Tsar [[Nicholas II of Russia]] murdered together with his wife [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children. 
 +
*1919-1922 [[w:Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)|Greco-Turkish War]]; a million refugees flee to Greece joining half a million Greeks who had fled earlier; [[w:Pontic Greek Genocide|Pontic Greek Genocide]] eliminates the Christian population of Trebizond. 
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*1920 Death of [[Nektarios of Aegina]]; publication of Encyclical Letters by Constantinople on Christian unity and on the Ecumenical Movement. 
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*1921 [[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, with Alexandrian primate thenceforth known as ''Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and All Africa]]''; [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America|Greek Archdiocese of America]] formed ; Abp. [[Tikhon of Moscow|Tikhon (Belavin)]] elected Patriarch of Moscow; [[Gorazd (Pavlik) of Prague|Gorazd (Pavlik)]] consecrated as bishop for Western Rite Diocese of Moravia and Silesia; an all-Ukrainian Synod is called in Kyiv and the [[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church]] (UAOC) (as yet unrecognized) is declared independent from the Moscow Patriarchate (MP).
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*1922 [[Church of Albania]] declares [[autocephaly]] from [[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]]; formation of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]]; [[Solovetsky Monastery]] converted by Lenin's decree to the [[w:Solovki|"Solovki Special Purpose Camp"]], one of the earliest forced-labor camps of the Gulag where 75 bishops died, along with tens of thousands of laity; the predominatly Christian city of [[w:Great Fire of Smyrna|Smyrna is destroyed]], ending 1900 years of Christian civilization.   
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*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by [[Church of Constantinople]]; [[w:Treaty of Lausanne|Treaty of Lausanne]] affirmed the international status of the [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]], with Turkey guaranteeing respect and the Patriarchate’s full protection.
 +
*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes [[autocephaly]] of [[Church of Poland]]. 
 +
*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]]; first Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptized in Tanganyika by Fr. Nikodemos Sarikas; death of [[Tikhon of Moscow]]. 
 +
*1926 Polish Catholic National Church received as a [[Western Rite]] diocese in Poland of [[Church of Russia]] under Bp. Alexis of Grodno; [[John Maximovitch]] tonsured by [[ROCOR]] Metr. [[Anthony (Khrapovitsky) of Kiev]]. 
 +
*1927 Bishops of Russian church in America authorize formation of [[American Orthodox Catholic Church]], including a [[Western Rite]] missionary outreach.   
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*1929 Kingdom of Italy and Papacy ratify [[w:Lateran Treaty|Lateran Treaty]], recognizing sovereignty of Papacy within the new state of the [[w:Vatican City|Vatican City]]. 
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*1931 Reception of [[Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe]] into the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]], led by Metr. [[Eulogius (Georgievsky) of Paris]]. 
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*1932 Daniel William Alexander travels to Uganda to meet Reuben Spartas, establishing African Orthodox Church there. 
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*1933 [[Church of Greece]] bans [[Freemasonry]]. 
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*1934 Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, establishing African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna; episcopal consecration of [[John Maximovitch]]. 
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*1935 Critical edition of [[Septuagint]] published in Gottingen Germany by Alfred Rahlfs at the Septuaginta-Unternehmens (Institute); [[Old Calendarists|Old Calendar]] schism when three bishops declared their separation from the official [[Church of Greece]] stating that the calendar change was a schismatic act. 
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*1935-40 Italian forces occupy Ethiopia and begin intermittent persecutions of the [[Church of Ethiopia|Ethiopian Orthodox Church]]. 
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*1936 Ukase of Moscow Patriarchate establishes Western Orthodox Church in France using [[Western Rite]]. 
 +
*1936-37 Many Russian Orthodox Clerics die in Joseph Stalin's [[w:Great Purge|Great Purge]].   
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*1937 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes [[autocephaly]] of [[Church of Albania]].
 +
*1938 Death of [[Silouan the Athonite]]; [[American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese]] founded, when a group of 37 Carpatho-Russian Eastern Catholic parishes, under the leadership of Fr. [[Orestes (Chornock) of Agathonikeia|Orestes Chornock]], were received into the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
