View source for Timeline of Church History (Post-Communist Era (1991-Present))

{{Template:Timeline of Church History}}

{{Orthodoxchristianity}}
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]].   
    
==Post-Communist era (1991-Present)==
* 1991 Soviet Union collapses, ending [[w:Cold War|Cold War]]; representatives of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches meet in Chambesy, Switzerland, discussing relations with World Council of Churches; Ruthenian Byzantine rite Catholic Church in [[w:Zakarpattia Oblast|Transcarpathia]] was restored as a separate entity from Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church based in [[w:Galicia (Central Europe)|Galicia]], having about 23% of Transcarpathia's parishes compared to 60% of the Orthodox total there; Greek Orthodox [[w:Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Italy|Archdiocese of Italy and Exarchate of Southern Europe]] is created; death of Episcopal priest [http://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/06/obituaries/robert-terwilliger-73-an-episcopal-bishop.html Robert Elwin Terwilliger], especially known for his efforts to reunite Anglican and Orthodox Christians, having served on the Episcopal Church's Council on Eastern Churches (1969-91), and the International Anglican Theological Commission for Joint Doctrinal Discussion with the Orthodox Churches (1971-91).
* 1992 Civil war begins in former Yugoslavia; synaxis of primates of Orthodox churches in Constantinople; [[Diodoros I (Karivalis) of Jerusalem|Patriarch Diodoros I of Jerusalem]] presented a list of [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/diodoros.aspx firm declarations] of Orthodox convictions of the [[Church of Jerusalem|Patriarchate of Jerusalem]], which was entered into the minutes of the assembly of Orthodox leaders at the [[Phanar]] on the Sunday of Orthodoxy; Orthodox-Reformed dialogue in Kappel-am-Albis, Switzerland issues ''Agreed Statement on the Holy Trinity;'' [[Church of Romania|Romanian Orthodox Church]] canonizes [[w:Constantin Brâncoveanu|Constantin Brâncoveanu]] (+1714); General Synod of the Church of England approves the ordination of women. July. The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America issues the magnificent [http://www.holy-trinity.org/morality/affirmation.html Affirmations on Marriage, Family, Sexuality, and the Sanctity of Life]. Schismatic [[Church of Ukraine (Kiev Patriarchate)|Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiev Patriarchate]] (UOC-KP) self-proclaims its independance Russian Orthodox Church.
*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; martyrdom of [[New Martyrs of Optina Pustyn]]; in southern Africa, some of the bishops and clergy of the "[[George_Alexander_McGuire#African_Orthodox_Church|African Orthodox Church]]"  were received into membership of the [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Patriarchate of Alexandria]], and became known as the "African Coptic Orthodox Church".
*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]]"; death of [[Paisios (Eznepidis)|Elder Paisios]] of [[Mount Athos]]; the [[Liaison Office of the Orthodox Church to the European Union]] was established by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Brussels.  
*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; glorification of [[w:Kuksha of Odessa|Kuksha of Odessa]] by the [[Church of Ukraine]]; [[Church of Georgia]] canonizes [[Ambrose (Khelaia) the Confessor]] (+1927).
*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; [[Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia|Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia]] (Ecumenical Patriarchate) founded. 
*1997 Visit by Patr. [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople]] to US; establishment of dioceses of Bukoba, Madagascar, [[Ghana]] and Nigeria, by Synodical decree of the [[Church of Alexandria|Patriarchate of Alexandria]]; 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; [[Friends of Orthodoxy on Iona]] founded; first pan-African Inter-Orthodox Consultation is held in Kampala, Uganda in December, with representatives from the Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches present; French Orthodox researcher Dr. [[Jean-Claude Larchet]] completes the third volume of his masterpiece series on illness and healing.
