|
Dates are given according to the contemporary
usage of "BC" and "AD" as invented by Dionysius Exiguus. Remember also,
there is no year zero, and the years 1 BC and 1 AD are the exact same year
according to the Dionysian system, being divided at the point of December
25. Also note that Dionysius Exiguus made an error of 8 years in determining
the year of Christ’s birth.
|
BC/AD |
Event (Approximate Dates Given |
|
334 BC
|
Alexander
the Great conquers the Persian Empire. Judah brought under Hellenic
rule.
|
|
63 BC
|
Romans
led by Pompey the Great capture Jerusalem and annex Syria and Judea.
|
|
40 BC
|
Marc
Anthony in Rome appoints Herod the Great as King of Judea.
|
|
27 BC
|
The Roman general Octavian declares himself Roman Emperor and changed
his name to Augustus Caesar. It is at this point that the Roman Empire
is established.
|
|
20 BC
|
Herod begins to rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem.
|
|
08 BC
|
The
Incarnation of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. The Virgin Mary
conceives of the Holy Spirit on March 25 according to the Roman (Julian)
calendar, which, in this year, corresponds with Nisan 15 (the first day
of Pascha) according to the Hebrew Calendar.
|
|
07 BC
|
Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ is Born of the Virgin Mary on
December 25.
|
|
14 AD
|
Tiberius becomes Roman Emperor.
|
|
18 AD
|
Caiaphas
is elected High Priest in Jerusalem.
|
|
26 AD
|
John the Baptist begins preaching. He baptizes Jesus in the River
Jordan. A great voice is heard from the Father in heaven "This is my
beloved son in whom I am well pleased," and the Holy Spirit descends
upon Christ in the form of a dove. Christ begins His ministry.
|
|
31 AD
|
Jesus
Christ is crucified under Pontius Pilate at the behest of the
Scribes and Pharisees. On the third day, Sunday, March 25 according to
the Roman (Julian) Calendar and Nisan 15 (first day of Pascha) according
to the Hebrew Calendar, our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, rises
from the dead. He ascends into heaven forty days later. Fifty days
after His resurrection, he sends down the Holy Spirit which proceeds
from the Father. The Holy Spirit enlightens the Apostles and the
Church on earth is born.
|
|
32 AD
|
The 11 apostles convene a council in Jerusalem to select a disciple to
replace Judas Iscariot as the 12th apostle. Lots are drawn and Matthias
is elected and ordained.
|
|
33 AD
|
The 12 apostles convene a council to elect seven deacons to serve the
Church.
|
|
45 AD
|
Council
of Jerusalem, presided over by St. James, the Brother of the Lord,
Bishop of Jerusalem, and attended by
Sts. Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and
other apostles and elders. The council condemns the Judaizers, and
declares that Gentiles need not convert to Judaism, or be circumcised,
nor follow the Mosaic Law, to become Christians (Acts 15).
|
|
56 AD
|
Council of Jerusalem, presided over by St. James, and attended by St.
Paul and his disciples, as well as all the elders of the Church in
Jerusalem (Acts 21).
|
|
70 AD
|
Following a revolt, the Romans sack Jerusalem and destroy the
Temple. Hebrews are exiled. Christian spiritual center is moved from
Jerusalem to Antioch, whereas the Jews and those Christians of the
circumcision (Judaizers) travel to Arabia and elsewhere. It is at this
point that the Jews and Judaizers are scattered and divided from the
Church.
|
|
155 AD
|
Council
of Rome, presided over by Bishop Anicetus and attended by Saint Polycarp
of Smyrna and others, in order to settle the issue concerning the date
of Pascha. An agreement is not met, but the two opposing camps maintain
ecclesiastical communion.
|
|
193 AD
|
Council
of Rome, presided over by Bishop Victor, condemns the celebration of
Pascha on Nisan 14, and addresses a letter to Polycrates of Ephesus and
the Churches in Asia.
|
|
193 AD
|
Council
of Ephesus, presided over by Bishop Polycrates, and attended by several
bishops throughout Asia, reject the authority of Victor of Rome, and
keep the Asian paschal tradition.
|
|
217 AD
|
St.