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*1941 Martyrdom of [[Gorazd (Pavlik) of Prague]] by Nazis. 
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*1941-45 Croatian [[w:Ustaše|Ustasa]] terrorists kill 500,000 Orthodox Serbs, expel 250,000 and force 250,000 to convert to [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholicism]]. 
 +
*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes [[autocephaly]] of [[Church of Georgia]]; first constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna; Joseph Stalin meets with hierarchs of Russian Orthodox Church to establish a "patriotic union," granting concessions to the church, including the gathering of the holy synod and the election of [[Sergius I (Stragorodsky) of Moscow|Sergius I]] as patriarch of Moscow. 
 +
*1943-44 Hundreds of Orthodox priests of the [[Church of Ukraine|Ukrainian Orthodox Church]] eliminated, tortured and drowned by Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists - [[w:Ukrainian Insurgent Army|Ukrainian Rebel Army]], aided by [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Uniate]] Metr. Josyf Slipyj who was a spiritual leader of Nazi military units that were later condemned by the Nuremberg tribunal, and who was imprisoned by Soviet authorities for aiding the UPA. 
 +
*1944 Fr. [[Jean-Nectaire (Kovalevsky) of Saint-Denis|Evgraph (Kovalevsky)]] completes restoration of [[Liturgy of St. Germaine de Paris]]. 
 +
*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]]. 
 +
*1945-90 Persecution of the [[Church of Albania|Orthodox Church in Albania]]. 
 +
*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria; Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognizes and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda; state-sponsored synod is held at Lviv, Ukraine in March, which officially dissolves the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]] and integrates the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church into the Russian Orthodox Church, Soviet authorities arresting resisters or deporting them to Siberia. 
 +
*1947 Death of [[Alexis (Kabaliuk) of Carpathia|Alexei Kabalyiuk]], who played a major role in reviving Orthodoxy in [[w:Zakarpattia Oblast|Transcarpathia]] in the early 20th century. 
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*1948 [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II); [[w:World Council of Churches|World Council of Churches]] is founded; Council of Moscow is held on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the independence of the [[Church of Russia|Russian Church]] from [[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]], with representatives of the local Orthodox Churches rejecting all participation in the World Council of Churches. 
 +
*1949 Soviet authorities revoke the [[w:Union of Uzhhorod|Union of Uzhhorod]] of 1646, creating the Orthodox Eparchy of Mukachiv-Uzhhorod, under the Patriarch of Moscow.
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*1950 [[w:Pope Pius XII|Pope Pius XII]] proclaims the [[w:Bodily Assumption|Bodily Assumption]] of the Virgin Mary as a dogma. 
 +
*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]]; 1500th anniversary celebration of the [[Church of Jerusalem|Patriarchate of Jerusalem]].     
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*1953 Metr. [[Antony (Bashir) of New York|Antony (Bashir)]] accepts three [[Western Rite]] parishes into Syrian Metropolitanate in America. 
 +
*1957 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autonomy]] to [[Church of China]]. 
 +
*1958 Patriarch of Antioch adopts provisions of Russian synods of 1879 and 1907 for use by [[Western Rite]] in America; Western Orthodox Church of France comes under Abp. [[John Maximovitch]], who authorizes the use of the restored Gallican rite. 
 +
*1959 Abp. [[Anastasios (Yannoulatos) of Albania]] establishes inter-Orthodox mission agency ''Porefthentes'' to revive the church's mission activities; autocephaly granted to the [[Church of Ethiopia]] by Coptic Pope [[Cyril VI (Atta) of Alexandria]].   
 +
*1961 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]]; death of [[Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky) of Simferopol and Crimea]]; consecration of first Orthodox Church in Uganda; first Pan-Orthodox Conference in Rhodes.
 +
*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including restriction of ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and introduction of the Novus Ordo.   
 +
*1963 Second Pan-Orthodox Conference in Rhodes; 1000th anniversary celebration of founding of [[Mount Athos]].   
 +
*1964 Meeting of Pope [[Paul VI of Rome]] and Patr. [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] in Jerusalem; third Pan-Orthodox Conference in Rhodes; [[Synaxis of the Saints of Rostov]] established by resolution of His Holiness Patriarch [[Alexei I (Simansky) of Moscow|Alexis I]] and the Holy Synod of the [[Church of Russia|Russian Orthodox Church]]. 