*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]]; uncovering of the relics of [[Ambrose of Optina|Ambrose]] of [[Optina Monastery|Optina]]; death of missionary Fr. [[Chariton Pneumatikakis]], in Kananga, having served the Orthodox mission there for 25 years; Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission issues statement "Salvation: Grace, Justification and Synergy"; the [[w:Archbishop of Canterbury|Archbishop of Canterbury]] and [[w:Old_Catholic_Church_of_the_Netherlands#Old_Catholic_Archbishops_of_Utrecht|Archbishop of Utrecht]] established the Anglican-Old Catholic International Coordinating Council in order to stimulate contact and cooperation in the spirit of the Bonn Agreement of 1931; [[w:International Religious Freedom Act of 1998|International Religious Freedom Act]] is passed in the US to promote religious freedom as a foreign policy of the United States, and to advocate on the behalf of the individuals viewed as persecuted in foreign countries on the account of religion.
*1999 Numerous Serbian Orthodox sites in Kosovo and Metohia destroyed and desecrated during NATO peacekeeping presence; Lutheran World Federation and [[Roman Catholic Church]] sign [[w:Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification |Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification]], one of the most significant agreements since the Reformation, also adopted unanimously later in 2006 by members of the World Methodist Council.
*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"; [[Church of Russia|Russian Orthodox Church]] announces the [[glorification|canonization]] of Tsar [[Nicholas II of Russia]] and his immediate family; government of Greece orders removal of religious affiliation from state identity cards; the restored [[Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (Moscow)|Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow]] was consecrated on [[August 19]]; Church of Russia glorified Hieromartyr [[Andronik of Perm|Andronik, Archbishop of Perm]], one of Russia's New Martyrs and Confessors (+1918). Church of Russia canonizes Hieromartyr Bp. [[Seraphim (Zvezdinsky) of Dimitrov]] (+1937).
*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; according to the respected and reliable OUP ''[[w:World Christian Encyclopedia|World Christian Encyclopedia]]'' (2001), there were many more Christian martyrs in the 20th century--over 45 million--than in all of the preceding 19 centuries of Christianity, and of that number some 32 million were killed by "atheists" and over 9 million by Muslims.<ref>Dr. [[w:Srđa Trifković|Srdja Trifkovic]]. ''[http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles6/TrifkovicMartyr.php New Martyrs of the East and Coming Trials in the West].'' OrthodoxyToday.org. May 13, 2006.</ref>
*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;" [[Church of Georgia]] glorifies [[Melchizedek I of Georgia]] (+1033); in attempt to restore its canonical status, delegations from the [[Church of Serbia|Serbian Orthodox Church]] and the canonically unrecognized [[Macedonian Orthodox Church]] negotiated the ''[http://poa-info.org/history/schism/nisdok.html Niš Agreement],'' signed unanimously by the bishops of both delegations, calling for the establishment of an [[Autonomous Archdiocese of Ohrid|Autonomous Archdiocese]] whose primate is confirmed by the Church of Serbia, however the agreement was rejected by the synod of the MOC. 
*2003 [[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; death of Elder [[Thaddeus (Strabulovich) of Vitovnica|Thaddeus (Strabulovich) of Serbia]], one of the most renowned spiritual guides of twentieth century Serbia; [[Inter-Orthodox Consultation on the Draft Constitutional Treaty of the European Union|Inter-Orthodox conference on the draft Constitutional Treaty of the European Union]] on March 18-19 in Crete, stated that the Treaty should include a clear reference to Europe's Christian heritage; the [[Eastern_Orthodoxy_and_Judaism#Fifth_Academic_Meeting|5th Academic Meeting between Judaism And Orthodox Christianity]] was held in Thessaloniki, Greece, on May 27-29.
*2004 Pope [[John Paul II]] returns [[relics]] of [[John Chrysostom]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]] to [[Church of Constantinople]]; Patr. [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople]] consecrates church in Havana, Cuba; consecration of first Orthodox church in Antarctica by [[Church of Russia]]; [[Theotokos of Tikhvin|Tikhvin Icon]] returned to Tikhvin Dormition Monastery after six decades in the United States; [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]] canonizes Fr. [[Alexis Medvedkov]], Fr. [[Dimitri Klepinine]], Mother [[Maria Skobtsova]], [[George Skobtsov]] and [[Elie Fondaminskii]] of the Russian emigration in France; Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission statement "Baptism and Chrismation as Sacraments of Initiation into the Church."   
