A Pilgrim People The Story of Our Church Presented by: www.cainaweb.org Early Church Growth & Threats (30-312 AD) Rapid Growth & Great Councils (313-450 AD) Rise of Christendom (450-1050 AD) High Medieval Church (1050-1300 AD) Renaissance to Reformation (1300-1600 AD) Worldwide Growth (<1500-1800 AD) Revolution to Renewal (1600-2000 AD) Outline Fall of Roman Empire Growth of Monasticism Rise of Holy Roman Empire Great East-West Schism Roman Empire Christianity became mainstream Fifth Century – Roman Empire viewed as God’s Kingdom on Earth When Western Roman Empire Collapsed: – God did not seem to protect Christians – Does correct conception of Kingdom of God involve political powers? Barbarian Invasions Video: Barbarian Invasions Fall of Roman Empire Fifth - “Pax Romana” (Peace of Rome) Sixth no longer maintained in West by Centuries Roman legions – Anarchy, brutality, lawlessness Trade became more local – Barter economy – Towns and cities declined Dark Ages Fifth - Social & political order declined Sixth – Social & political structures Centuries became more localized Church only large-scale institution left that could provide social order & stability – Formerly provided by Roman Empire – Church’s leadership role moral, not political Pope Leo the Great Fifth - Pope was only remaining Sixth figure of authority in Rome Centuries Pope not supported by an emperor with military – But Pope Leo able to defend Rome from barbarians Video: Pope Leo and Attila the Hun East and West After collapse of Roman Empire in the West, Constantinople was center of empire Fifth - Western Empire in Dark Ages, Sixth but Byzantine Empire in East Centuries cultured and civilized – At the time, it appeared Christianity in West was dying Video: Byzantine Empire East and West Bishop of Rome (Pope) appeared much weaker than Bishop of Constantinople Fifth - (Patriarch) Sixth BUT from a position of Centuries weakness Pope Leo was able to turn back Attila the Hun AND from a very early date, the Bishop of Rome (Pope) claimed absolute primacy East and West Different views of authority in the Church between east and west – West: Pope has spiritual Fifth - authority over all Sixth Centuries “See” (seat) of St. Peter – East: Authority shared equally by bishops of “Pentarchy” Rome, Antioch, Jerusalem, Alexandria, Constantinople East and West Christianity’s brightest future appeared to be in the East Fifth – Future didn’t shape up that way Century Despite collapse of Roman order Onward in West, Church did not despair – Church accepted that Germanic “barbarians” were there to stay New mission: Convert them – Took centuries, but succeeded Due to efforts of ordinary people Especially monks Monasticism Fifth Monks sought deeper holiness Century apart from chaotic and sinful Onward world Monks had huge impact on the world by withdrawing from it – Monasteries became centers of missionary activity among rural peasants Video: Monasticism Monasticism Fifth It appeared Christianity might fall Century with the fall of Roman Empire Onward Christianity may have died without monasticism Monks spread Christianity quietly and non-violently Emperors and Kings sometimes spread Christianity by force Spread of Christianity History shows two ways of trying to spread God’s Kingdom: – Changing other peoples’ lives by force – Changing other peoples’ lives by changing their own lives first Monasticism Fifth Anthony of Egypt was a wonder Century and a sign Onward – Sought penance in desert Monastic spirit spurns power and comfort – People would travel to be learn from monks and provide food and other necessities Monasticism Fifth Started with individuals Century – Hermetic Onward Developed into communities – Cenobitic St. Basil St. Benedict Fruits of Monasticism Libraries and Schools Preservation of Western Culture – Art, Literature, Philosophy – Church Latin, the Bible Spirituality, Prayer, Music Unique Opportunity for Women – St. Marcella (St. Jerome) Bishops, Popes, Doctors of the Church Conversion of Europe Fifth In addition to monasticism at Century the grassroots level, Christian Onward rulers began to govern society based on how they believed God intended – Also contributed to conversion of Europe Conversion of Europe Conversion of the Franks – Modern France and Germany King Clovis – First leader of the Franks to become Christian In 496, Clovis was Baptized – 3,000 others joined him Conversion of Europe Pope Stephen II went to Germany to seek Frankish King Pepin’s help – Defeated Lombards in Italy – Gave pope control of Papal States in central Italy Over next several centuries