288 East 10th Street, New York, NY 10009
P: (212)254-6685 E: info@stnicholaschurchnyc.org
Rev. Fr. William Bennett
Divine Liturgy: Sunday 10am
P: (212)254-6685 E: info@stnicholaschurchnyc.org
Rev. Fr. William Bennett
Divine Liturgy: Sunday 10am
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that
through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
(Romans 15:4)
through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
(Romans 15:4)
**This page is currently under construction and will be updated periodically. It is meant to give an overview of some key events, important dates and an introduction to several Saints of the Orthodox Church that impacted its history.
Timeline of the Orthodox Church
The Apostolic Era (First through Third Centuries)
First Century AD
During the first one hundred years after the Death and Resurrection of Christ, the Books which comprise the New Testament are written. The new Christian faith is spreading to the gentiles with Christian Communities founded by Bishops and Presbyters. Emperor Nero engages in the first of ten major persecutions of Christians in the early Church. Sts Peter and Paul were martyred under his reign.
Second Century AD
During the Second century, Christian persecutions continued. Jerusalem, once the center of Christianity became decentralized. This period iscalled the Time of the Apostolic Fathers, the generation of writers and leaders that had direct contact with the original apostles. The consistent criticism of the faith gave rise to
another special group of Christian writers, the Apologists. These writers argued for and defended the faith, and in the process allowed Christians for all ages to know what the second century church believed. The Apologists were fighting two fronts: 1. Pagans (Romans), who were drowning in Greek philosophies and false gods and 2) Jews, who could not understand the behavior of Christians who claimed their beliefs to be the fulfillment of Judaic Scripture and prophecy.
another special group of Christian writers, the Apologists. These writers argued for and defended the faith, and in the process allowed Christians for all ages to know what the second century church believed. The Apologists were fighting two fronts: 1. Pagans (Romans), who were drowning in Greek philosophies and false gods and 2) Jews, who could not understand the behavior of Christians who claimed their beliefs to be the fulfillment of Judaic Scripture and prophecy.
150 ADSt. Justin Martyr describes the liturgical worship of the Church, centered in the Eucharist. in fact, his description of the sacramental celebrations of Baptism and the Eucharist remain a principal source for the history of the primitive church. Justin Martyr writes his First Apology, advancing Christian efforts to address competing philosophies. He against
Christians by using arguments that integrated a Greek perspective of the Logos, cited Hebrew prophecy, and referenced a Greek culture surrounded by false gods. |
169 ADPolycarp,Bishop of Smyrna and disciple of John, was martyred. His role in the Early Church was to authenticate orthodox teachings through his connection with the Apostle John. Polycarp was denounced, arrested, and tried on the charge of being a Christian. When the proconsul urged him to save his life by cursing Christ, he replied: "Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?" His sole surviving work is his Epistle to the Philippians, which contains
extensive references to the New Testament. |
175-185 ADThe writings of entitle St. Irenaeus of Lyons to a high place among the theologians of the Orthodox Church. He gives us many details about Christianity during this period that might have otherwise been lost. For example, he recounts the succession of bishops in Rome from Peter and Paul to his day. This is done to combat a claim being made by several heretical leaders that they were in the rightful lineage of the apostles. He gives us the basis for a creed recited during his day and he cites passages from the four canonical gospels and from almost every other NT book.
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