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*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the [[excommunication]]s of 1054.
 +
*1966 The [[w:Cultural Revolution|Cultural Revolution]] almost totally destroyed the young [[Church of China|Chinese Orthodox Church]].
 +
*1967 [[Macedonian Orthodox Church |Church of Macedonia]] unilaterally declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]] (as yet unrecognized); Albania is declared an atheist state, closing all religious institutions and forbiding any religious practices.
 +
*1968 Visit to [[Patriarchate of Alexandria]] by Vatican representatives; fourth Pan-Orthodox Conference in Chambesy, Switzerland. 
 +
*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America|Russian-American Metropolia]] reconciles with [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]], renamed as the Orthodox Church in America, returning control of [[Church of Japan]] to Moscow, which grants it [[autonomy]]; Abp. [[Makarios III (Mouskos) of Cyprus]] baptizes 10,000 into the Orthodox Church in Kenya. 
 +
*1971 [[Theological School of Halki|Halki Seminary]] closed by Turkish authorities.     
 +
*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metr. [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Abp. [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]]; Joint Commission of Orthodox and Old Catholic theologians is established.
 +
*1976 First Pre-Synodal Pan-Orthodox Conference at Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy, Switzerland.   
 +
*1979 Pope [[John Paul II]] visits Ecumenical Patriarchate.
 +
*1979 Joint Commission of Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches for Theological Dialogue established by Pope [[John Paul II]] and Patr. [[Demetrius I (Papadopoulos) of Constantinople]].   
 +
*1981 Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission meets for the first time in Espoo, Finland.   
 +
*1982 Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Commission publishes in Munich first official common document, ''"The Mystery of the Church and of the Eucharist in Light of the Mystery of the Holy Trinity"''; second Pre-Synodal Pan-Orthodox Conference in Chambesy, Switzerland.
 +
*1985 Founding of [[Orthodox Christian Mission Center]] (OCMC) as Greek Archdiocesan Mission Center; Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission issues statement ''"Divine Revelation."'' 
 +
*1986 Third Pre-Synodal Pan-Orthodox Conference in Chambesy, Switzerland. 
 +
*1987 Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Commission issues common document ''"Faith, Sacraments and the Unity of the Church"''; visit by Patr. [[Demetrius I (Papadopoulos) of Constantinople]] to Vatican. 
 +
*1987 Group of twenty parishes of the [[Evangelical Orthodox Church]], originally formed by former Campus Crusade for Christ leaders [[Peter Gillquist]] and [[Jon Braun]], are received into [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America|Antiochian Archdiocese]] in US, becoming the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission; Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission issues the statement ''"Scripture and Tradition."''   
 +
*1988 1000th anniversary of Orthodoxy in Russia; Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Commission publishes common document ''"The Sacrament of Order in the Sacramental Structure of the Church"''; Indonesian Muslim convert to Orthodoxy Fr. [[Daniel (Bambang Dwi) Byantoro|Daniel Byantoro]] begins his mission in Indonesia, sparking the rebirth of Orthodoxy there.
 +
*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]]; [[Ephraim of Philotheou|Elder Ephraim]] begins founding [[Mount Athos|Athonite]]-style monasteries in North America; Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission issues statement ''"The Canon and the Inspiration of the Holy Scripture"''; glorification in Russia of [[Tikhon of Moscow]]; Uniate Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church legalized, with Greek Catholics beginning seizure of property from Russian Orthodox Church, which they claimed as theirs prior to the synod of 1946.   
 +
*1990 [[Church of Ukraine (Kiev Patriarchate)|Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiev Patriarchate]] (UOC-KP) self-proclaims its independance from the [[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church|UAOC]] (both groups unrecognized).
 +
 +
==Post-Communist era (1991-Present)==
 +
:''Main article: [[Timeline of Church History (Post-Communist Era (1991-Present))]]''
 +
*1991 Representatives of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches meet in Chambesy, Switzerland, discussing relations with World Council of Churches. 
 +
*1992 Synaxis of primates of Orthodox churches in Constantinople.
 +
*1993 Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Theological Commission meets in Balamand, Lebanon, issuing common document ''"Uniatism: Method of Union of the Past, and Present. Search for Full Communion"'' (the "[[Balamand document]]"); Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission issues statement ''"The Ecumenical Councils."'' 
 +