Callistus is elected Bishop of Rome, but St. Hippolytus objects and has
himself elected. After St. Callistus's repose, his successors Urban and
Pontianus take the throne. St. Hippolytus continues as rival bishop of
Rome until he is reconciled and later martyred.
|
|
251-6 AD
|
Council
of Carthage, presided over by St. Cyprian, and attended by 71 fathers
from Numidia and other parts of Africa. This council holds five sessions
over the course of five years, but is considered one council. It
condemns Novatians (those who refuse to accept sinners or to receive
Christians who had lapsed during the persecution) and sets requirements
for readmission into the Church for those who had lapsed. This council
also rejects the teaching of Bishop Stephen of Rome in regards to
baptism outside the Church. The baptism of heretics is declared invalid.
Heretics are to be readmitted into the Church through baptism and
chrismation, and priests through the laying-on of hands.
|
|
258 AD
|
Council
of Iconium, presided over by St. Firmilian of Neo-Caesarea, and attended
by Fathers from Cappadocia, Lycea, Galatia and other parts of Asia. It
rejects the teaching of Pope Stephen of Rome, and confirms the decrees
of Carthage in regards to the rebaptism and re-ordination of converts
baptized or ordained by heretics.
|
|
264 AD
|
Council
of Antioch, presided over by St. Firmilian of Neo-Caesarea, and attended
by several fathers, condemns the Paulians (later known as Sabellians),
who believe that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one and the same
person (prosopon).
|
|
306 AD
|
Council
of Elvira, presided over by St. Hosius of Cordova, and attended by 19
bishops all together, imposes celibacy on clergy and forbids converts
from heresy to ever be ordained to the priesthood. This local council is
never accepted by the Easterners.
|
|
311 AD
|
Council
of Carthage, presided over by Donatus, and attended by several African
bishops, rejects the ordination of Pope Caecilian of Carthage by Felix
of Aptunga, owing to the latter's supposed lapse during the
persecutions, and elects Majorinus as rival Pope of Carthage. This
council causes the Donatist schism.
|
|
312 AD
|
Roman Emperor Constantine the Great converts
to Christianity.
|
|
313 AD
|
Constantine signs the Edict of Toleration in Milan,
ending the persecution of Christians.
|
|
314 AD
|
Council
of Ancyra, presided over by St. Vitaly, Patriarch of Antioch, and
attended by 18 fathers. It is the first council to be held after the end
of the persecutions. It condemns those Christians who lapsed from the
faith in order to escape persecution; It formulates punishments for the
lapsed, and also punishments for various types of immorality.
|
|
314 AD
|
Council
of Arles, attended by bishops from Gaul and Britain, condemns Donatism
(the schism of Carthage) and establishes 22 canons concerning church
order and discipline.
|
|
315 AD
|
Council
of Neo-Caesarea, presided over by St. Vitaly, and attended by 23 fathers
all together. It establishes punishments for immorality and outlines the
qualifications and criteria of worthiness for the election of clergy to
the sacerdotal list.
|
|
325 AD
|
Council
of Nicea, (First Ecumenical - Imperial Council), convened by Roman
Emperor, St. Constantine the Great. It is attended by 318 fathers,
including
Sts. Athanasius the Great, Nicholas of Myra, Spyridon of
Trimythus, Alexander of Constantinople, Alexander of Alexandria, Eustace
of Antioch, Macarius of Jerusalem, and the legates of St. Sylvester of
Rome. It condemns the Arians (also known as Lucianists, who believe the
Son was created), Paulians (also known as Sabellians, who believe the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the same person), Quartodecimans (those
who celebrate Pascha on Nisan 14) and Meletians (those who caused a
schism and parallel hierarchy in Egypt). This council also formulates
the Nicene Creed, sets a united date for celebrating Pascha, condemns
mandatory celibacy for clergy, establishes regulations on morality and
discipline, decides Christians ought to stand, not kneel, while praying
on Sunday, and establishes Rome, Alexandria and Antioch as the three
equal spiritual centers (Patriarchates) of Christianity.
|
|
330 AD
|
The
Capital of the Roman Empire is moved to New Rome (Constantinople).