*2005 Major controversy in Ukraine involving the almost exclusively western Ukraine-based [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Uniate]] Greek Catholic Church moving its administrative centre on from Lviv to Kiev, constructing a large cathedral there, and its plans to establish a patriarchate, criticized by the Orthodox [[Church of Ukraine]] and other Orthodox; Metr. [[Nicholas (Smisko) of Amissos]] proclaimed that starting in 2006 the Second Sunday after Pentecost will be commemorated as the [[Synaxis of the Carpatho-Rusyn Saints]]; on May 24, the Feast of Ss. [[Cyril and Methodius]], Metr. [[Jovan VI (Vraniskovski) of Ohrid]] was confirmed by Patr. [[Pavel (Stojcevic) of Serbia|Pavel of Serbia]] as the [[Autonomous Archdiocese of Ohrid|Archbishop of Ohrid and Metropolitan of Skopje]], in accordance with the ''"[http://poa-info.org/history/schism/nisdok.html Niš Agreement]"'' of 2002.
*2006 Publication of [http://orthodox.cn/news/20060122prayerbook_en.htm first Orthodox prayer book in both Chinese and Russian], following the editions of 1948 (St. [[John (Maximovitch) the Wonderworker|John (Maximovitch)]] and of 1910 (Bp. [[Innocent (Figurovsky) of Beijing|Innocent (Figurovsky)]]); Pope [[Benedict XVI]] drops ''Patriarch of the West'' title; Russian Orthodox parish opened in Pyongyang, North Korea; Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Theological Commission meets in Belgrade, Serbia; 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;" death of Elder [[Athanasios Mitilinaios]], having authored thousands of recorded lectures in the spirit of patristic traditional Orthodoxy.   
*2007 Restoration of [[full communion]] between [[Moscow Patriarchate]] and [[ROCOR]]; 1600th anniversary celebration of the repose of [[John Chrysostom]]; the [[Roman Catholic Church|Vatican]] [[w:Vatican_abolishes_Limbo|formally abolishes doctrine of Limbo]]; number of Orthodox believers in Italy reaches almost one million as a result of immigration from Romania and Ukraine; 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]]); letter "[[w:A Common Word Between Us and You|A Common Word Between Us and You]]" is sent by 138 Muslim leaders from 40 nations to the leaders of the world's Christian churches, calling for understanding and commonality; the Abp. of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams welcomed Patriarch [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew I]] to Westminster Abbey to celebrate the publication of ''[http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=32722 The Church of the Triune God: The Cyprus Agreed Statement]'', taking over 16 years to produce, concluding the third phase of the Anglican-Orthodox international theological dialogue; world's first [http://www.orthodox.cn/news/20071101dictionary_en.htm Russian-Chinese dictionary of Orthodox vocabulary] is printed in Moscow; Romania and Bulgaria enter the European Union; the International Association of Genocide Scholars passed the  ''[http://www.genocidescholars.org/images/Resolution_on_genocides_committed_by_the_Ottoman_Empire.pdf IAGS Resolution on Genocides Against Assyrians, Greeks, Armenians, and Other Christians by the Ottoman Empire 13 July 2007],'' affirming that the Ottoman campaign against Christian minorities between 1914-1923 was genocide; the [[Eastern_Orthodoxy_and_Judaism#Sixth_Academic_Meeting|6th Academic Meeting between Judaism and Orthodox Christianity]] took place in Jerusalem, March 14-15.