*1993 [[Church of Cyprus]] condemns [[Freemasonry]]; ''[[Orthodox Study Bible|Orthodox Study Bible: New Testament and Psalms]]'' published; [[Church of Eritrea|Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church]] becomes autocephalous.
 +
*1994 [[Ligonier Meeting]] in Western Pennsylvania at [[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]]".
 +
*1995 Patr. [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew I]] visits Vatican; Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission issues statement ''"Understanding of Salvation in the Light of the Ecumenical Councils"''; Pope John Paul II issues encyclical ''[http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_02051995_orientale-lumen_en.html Orientale Lumen]'', encouraging reunion between East and West.   
 +
*1996 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America reorganized by the [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]], dividing the administration of the two continents into four parts.
 +
*1997 Russian [[w:Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations|Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations]] declares [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christianity]] as Russia's predominant religion. 
 +
*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]]; [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/thessaloniki_roc.aspx Thessaloniki Summit] held to discuss Orthodox participation in [[w:World Council of Churches|WCC]]; Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission issues statement ''"Salvation: Grace, Justification and Synergy."'' 
 +
*1999 Numerous Serbian Orthodox sites in Kosovo and Metohia destroyed and desecrated during NATO peacekeeping presence.
 +
*2000 Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Theological Commission meets in Baltimore, discusses text on ''"The Ecclesiological and Canonical Implications of Uniatism,"'' but is suspended; Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission issues statement ''"Word and Sacraments (Mysteria) in the Life of the Church"''.
 +
*2001 Pope John Paul II of Rome [[Fourth Crusade#Papal Apology to Orthodox Church|apologizes to Orthodox Church]] for Fourth Crusade; [[Church of Alexandria|Chalcedonian]] and [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Non-Chalcedonian]] Patriarchates of Alexandria agree to mutually recognize baptisms and marriages performed in each other's churches. 
 +
*2002 Patr. [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople]] and Pope [[John Paul II]] co-sign Venice Declaration of Environmental Ethics; Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission issues statement ''"Mysteria/Sacraments as Means of Salvation."''   
 +
*2003 Orthodox Churches in Europe commemorated the 550th anniversary of the fall of Constantinople in May; [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]] granted "self-rule" (similar but not identical to [[autonomy]]) by [[Church of Antioch]]; Coptic priest Fr. [[Zakaria Botros]] begins his television and internet mission to Muslims in North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and western countries, resulting in thousands of conversions.
 +
*2004 Pope [[John Paul II]] returns [[relics]] of [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to [[Church of Constantinople]]; Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission statement ''"Baptism and Chrismation as Sacraments of Initiation into the Church."''   
 +
*2006 Pope [[Benedict XVI]] visits Ecumenical Patriarchate, drawing criticism from [[Mount Athos]]; Abp. [[Christodoulos (Paraskevaides) of Athens]] visits Vatican; Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission issues statement ''"The Holy Eucharist in the Life of the Church."''   
 +
*2007 Restoration of [[full communion]] between [[Moscow Patriarchate]] and [[ROCOR]]; synod of over 50 bishops of the [[Church of Ukraine]] announce that the UOC-MP is ''"an autonomous, historical part of the Russian Orthodox Church"''; Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Commission meets in Ravenna, Italy, 10th plenary, led by co-presidents [[w:Walter Kasper|Cardinal Walter Kasper]] and Metr. [[John (Zizioulas) of Pergamon]], agreeing upon a joint document consisting of 46 articles providing an ecclesiastical road map in discussing union; Russian delegation walks out of Ravenna talks in protest of presence of Estonian delegation ([[Church of Constantinople|EP]]). 
 +
*2008 ''[[Orthodox Study Bible]] (with [[Septuagint]]'') published; [http://www.ec-patr.org/docdisplay.php?lang=en&id=995&tla=en Pan-Orthodox meeting in Constantinople] in October of the Primates of the fourteen Orthodox Churches, signing a document calling for inter-orthodox unity and collaboration and "''the continuation of preparations for the Holy and Great Council''".
 +
 +
 +
 +
{{Template:Timeline of Church History}}
 +
 +
==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 done here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though it was attempted 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 or purely political events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy or for reference. 
 +
   