The Imperial Court and a large part of Old Rome's population moves to
the new capital.
|
|
335 AD
|
Council
of Tyre, convened by Emperor Saint Constantine the Great, presided over by
Eusebius of Caesarea, and attended by 120 bishops. Although it does not
reject the decisions of Nicea, this council does at least incline
towards Semi-Arianism, and manages to depose
St. Athanasius the Great
and several other Orthodox bishops.
|
|
340 AD
|
Council
of Gangra, presided over by Eusebius and attended by 13 bishops all
together, condemns a form of Manichaeanism (those who forbid marriage,
the partaking of meat, obedience to lawful authority), and prohibits
Christians from fasting on Sundays.
|
|
341 AD
|
Council
of Antioch, convened by Roman Emperor Constantius, presided over by
Eusebius of Constantinople (New Rome), and attended by 120 fathers all
together. It reinforces the rule of Nicea for the common celebration of
Pascha, establishes regulations regarding the organization of local
(regional) churches, and the use of canonical letters by travelers for
verification of their canonical standing in the Church.
|
|
347 AD
|
Council
of Sardica, convened by Roman Emperors Constantius of New Rome and
Constans of Old Rome, presided over by Hosius, bishop of Cordova, and
attended by 370 fathers. It is convened to exonerate Sts. Paul of New
Rome, Athanasius the Great of Alexandria and Maximus of Jerusalem, as
well as Marcellus of Ancyra and Asclepas of Gaza, who had been deposed
in 335 at the Council of Tyre under Eusebius of Caesarea. The Easterners
agree to be present at the council of Sardica, but upon discovering that
the deposed clergymen are to be given seats at the council, the
Easterners depart for Philippoupolis where they hold a council of their
own. The Westerners continue at the council of Sardica at which they
confirm the Nicene Creed and establish several canons concerning church
discipline. They proceed to depose 11 of the Easterners who departed for
Philippoupolis on the charge of Arianism, whereas they exonerate and
annul the depositions of Paul, Athanasius, Maximus, Asclepes and
Marcellus. However, this council errs in its exoneration of Marcellus in
that the latter is indeed a heresiarch (Marcellianism).
|
|
347 AD
|
Council
of Philippoupolis, attended by 76 bishops who had departed from Sardica.
It confirms the Nicene Creed and condemns the extreme form of Arianism,
as well as Tritheism and Sabellianism. In addition to re-deposing Paul,
Athanasius, Maximus, Asclepas and Marcellus, they also depose Pope
Julius of Rome, Hosius of Cordova, Protogenes of Sardica, and several
others who participated in the Sardican council. Thus, the Easterners
and Westerners excommunicate each other on the grounds of heresy.
|
|
359 AD
|
Council
of Seleucia, attended by several bishops, including St. Meletius,
rejects the Nicene Creed and adopts the Acacian formula, which inclines
towards Arianism. St. Meletius later rejects this formula and confesses
the Nicene Creed, after which he is installed as Patriarch of Antioch in
360. Shortly thereafter he is exiled, and Euzoius (an Arian) is
appointed to succeed him. Simultaneously, Paulinus (an extreme
Anti-Arian who inclined towards Sabellianism) is ordained bishop of
Antioch by Lucifer of Calaris, and leads the Eustathian faction. Later,
Vitaly is ordained bishop of Antioch by the heretical Apollinaris. Each
of the four rival bishops of Antioch are recognized by different Local
Churches. For instance, the majority of the Easterners recognize the
Arian Euzoius; the Churches of Egypt, Cyprus, Arabia, Africa and the
West recognize Paulinus; the Cappadocians recognize Meletius, but the
Asians recognized Vitaly.
|
|
362 AD
|
Council of Alexandria, attempts but fails to bring an end to the
Antiochian schism.
|
|
363 AD
|
Council
of Antioch, presided over by St. Meletius, attended by 26 bishops,
confirms the Nicene Creed and attempts but fails to bring an end to the
Antiochian schism.
|
|
364 AD
|
Council
of Illyricum, convened by Roman Emperor Valentinian, condemns Arianism
and confirms the Nicene Creed. It also addresses the Churches in Asia,
Phrygia, Carophrygia and elsewhere, to convene a similar council against
the Arian persuasions which had arisen among them. Thus, the council of
Laodicaea is held the same year.
|
|
365 AD
|
Council
of Laodicaea, condemns Arianism, confirms the Nicene Creed and
established several canons concerning church order and discipline.
|
|
369 AD
|
Council
of Rome, presided over by Pope Damasus, signs a tome confirming Nicea,
condemning Arianism and calling the Easterners towards healing the
schism.