*2008 First Orthodox Liturgy [http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4495 celebrated at the North Pole]; [[Orthodox Study Bible]] (with [[Septuagint]]) published; [[Church of Ukraine|UOC-MP]] canonizes new martyrs of Vasyliivskyi, Fr. [[Sergiy Shtenko]] and laymen [[Prokhor Bunchuk]] and [[Kirill Priyma]], martyred during the communist persecution of the church in the 20th century; 14th Session of the Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission was held in Paphos, Cyprus; [[Metropolis of Singapore]] (Ecumenical Patriarchate) founded; [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''"; Patr. [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew I]] authors ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=citwDOTiWV8C&source=gbs_navlinks_s Encountering the Mystery: Understanding Orthodox Christianity Today];'' Hieromartyr Archimandrite [[Philoumenos (Hasapis) of Jacob's Well]] (+1979) is glorified by the [[Church of Jerusalem|Patriarchate of Jerusalem]]; 42 members of the Zulu, Tsvan and Sutu tribes were baptised into the Orthodox Church in South Africa, received into the church by the Metr. [[Seraphim (Iakovou) of Johannesburg|Seraphim]] of Johannesburg and Pretoria.
*2009 Metr. Valentin of Orenburg and Buzuluk consecrated the first-ever Russian Orthodox temple in Rome on [[May 24]], the day of St. [[Cyril and Methodius]], being the ''Church of the Great Martyr St. Catherine'', with the blessing of Patr. Kirill; the 4th Pan-Orthodox pre-conciliar consultation was held in Chambésy on June 6-13, mandating "Episcopal Assemblies" for various regions of the world, including North America;<ref>Three Pan-Orthodox pre-conciliar consultations (Chambésy 1976, 1982, 1986) and five inter-Orthodox preparatory commissions (Geneva, 1971, Chambésy 1986, 1990, 1993 and 1999) were held in the past.</ref> On April 30 the House of Assembly of the Parliament of South Australia passed a motion recognising "the genocide by the Ottoman state between 1915-1923 of Armenians, Hellenes, Syrian and other minorities in Asia Minor";<ref>[http://hansard.parliament.sa.gov.au/pages/loaddoc.aspx?eD=2009_04_30&c=7&e=1 GENOCIDE OF THE ARMENIANS, PONTIAN GREEKS, SYRIAN ORTHODOX, ASSYRIAN ORTHODOX AND OTHER CHRISTIAN MINORITIES].</ref>  Metr. [[Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington|Jonah (Paffhausen)]] addresses inaugural assembly of [[w:Anglican Church in North America|Anglican Church in North America]] (ACNA); agreement was announced between [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St. Vladimir's Seminary]] and [[w:Nashotah House|Nashotah House]]; the [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125604916994796545.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsThird Vatican announced a newly created "Apostolic Constitution"], calling for the creation of new church structures, called [[w:Personal ordinariate|Personal Ordinariates]], to operate under local Roman Catholic dioceses and be administered by former Anglican clergy, clearing the way for entire congregations of Anglican faithful to join the [[Roman Catholic Church]], while preserving elements of the distinctive Anglican spiritual and liturgical patrimony;” Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Commission meets in Paphos, Cyprus, 11th plenary, studying the theme ''"The Role of the Bishop of Rome in the Communion of the Church in the First Millennium;"'' pilgrimmage to [[Mount Athos]] of the former Prime Minister of Ukraine [[w:Viktor Yanukovych|Viktor Yanukovych]], current leader of the opposition in parliament; Bulgaria’s Parliament approved changes to the Family Code opening the way for fast-track divorces; in February, the Israeli government transferred to Russia ''Sergei's Courtyard'', which had originally been a part of the [[w:Russian Compound|Russian compound]].