the Franks would ensure stability of Christianity in Europe by: – Protecting the Papacy – Establishing the Holy Roman Empire in Central Europe Rise of Christendom Christendom formalized when Charlemagne “crowned by God” as Emperor by Pope Leo III – Became Ruler of Holy Roman Empire Second Roman Empire in West Also called “Carolingian Empire” – Charlemagne controlled “civilized” Europe Except Spain (Muslim) Charlemagne's Empire Video: Charlemagne Rise of Christendom Alliance of Papacy and the Franks, aided by the monks, built a distinctively Christian Fifth - political and social order in Ninth Central Europe Centuries Christendom – Society ordered by Gospel – Christianity involved in every aspect of life Holy Roman Empire Continuous struggle for primacy – Orthodox (Eastern) view was that Emperor occupied higher position than the Patriarch – Charlemagne also considered he had higher authority than Pope – However, in Catholic view Pope has highest authority Spiritual authority over political authority Holy Roman Empire Big problem: Lay investiture Seventh – Practice of lay persons Through (secular rulers) appointing Eleventh bishops, priests, abbots, Centuries abbesses State had authority over Church – Emperors, Kings, and other secular rulers wanted bishops they could control Bishops also had secular power Holy Roman Empire Video: Status in 1000 A.D. Great East-West Schism Official separation of the Eastern (Orthodox) Church from the Western (Roman Catholic) Church – Mutual excommunication Seeds of schism developed long before 1054 A.D. – Differing practices West: Unleavened bread and celibate clergy East: Leavened bread and married clergy Major Causes of Schism 326 A.D. – Constantine moved capital to East – New center of political power 451 A.D. – Council of Chalcedon – Gave greater ecclesiastical prominence to Bishop of Constantinople (the “New Rome”) Ranked second to Bishop of Rome Pope Leo the Great protested reduction of honor given to Bishops of Antioch and Alexandria 589 A.D. – Western Council of Toledo “Filioque” At Council of Toledo, Western bishops added word “filioque” (“and the Son”) to Nicene Creed – “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son” – Rejected by Eastern bishops “Proceed” = begot = from Father Descended “through” the Son Major Causes of Schism 326 A.D. – Constantine moved capital to East – New center of political power 451 A.D. – Council of Chalcedon – Gave greater ecclesiastical prominence to Bishop of Constantinople (the “New Rome”) 589 A.D. – Western Council of Toledo – “Filioque” controversy 630’s A.D. – Fall of Jerusalem, Antioch, and Alexandria to the Muslims left Constantinople undisputed head of Eastern Church Five Patriarchates Rome Constantinople Antioch Jerusalem Alexandria Islamic Expansion Video: Islamic Expansion Major Causes of Schism – 700’s A.D. – Iconoclast controversy Since Christ was human and human nature can be depicted, Christ can be painted West’s view of East’s destruction of icons was denial of Jesus’ human nature – “Closet Monophysites” West disagreed with Emperor imposing doctrinal decisions on bishops Major Causes of Schism – 753 A.D. – Creation of Papal States East: Rejected Papal States – 800 A.D. – Coronation of Charlemagne East: One God = One Emperor – 1054 A.D. – Mutual Excommunication Year of the Great East-West Schism Byzantine Empire Eastern Churches Today, there exist 3 main forms of Christianity in the Middle East – 80% not in union with the Pope: 1. Eastern Orthodox Church After Great East-West Schism 2. Oriental (Monophysite) Churches Split off at Council of Chalcedon (451 A.D.) Eastern Churches – 20% are in union with Pope: 3. Various Eastern Rite “Uniate” Churches – Developed from both Byzantine and Monophysite traditions by interaction with European Christianity during Crusades – Each retain their own liturgical customs and languages Catholic Churches Summary In this presentation, we covered a period of huge difficulties and massive changes for the Church – Fall of Roman Empire and Dark Ages – Eastern Byzantine Empire – Papal Primacy – Monasticism – Charlemagne and Rise of Christendom – Expansion of Islam – Great Schism between East & West Churches Early Church Growth & Threats (30-312 AD) Rapid Growth & Great Councils (313-450 AD) Rise of Christendom (450-1050 AD) High Medieval Church (1050-1300 AD) Renaissance to Reformation (1300-1600 AD) Worldwide Growth (<1500-1800 AD) Revolution to Renewal (1600-2000 AD) Questions? Comments? www.cainaweb.org Closing Prayer A Pilgrim People The Story of Our Church Presented by: www.cainaweb.org .