|
|
378-9 AD
|
Council
of Antioch, presided over by St. Meletius, and attended by 150 bishops,
recognizes the tome of the Westerners in regards to healing the Antiochian schism.
|
|
381 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople (Second Ecumenical), convened by Roman Emperor
Theodosius the Great, presided over at first by St. Meletius of Antioch,
and, following his repose, by
Saint Gregory the Theologian, Patriarch of
New Rome, and attended by 150 bishops of both east and west. It condemns
the following factions:
-
the Arians (also known as Eunomians or Eudoxians, who believe Christ is
created, and of a completely different essence to the Father),
-
Semi-Arians (who believe Christ is of a similar, yet different, essence
to the Father),
-
Macedonians (or Pneumatomachi, who believe the Holy
Spirit is a mere creature),
-
Apollinarians (who believe Christ has a
human body and soul, but not a human rational mind),
-
Sabellians (who
believe the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one and the same person),
-
Marcellians (who believe the Son and Holy Spirit are not eternal
persons, but are transitions of the Father that would again unite into
one person with the Father at the end of time),
-
Photinians (who believe
Christ is a mere man), Millenarians (who believe in the literal
thousand-year reign), and
-
Quartodecimans (who celebrate Pascha on Nisan
14). This council reaffirms that Christians must stand while praying on
Sundays and the days from Pascha to Pentecost.
It recognizes Old Rome,
Constantinople (New Rome), Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem as the five
spiritual centers (Patriarchates) of the Christian Empire. This council
also attempts to resolve the Antiochian schism since St. Meletius had
reposed. St. Flavian is elected and enthroned as his successor. However,
he is later rejected by the bishops of the West, Egypt, Arabia, Africa
and Cyprus, who recognize Paulinus, and later his successor, Evagrius,
as Bishop of Antioch.
|
|
382 AD
|
Council
of Rome, presided over by Pope Damasus, attended by Jerome, Epiphanius
of Salamis, Paulinus of Antioch and others, attempts but fails to heal
the Antiochian Schism.
|
|
394 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, local council, presided over by St. Nectarius of
Constantinople (New Rome), and attended by 20 bishops all together,
establishes regulations for church discipline, especially in regards to
ordinations and depositions.
|
|
395 AD
|
Roman Emperor Theodosius I divides the Roman Empire into East and West
to be governed by his twin sons, the Roman Emperors Arcadius and
Honorius, respectively.
|
|
400 AD
|
Council
of Toledo, condemns Gnosticism/Manichaeanism, which follows dualistic ideas, of good and evil, light
and darkness, spirit and flesh.
|
|
410 AD
|
Council
of Seleucia, at which the Assyrian Church declares itself independent of
St. Flavian of Antioch, thus forming the autocephalous archdiocese of
Seleucia-Ctisephon.
|
|
410 AD
|
Vandals sack Old Rome, marking beginning of barbarian invasion of
Empire's West.
|
|
415 AD
|
Council
of Antioch, presided over by St. Flavian, and attended by Evagrius and
the Eustathian faction, finally brings a successful, permanent end to
the Antiochian schism.
|
|
419-24 AD
|
Council
of Carthage, local council, presided over by Pope Aurelius of Carthage,
and attended by 217 bishops all together. It condemns the Pelagians (who
deny original sin and grace) and Donatism (who reject the ordination of
those who had lapsed during the persecution), denies the jurisdiction of
the Pope of Rome in the African Church, enumerates canon of Holy
Scriptures (Old and New Testaments), and prohibits the rebaptism or
re-ordination of those baptized or ordained by Donatists.
|
|
431 AD
|
Council
of Ephesus (Third Ecumenical), convened by Emperor Theodosius II,
presided over by Pope St. Cyril of Alexandria, and attended by more than
200 fathers. It condemns Nestorianism (the belief
that the person of
Christ consists of two hypostases, a human and a divine, and that the
Theotokos is therefore to be called Christotokos, as if Christ is not
God). It also confirms the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, and declares
any additions or subtractions to it are henceforth forbidden. It is also
declared that bishops are not to interfere in the vicinities and
dioceses of other bishops.
|
|
441 AD
|
Council of Orange, local council, presided over by St. Hilary of Arles,
and attended by 17 bishops all together, formulates canons concerning
Church order and discipline.