*2010 Resolutions in the United States and Sweden were passed narrowly, recognising the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as "genocide", Turkey reacting angrily in both cases; official visit of Ecumenical Patriarch [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople]] to the [[Church of Russia]]; formation of [[Episcopal Assembly of North and Central America]]; inaugural meeting of the [[Episcopal Assembly of the British Isles]] is held on June 21st at Thyateira House; formation of [[Episcopal Assembly of Oceania]]; Pope [[Benedict XVI]] proclaims the [[w:Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation|Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation]]; on Sunday, [[August 15]], 2010 Ecumenical Patriarch [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew I]] conducted the first [[Divine Liturgy]] in 88 years at the historic monastery of [[Panagia Soumela]] in [[w:Trabzon|Trapezounta]], northeastern Turkey, marking the first official religious service carried out at the ancient monastery since the foundation of the modern Turkish Republic; over half a million Guatemalan Indians of the "Orthodox Catholic Church of Guatemala" (OCCG), a branch of the "[[w:Orthodox-Catholic Church of America|Orthodox-Catholic Church of America]]" (OCCA), are received in their entirety into the Ecumenical Patriarchate's [[Metropolis of Mexico (Ecumenical Patriarchate)|Holy Metropolis of Mexico]].<ref>''[http://www.secretariat.orthodoxtheologicalinstitute.org/index.php?option=com_lyftenbloggie&view=lyftenbloggie&category=secretariat%20news&Itemid=50 PRESS RELEASE].'' '''General Secretariat for Pan-Orthodox Ministries'''. FROM THE OFFICE OF THE HOLY METROPOLIS, Mexico City, April 7th 2010.</ref><ref group="note">In announcing this exciting development, His Eminence Metropolitan [[Athenagoras (Aneste) of Mexico]] expressed his great pleasure in welcoming the OCCG which was received in its entirety, including their former clergy, seminarians, lay ministers, catechists and affiliated membership into the canonical family of the [[Orthodox Church]]. Following their official reception, the leaders of OCCG, Messrs. [[Andrew Girón]] and [[Michael Castellanos]] traveled to Mexico City where on the weekend of March 19-21, they were ordained to the Holy Priesthood, receiving the title of [[Archimandrite]]. The OCCG has an approximate membership of 527,000 faithful and catechumens, overwhelmingly indigenous, with 334 churches in Guatemala and southern Mexico, with 12 (formerly OCCG) clergymen and 14 seminarians, who are assisted in their pastoral ministry by 250 lay ministers and 380 catechists.</ref>
*2011 Another assassination attempt on the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew I]] was prevented by Turkish police;<ref>''[http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/world/news/63562/Assassination_attempt_on_Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople_prevented Assassination attempt on Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople prevented].'' '''PanArmenian.net'''. March 9, 2011 - 17:12 AMT 13:12 GMT.</ref><ref group="note">"[[w:Hudson Institute|Hudson Institute]] fellow Lela Gilbert reports: "In recent weeks, a series of abuses against Christians has swept across the Muslim world. There has been [[w:Shahbaz Bhatti|a murder in Pakistan]], attacks on churches in Ethiopia, an attempted assassination of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Turkey and repeated pogroms against the Copts in Egypt. Now, rights groups are reporting new developments in Iran's anti-Christian crackdown, which has swept up nearly 300 Christian believers since June 2010." (Jennifer Rubin. ''[http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-turn/2011/03/the_release_of_a_cuban.html Morning Bits]''. '''The Washington Post (Opinions)'''. 7:45 AM ET, 03/13/2011)</ref> glorification of Righteous [[Irodion of Lainici]] (+1900), former Abbott of [[w:Lainici Monastery|Lainici Monastery]] in Romania;<ref>[http://www.basilica.ro/en/patriarchate-news/proclamation_of_canonisation_of_saint_irodion_3521.html Proclamation of Canonisation of Saint Irodion]. Basilica News Agency. 01-05-2011 22:40.</ref> canonization of 1241 New Martyrs of [[w:Naousa, Imathia|Naoussa]], Greece, massacred by the Ottoman Turks from Thursday of Bright Week to the Sunday of Thomas in 1822.<ref>[http://www.ipernity.com/blog/81196/333998 The Canonization of 1241 New Martyrs of Naoussa]. Ipernity. July 5, 2011 at 05:38PM.</ref><ref>{{el icon}} [http://romfea.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8506:---1241---&catid=25:2009-12-18-08-37-46 Τελετή αγιοκατάταξης των 1241 νεομαρτύρων της Νάουσας]. Romfea.gr. Δευτέρα, 27 Ιούνιος 2011.</ref> launch of the ''"[http://stratigikes.com/stratigikes/christian.html The Great Orthodox Christian Encyclopedia]"'' 12-Volume set, blessed and sponsored by Ecumenical Patriarch [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew I of Constantinople]], Patriarch [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria|Theodore II of Alexandria]], Patriarch [[Ignatius IV (Hazim) of Antioch|Ignatius IV of Antioch]], Patriarch [[Theophilus III (Giannopoulos) of Jerusalem|Theophilos III of Jerusalem]], Archbishop [[Chrysostomos II (Demetriou) of Nea Justiniana|Chrysostomos II of Cyprus]], Archbishop [[Ieronymos II (Liapis) of Athens|Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece]], and others.