 +
==See also==
 +
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]] 
 +
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]] 
 +
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Greece]] 
 +
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]] 
 +
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]
 +
*[[Timeline of Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic relations]]
 +
 +
==Published works== 
 +
   
 +
The following are published writings that provide an overview of Church history: 
 +
   
 +
'''From an Orthodox perspective''' 
 +
* Angold, Michael (Ed.). ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=1xUV-nMxNGsC&printsec=frontcover Eastern Christianity]''. The Cambridge History of Christianity. Cambridge University Press, 2006. 722 pp. ISBN 9780521811132
 +
* Maloney, George A.  (S.J.). ''A History of Orthodox Theology Since 1453''. Norland Publishing, Massachusetts, 1976.   
 +
* [[Alexander Schmemann|Schmemann, Alexander]]. ''The Historical Road of Eastern Orthodoxy''. 
 +
* Tsai, Kathryn (Dr.). ''A Timeline of Eastern Church History.'' [[St. John of San Francisco Monastery (Manton, California)|Divine Ascent Press]], CA, 2004. ISBN 0971413924
 +
* [[Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia|Ware, Timothy]]. ''The Orthodox Church: New Edition''. (ISBN 0140146563)
 +
<br>
 +
* Meyendorff, John. ''Imperial Unity and Christian Divisions: The Church, 450-680 AD''. '''The Church in History Vol. II'''. Crestwood, N.Y. : St. Vladimirs Seminary Press, 1989. ISBN 9780881410563
 +
* Louth, Rev. Dr. Andrew. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=WlpPjOlVzQwC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0 Greek East and Latin West : The Church, AD 681-1071]''. '''The Church in History Vol. III'''. Crestwood, N.Y. : St. Vladimirs Seminary Press, 2007. ISBN 9780881413205
 +
* Papadakis, Aristeides (with John Meyendorff). ''The Christian East and the Rise of the Papacy: The Church 1071-1453 A.D.'' '''The Church in History Vol. IV'''. Crestwood, N.Y. : St. Vladimirs Seminary Press, 1994. ISBN 9780881410587
 +
 +
   