|
|
448 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, local council, presided over by Patriarch St. Flavian
of Constantinople (New Rome), condemns Eutychianism (the belief that the
person of Christ consists of one hypostases but also only one nature).
|
|
449 AD
|
Council
of Ephesus (Robber Synod), convened by Emperor Theodosius II, presided
over by Pope Dioscorus of Alexandria, and attended by 127 bishops. It
falsely styles itself the so-called "Fourth Ecumenical Council." It
exonerates Eutyches who had been deposed by the local Council of
Constantinople a year earler, condemns Eutyches' accuser, St. Flavian of
Constantinople, and also Domnus of Antioch, Eusebius of Dorylaeum, Ibas
of Edessa and others, on the charge of supposed Nestorianism.
|
|
450 AD
|
Council
of Nicea, local council, presided over by Dioscorus of Alexandria and
attended by 11 bishops, excommunicates Pope St. Leo of Rome on the
charge of Nestorianism.
|
|
451 AD
|
Council
of Chalcedon (Fourth Ecumenical), convened by Emperor Marcian and
his wife Empress Pulcheria, presided over by Eusebius of Dorylaeum, and
attended by 630 bishops all together. It condemns Eutychianism as well
as the Monophysitism of Dioscorus (the belief that the two natures of
Christ had become one nature after the Incarnation), exonerates those
who had been unlawfully deposed by the Robber Council, rejects the acts
of that council, except those found to be Orthodox and canonical.
|
|
453 AD
|
Barbarians under Attila the Hun invade Italy.
|
|
457 AD
|
Following the murder of Proterius, the Orthodox Patriarch of
Alexandria, the Monophysite faction within Egypt uncanonically elects
Timothy Aelurus in his place. This is followed by a struggle between the
Orthodox and Monophysites for the patriarchal throne. Similar rivalry
also arises at the Patriarchates of Antioch and Jerusalem.
|
|
476 AD
|
Western
Roman Emperor Romulus Augustulus, residing in Ravenna, is deposed by
Odoacer, the commander of the Western army. Eastern Roman Emperor Zeno
proposes Odoacer to be the new Western Emperor, but Odoacer declines the
offer, returning the Imperial Regalia to Constantinople. Upon receiving
the Western Regalia, the Roman Empire is reunited, and Zeno becomes
sole Roman Emperor of both East and West.
|
|
482 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, convened by Emperor Zeno, presided over by Patriarch
Acacius, and attended by several Orthodox and Monophysite bishops. It
formulates an henoticon (union) which compromises both the
Orthodox and Monophysite positions in order to form a swift union
between the two opposing camps. At this time the sees of Alexandria,
Antioch and Jerusalem are occupied by the Monophysites Peter Mongus,
Peter the Fuller and Theodosius respectively, and they accept the
henoticon with the Orthodox Patriarch Acacius of Constantinople. The
Monophysites who reject the henoticon sever communion with their
patriarchs and become known as Acephali. The Orthodox who rejected the
henoticon, particularly the Pope of Rome, sever communion with
Acacius and the patriarchates of the Eastern Empire. This schism lasts
until 519 when the Easterners reject the henoticon and return
into communion with Rome.
|
|
484 AD
|
Council
of Seleucia, presided over by Acacius, and attended by 12 bishops. It
rejects the Council of Ephesus, the Robber Council, as well as the
Council of Chalcedon. It also establishes canons regarding marriage
after ordination to the deaconate, and celibacy for priests. It is at
this point that the Assyrian (Nestorian) Church of the East falls into
schism.
|
|
491 AD
|
Council
of Varlasapat, at which the Armenians within the Persian Empire condemn
the Council of Chalcedon. However, communion with the Orthodox is later
restored. |
|
493 AD
|
Ostrogoths
sack Ravenna, the last of the most important Roman cities in the West.
|
|
518 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, at which Severus of Antioch is deposed for
Monophysitism. He rejects his deposition and his followers divide into
several groups. The Monophysite patriarch of Alexandria is also deposed,
and his failure to recognize his deposition leads the Copts into schism
from the Church.
|
|
519 AD
|
Council of Constantinople, at which union is restored with the Church of
Rome.
|
|
527 AD
|
Council
of Dovin, convened and presided over by Catholicos Nerses II of Armenia,
embrace Monophysitism and causes the Armenian church to again fall into
schism.