<ref>''[http://www.patriarchate.org/multimedia/photos?setID=72157626970188295&title=06/24/11:%20Launch%20of%20the%20Great%20Orthodox%20Christian%20Encyclopedia Launch of the Great Orthodox Christian Encyclopedia].'' '''The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople'''. 06/24/11. Retrieved: 2013-02-09.</ref><ref>{{el icon}} ''[http://stratigikes.com/stratigikes/christian.html Η Μεγαλη oρθoδoξη Χριςτιανικη εγκyκλoπαιδεια].'' Στρατηγικες Εκδοσεις. Retrieved: 2013-02-09.</ref><ref>{{el icon}} ''[http://www.amen.gr/article1553 Υπό έκδοση η νέα Μεγάλη Ορθόδοξη Χριστιανική Εγκυκλοπαίδεια].'' AMEN.GR. 26 Ιανουαρίου 2010, 14:04. Retrieved: 2013-02-09.</ref>
*2012 Ecumenical Patriarch [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew I]] gave a landmark address at the Turkish Parliament’s Constitution Conciliation Commission, tasked with drafting a new constitution for Turkey, presenting an 18-page report demanding equal treatment and rights for Turkey’s non-muslim communities, including state-aid for churches and minority schools;<ref>''[http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/orthodox-christian-leader-favors-constitution-promoting-religious-freedom-in-turkey/2012/02/20/gIQAJsD6OR_story.html Orthodox Christian leader favors constitution promoting religious freedom in Turkey].'' The Washington Post (AP). February 20, 2012.</ref><ref group="note">The subcommittee also heard the demands of Turkey’s Assyrian Christian community, represented by Kuryakos Ergün, the head of the Syriac Mor Gabriel Monastery Foundation.</ref> Bp. [[Makarios (Tillyrides) of Kenya]] officiates at the wedding of the Kenyan Prime Minister's son, Fidel Odinga, who was baptized ''Makarios'' in June, together with 22 other people.<ref>''[http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/bishop-makarios-kenya-officiates-kenyan-prime-minister-s-son-s-wedding/20120808 Bishop Makarios of Kenya officiates at Kenyan Prime Minister’s son’s wedding].'' Cyprus Mail. August 23rd 2012.</ref>
*2013 Fifty-three Ethiopian Orthodox Christians are arrested in Saudi Arabia for praying in a private home.<ref>''[http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Saudi-Arabia:-53-Ethiopian-Christians-arrested-for-praying-in-a-private-home-27187.html Saudi Arabia: 53 Ethiopian Christians arrested for praying in a private home].'' AsiaNews.it. 02/20/2013 10:37.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in America]]   
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Australia]]   
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in China]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Greece]]   
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]   
*[[Timeline of Orthodoxy in Japan]]
*[[Timeline of Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic relations]]

==Notes==
<references group="note" />

==References== 
<div class="small"><references/></div>

==Published works==   
The following are published writings that provide an overview of Church history:   
    
'''From an Orthodox perspective'''   
* Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov). ''[http://pokrovpublications.com/bookstore_120906_2.html Everyday Saints and Other Stories].'' Pokrov Publications, 2012. 504pp. ISBN 978-0-9842848-3-2 
* [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew I]] (Ecumenical Patriarch). ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=citwDOTiWV8C&source=gbs_navlinks_s Encountering the Mystery: Understanding Orthodox Christianity Today].'' Random House of Canada, 2008. ISBN 9780385518130 
* [[Sergius Bulgakov|Bulgakov, Sergeĭ Nikolaevich]]. ''[http://www.svspress.com/product_info.php?products_id=203&osCsid=b1daf845e88be28003d36749c5127b7a The Orthodox Church].'' Revised Ed. St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1997. ISBN 978-0881410518 
* Clark, Katherine. ''The Orthodox Church.'' '''Simple Guides: Religion (series)'''. Random House Inc, 2009. ISBN 9781857334876 (''Concise, accessible introduction'')
* [[Olivier Clement|Clément, Olivier]]. ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=MhJGJbPKpz4C&source=gbs_navlinks_s Conversations with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I].'' St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1997. ISBN 9780881411782 
* Damick, Fr. Andrew Stephen. ''[http://www.conciliarpress.com/products/Orthodoxy-and-Heterodoxy.html Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy: Exploring Belief Systems through the Lens of the Ancient Christian Faith].'' 1st Ed. Chesterton, IN: Conciliar Media Ministries, 2011. 224 pp. ISBN 9781936270132
* Keleher, Serge. ''[http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a789069533 Orthodox rivalry in the twentieth century: Moscow versus Constantinople].'' '''Religion, State and Society.''' Volume 25, Issue 2 June 1997. pp.125-137. 