 +
'''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 ''(QuickTime movies)'' 
 +
** [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt1-DSL.mov Part 1: Beginnings] 
 +
** [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt2-DSL.mov Part 2: Byzantium] 
 +
** [http://realserver.goarch.org/en/gotelecom/history_pt3-DSL.mov Part 3: A Hidden Treasure] 
 +
   
 +
*[http://www.archons.org/patriarchate/ Timeline of Patriarchal History]. Order of St. Andrew the Apostle. Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. ''(Pop-up Video Presentation, in Sections)'' 
 +
   
 +
   
 +
[[Category:Church History]] 
 +
[[Category:Featured Articles]] 
 +
[[Category:Timelines|Church History]] 
 +
   
 +
[[ar:ملخص تاريخ الكنيسة]] 
 +
[[bg:Времева линия на църковната история]] 
 +
[[el:Ιστορικό χρονολόγιο της Εκκλησίας]] 
 +
[[ro:Istoria Bisericii Ortodoxe (cronologie)]]

Revision as of 13:44, February 20, 2009

(This is a large page that blanks out when edited as a full page, please edit one section at a time.)

Timeline of Church History
Eras Timeline of Church History (Abridged article)
Eras New Testament Era | Apostolic Era (33-100) | Ante-Nicene Era (100-325) | Nicene Era (325-451) | Byzantine Era (451-843) | Late Byzantine Era (843-1054) | Post-Roman Schism (1054-1453) | Post-Imperial Era (1453-1821) | Modern Era (1821-1917) | Communist Era (1917-1991) | Post-Communist Era (1991-Present) |
(Main articles)


This article forms part of the series
Introduction to
Orthodox Christianity
Holy Tradition
Holy Scripture
The Symbol of Faith
Ecumenical Councils
Church Fathers
Liturgy
Canons
Icons
The Holy Trinity
God the Father
Jesus Christ
The Holy Spirit
The Church
Ecclesiology
History
Holy Mysteries
Church Life
Edit this box

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.

New Testament era

Main article: Timeline of Church History (New Testament Era)

Apostolic era (33-100)

Main article: Timeline of Church History (Apostolic Era (33-100))

Ante-Nicene era (100-325)

Main article: Timeline of Church History (Ante-Nicene Era (100-325))

Nicene era (325-451)

Main article: Timeline of Church History (Nicene Era (325-451))

Byzantine era (451-843)

Main article: Timeline of Church History (Byzantine Era (451-843))

Late Byzantine era (843-1453)

Main article: Timeline of Church History (Late Byzantine Era (843-1453))

Post-Imperial era (1453-1821)

Main article: Timeline of Church History (Post-Imperial Era (1453-1821))

Modern era (1821-1917)

Main article: Timeline of Church History (Modern Era (1821-1917))

Communist era (1917-1991)

Main article: Timeline of Church History (Communist Era (1917-1991))

Post-Communist era (1991-Present)

Main article: Timeline of Church History (Post-Communist Era (1991-Present))


Timeline of Church History
Eras Timeline of Church History (Abridged article)
Eras New Testament Era | Apostolic Era (33-100) | Ante-Nicene Era (100-325) | Nicene Era (325-451) | Byzantine Era (451-843) | Late Byzantine Era (843-1054) | Post-Roman Schism (1054-1453) | Post-Imperial Era (1453-1821) | Modern Era (1821-1917) | Communist Era (1917-1991) | Post-Communist Era (1991-Present) |
(Main articles)


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 done here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though it was attempted 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 or purely political events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy or for reference.

See also

Published works

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

From an Orthodox perspective

  • Angold, Michael (Ed.). Eastern Christianity. The Cambridge History of Christianity. Cambridge University Press, 2006. 722 pp. ISBN 9780521811132
  • Maloney, George A. (S.J.). A History of Orthodox Theology Since 1453. Norland Publishing, Massachusetts, 1976.
  • Schmemann, Alexander. The Historical Road of Eastern Orthodoxy.
  • Tsai, Kathryn (Dr.). A Timeline of Eastern Church History. Divine Ascent Press, CA, 2004. ISBN 0971413924
  • Ware, Timothy. The Orthodox Church: New Edition. (ISBN 0140146563)


  • Meyendorff, John. Imperial Unity and Christian Divisions: The Church, 450-680 AD. The Church in History Vol. II. Crestwood, N.Y. : St. Vladimirs Seminary Press, 1989. ISBN 9780881410563
  • Louth, Rev. Dr. Andrew. Greek East and Latin West : The Church, AD 681-1071. The Church in History Vol. III. Crestwood, N.Y. : St. Vladimirs Seminary Press, 2007. ISBN 9780881413205
  • Papadakis, Aristeides (with John Meyendorff). The Christian East and the Rise of the Papacy: The Church 1071-1453 A.D. The Church in History Vol. IV. Crestwood, N.Y. : St. Vladimirs Seminary Press, 1994. ISBN 9780881410587


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)
  • 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