|
|
529 AD
|
Council
of Orange, local council, presided over by Caesarius of Arles, and
attended by 14 bishops, condemns Semi-Pelagians (who deny the necessity
of grace in salvation).
|
|
532-7 AD
|
Roman
Emperor Justinian I begins and completes the construction of the Great
Temple of Holy Wisdom (Haghia Sophia) on the ruins of a previous
temple. The new temple becomes the very center of Roman Orthodox
Christianity for centuries to come.
|
|
541 AD
|
Council
in Antioch, convened and presided over by Jacob Bardaeus, officially
accepts Monophysitism and forms the Jacobite Syrian Church, in schism
from Roman Orthodoxy.
|
|
553 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople (Fifth Ecumenical), convened by Roman Emperor
Justinian I, presided over by Menas of Constantinople, and attended by
165 bishops. It is convened firstly in order to condemn Origenism
(belief in the preexistence of souls, reincarnation, that hell is only
temporary, that demons will be saved, that there will not be a bodily
resurrection, that various inanimate objects contain souls), and
secondly in order to condemn the writings of Theodore of Mopsuestia,
Theodoret of Cyrus and Ibas of Edessa, on the charge of Nestorianism.
These latter condemnations are hurled mainly to please the Monophysites,
making union more possible. Thereby it appears that the council is
siding with the Monophysites. Pope Vigilius of Rome disagrees at first
but is later convinced to sign the edict. This, however, causes schisms
in the West.
|
|
553 AD
|
Council
of Carthage condemns the edict that attempts to please the Monophysites
and deposes Pope Vigilius of Rome for signing the edict.
|
|
553 AD
|
Council
of Aquileia, presided over by Macedonius, condemns Pope Vigilius for
signing the edict, and declares Macedonius to be independent Patriarch
of Aquileia.
|
|
559 AD
|
Council
of Toledo, convened by the Gothic King Richard, in order to combat
Arianism which is widespread among the Gothic barbarians who had
invaded from the north. In its attempt to dispel Arianism, this council
adds the clause filioque ("and the Son") to the Nicene-Constantinopolitan
Creed in regards to the procession of the Holy Spirit. This addition is
contrary to the Second Ecumenical Council which had forbidden any
additions.
|
|
626 AD
|
Avars
lay siege to Constantinople, but Roman defense is successful. Akathist
Hymn is composed in honor of the Holy Theotokos to thank her for her
intercession during the war.
|
|
631 AD
|
Cyrus,
formerly bishop of the Lazi, is appointed Patriarch of Alexandria, and
through his Monothelite teachings (his belief that Christ possesses only
one, divine will, energy and operation), manages to draw the great
majority of Coptic Monophysites back into the fold of the official
Church. The Copts thus abandon Monophysitism, but at the expense of the
official Church's Orthodoxy. The compromise on the part of both camps is
welcomed by the Emperor and soon the Monothelite heresy spreads
throughout the entire Empire.
|
|
632 AD
|
Adopting
Christian, Arian, Gnostic, Jewish and Pagan elements, Mohammed of Arabia
establishes a new heretical form of Christianity (Mohammedanism), which
is declared a new religion under the banner of Islam (meaning
"submission"). Its followers are called Muslims.
Islam begins to
spread rapidly throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
|
|
638 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, local council, presided over by the Monothelite
Patriarch Sergius, composes an exposition based on a heretical letter by
Pope Honorius of Rome, and sends this to all the Patriarchates declaring
it to be the official teaching of the Church. The Patriarchates of
Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem duly accept it, being occupied by
Monothelites. Rome, after the death of the heretical Pope Honorius,
returns to Orthodoxy.
|
|
643 AD
|
Council of Cyprus, local council, presided over by Archbishop Sergius,
condemns Monothelitism as expressed in the heretical exposition of
Constantinople.
|
|
646 AD
|
Council of Carthage, presided over by Pope Victor, also condemns the
exposition.
|
|
648 AD
|
Council
of Dovin, convened and presided over by Catholicos Nerses III of
Armenia, accepts the Council of Chalcedon and enters again into
communion with the Roman Orthodox Church, based however on the
Monothelite compromise.
|
|
649 AD
|
Council of Rome, local Lateran council, presided over by Pope St.