* Papanikolaou, Aristotle. ''Byzantium, Orthodoxy, and Democracy.'' '''Journal of the American Academy of Religion.''' Vol. 71, No. 1 (Mar., 2003), pp. 75-98.
:<small>Addresses the question of the compatibility between Eastern Orthodox Christianity and modern understandings of democracy. Cites a recent debate between two contemporary Orthodox ethicists, Stanley Harakas and Vigen Guroian, over the proper role of the Orthodox Church in relation to the American democratic state. Argues that there does not exist a "clash of civilizations" between Orthodoxy and democracy.</small>
* Payton, James R. (Prof. Dr.). ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=khL2qJ7gLPwC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s Light from the Christian East: An Introduction to the Orthodox Tradition].'' InterVarsity Press, 2007. ISBN 9780830825943
* [[Alexander Schmemann|Schmemann, Alexander]]. ''The Historical Road of Eastern Orthodoxy''.   
* [[Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia|Ware, Timothy]]. ''The Orthodox Church: New Edition''. (ISBN 0140146563) 
*  [[Meletios (Webber)|Webber, Meletios]] (Archimandrite). ''[http://www.conciliarpress.com/bread-water-wine-oil.html Bread & Water, Wine & Oil: An Orthodox Christian Experience of God].'' Conciliar Press. 2007.

'''From a [[Heterodox]] perspective'''   
* Cairns, Earle E. ''Christianity Through the Centuries: A History of the Christian Church''. (ISBN 0310208122)     
* Collins, Michael, ed.; Price, Matthew Arlen. ''Story of Christianity: A Celebration of 2000 Years of Faith''. (ISBN 0789446057)       
* Gonzalez, Justo L. ''A History of Christian Thought, Volume 3: From the Protestant Reformation to the Twentieth Century''. (ISBN 0687171849)        
* Hastings, Adrian, ed. ''A World History of Christianity''. (ISBN 0802848753)    
* 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 5: Christian Doctrine and Modern Culture (since 1700)''. (ISBN 0226653803)   
* Schaff, Philip. ''History of the Christian Church''. (ISBN 156563196X)  
* Shortt,  Rupert (Religion Editor of the ''Times Literary Supplement''). ''[http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/editions/christianophobia/9781846042751 Christianophobia: A Faith Under Attack].'' The Random House Group, UK, 2012. 320pp. ISBN 9781846042751    
* Trower, Philip. ''[http://www.amazon.ca/Catholic-Church-Counter-Faith-Christianisation/dp/1871217598 The Catholic Church and the Counter Faith: A Study of the Roots of Modern Secularism, Relativism and de-Christianisation].'' Family Publications. October 2006. 327pp. ISBN 9781871217599
* 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]]   
    
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[[bg:Времева линия на църковната история]]   
[[el:Ιστορικό χρονολόγιο της Εκκλησίας]]   
[[ro:Istoria Bisericii Ortodoxe (cronologie)]]