Martin, and attended by 105 bishops, and St. Maximus the Confessor,
condemns the Monothelite exposition, and the heretical Popes, Patriarchs
and Bishops that adhered to and promoted it.
|
|
664 AD
|
Council
of Whitby, convened by King Oswy of Northumbria, presided over by Bishop
Agilbert of the West Saxons, and attended by hierarchs of both the
Celtic and Roman Churches of Britain. It condemns the Celtic calculation
of Pascha (first Sunday between Nisan 14 and 20) in favor of the Roman
(Alexandrian) rule (first Sunday between Nisan 15 and 21), and replaces
other Celtic practices with those used by the Christians of the Roman
Empire. The Celtic Church of Britain submits to the Roman Orthodox
Church.
|
|
680-81 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople (Sixth Ecumenical),
convened by Emperor
Constantine Pogonatus, presided over by St. George of Constantinople,
and attended by 170 fathers. It condemns Monothelitism and anathematizes
the Monothelite Patriarchs Cyrus of Alexandria, Sergius, Pyrrhus, Paul
and Peter of Constantinople, Pope Honorius of Rome, and Bishop Theodore
of Pharan. They are then replaced with Orthodox successors.
|
|
682 AD
|
Council
of Alexandria, at which the Copts who had compromised to Monothelitism
during the times of controversy, reject the decisions of the Sixth
Ecumenical Council, and return into schism, not as Monophysites as
earlier, but this time as Monothelites.
|
|
686 AD
|
Council
of Antioch, at which several deposed Monothelite bishops attended,
rejected the decisions of the Sixth Ecumenical Council, and elected John
Maro as a rival Patriarch of Antioch, thus forming the Monothelite (Maronite)
schism from the Orthodox Church.
|
|
692 AD
|
Council
of Trullo in Constantinople (Quintisextine - Fifth-and-Sixth Council),
convened by Roman Emperor Justinian II Rhinotmetus, presided over by
Paul of Constantinople, and attended by 327 bishops, establishes canons
regarding church order and discipline, canons which the Fifth and Sixth
Ecumenical Councils had been unable to establish.
|
|
700 AD
|
Council
of Aquileia, at which the Patriarch of Aquileia reunites with the Pope
of Rome.
|
|
751 AD
|
Lombards
sack Ravenna, the most important Roman stronghold in the West.
|
|
754 AD
|
Council
of Hiereia in Constantinople (also known as the Iconoclastic or Mock
Council), convened by Roman Emperor Constantine V Copronymus, presided
over by Archbishop Theodosius of Ephesus, and attended by 338 bishops
all together. It falsely styles itself the "Seventh Ecumenical Council."
It condemns the writing of icons, or the painting of pictures, and
forbids the veneration of images on the charge of idolatry.
|
|
787 AD
|
Council
of Nicea (Seventh Ecumenical), convened by Empress Irene and her
infant son Constantine VI, presided over by Patriarch Tarasius of
Constantinople, and attended by 350 Orthodox bishops, and 17
iconoclastic bishops who repent and are received back into Orthodoxy by
the council itself. It annuls the decisions of the Mock Council of 754
and condemns Iconoclasm, while restoring the veneration of the sacred
icons.
|
|
787 AD
|
Council
of the Carolingians (Iconoclastic Council), convened by the Frankish
Barbarian King Charles the Great (Charlemagne), presided over by
Patriarch Paulinus of Aquileia, and attended by bishops from the
Carolingian Kingdom, Aquileia and Britain, rejects the Holy Seventh
Ecumenical Council of 787 and insists upon the addition of the
filioque in the Creed, following the error of the Gothic Council of
Toledo in 559. The Carolingians also demand Pope Hadrian of Rome to
accept their decision, but he refuses, not only by recognizing the
Seventh Ecumenical Council, but also by rejecting the Carolingian
Council, as well as rejecting the filioque clause that the false
council promotes.
|
|
794 AD
|
Council
of Frankfurt (Iconoclastic Council), convened by Charlemagne. It
condemns Adoptionism (the belief that God is the natural father of
Christ's divinity, but is the Father of Christ's humanity only by
adoption). However, this council also continues in the error of
Charlemagne, in that it condemns the Seventh Ecumenical Council of 787.
It also condemns Pope Hadrian due to his acceptance of the Seventh
Ecumenical Council. Charlemagne declares the Roman Empire to no longer
be Roman and Orthodox, but rather "Greek" and "heretical," while he, a
Frankish barbarian, styles himself and his barbarian subjects "Roman."
This council also defends the heretical addition of the filioque
to the Creed, despite its staunch rejection by Pope Hadrian of Rome.
Charlemagne charges the Eastern Romans with heresy only to discredit the
Roman Emperor. Charlemagne plans for himself to be crowned Roman Emperor
of both East and West. He charges the Easterners with heresy to support
his political agenda.
|
|
796 AD
|
Council
of Frioul, convened by Charlemagne, presided over by Patriarch Paulinus
of Aquileia, defends the insertion of filioque in Creed, despite
Pope Hadrian's resistance.
|
|
800 AD
|
Council
of Rome, convened by Charlemagne, presided over by Pope Leo III, and
attended by mostly Frankish bishops. The council restores Pope Leo III
to his rank after he had been forced to flee Rome due to accusations of
immorality held against him. However, Charlemagne captures and banishes
Pope Leo's accusers. In return, Pope Leo III is forced to crown
Charlemagne as "Holy Roman Emperor," even though he has no connection
with the true Roman Empire governed from Constantinople (New Rome). The
true Roman Emperor, Constantine VI, rejects Charlemagne's claims to
Roman Imperial authority. The crowning of Charlemagne forms a political
schism between the true Romans in east and west, and the Franko-Latins
who falsely style themselves "Romans" and dare to call all the true
Romans "Greek heretics."
|
|
809 AD
|
Council
of Aachen, convened by Charlemagne, presided over by Patriarch Paulinus
of Aquileia, and attended by Frankish bishops, again condemns the
Seventh Ecumenical Council, requests Pope Leo III to annul the Western
Church's acceptance of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, and declares the
filioque necessary for salvation. Pope Leo III, however, rejects
this council, declares his acceptance of the Seventh Ecumenical Council,
and refuses to add the heretical filioque to the Creed. Pope Leo
demonstrates this by ordering the Creed to be engraved in Greek and
Latin and hung on the doors of St. Peter's according to the original
Orthodox version, without the heretical filioque clause.
|
|
815 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople (Iconoclastic Council), convened by Leo V the
Armenian, presided over by Patriarch Theodotos, and attended by Eastern
bishops, orders icons in churches to be placed beyond the reach of the
faithful to prevent their veneration.
|
|
825 AD
|
Council
of Paris, convened by Frankish barbarians, again condemns the Seventh
Ecumenical Council, and again insists that the filioque must be
used by all Christians.
|
|
842-43 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople ("Triumph of Orthodoxy"), convened by Roman
Empress Theodora, presided over by Patriarch Methodius of
Constantinople, and attended by several Orthodox hierarchs, annuls the
Iconoclastic Council of 815 and restores the veneration of the holy
icons. The iconoclasts and all other heretics are anathematized.
|
|
860-64 AD
|
Roman
Orthodox monks, Cyril and Methodius, travel to the Caucasus and Crimea
in order to convert the pagan Turkic Khazars. However, the latter
embrace Judaism and become the ancestors of the majority of the world's
future Jews. Cyril and Methodius later travel to Moravia where they
successfully convert the Moravian Slavs to Orthodoxy. Soon thereafter,
they begin converting the Bulgarians who had invaded Macedonia and
Thrace.
|
|
861 AD
|
Council of Constantinople ("First-and-Second" or "Twice-Held" Council),
convened by Roman Emperor Michael, presided over by Patriarch Photius,
and attended by 318 bishops of both east and west, in order to resolve a
dispute over Patriarch Photius of Constantinople who had been enthroned
after the deposition of his predecessor, Ignatius. The council,
including the Papal legates, confirms the deposition of Ignatius and
declares Photius to be the lawful Patriarch. Several canons are also
formulated.
|
|
863 AD
|
Council
of Rome, convened and presided over by Pope Ncholas, uncanonically
deposes Patriarch Photius and declares the deposed Ignatius to be
Patriarch of Constantinople. This uncanonical council is rejected by the
Easterners.
|
|
867 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, convened by Roman Emperor Michael, presided over by
Patriarch Photius of Constantinople, and attended by 500 fathers from
East and West (the Westerners were the Archbishops of Treves, Cologne
and Ravenna). The Council condemns and deposes Pope Nicholas of Rome on
the charges of introducing the heretical filioque clause in the
creed, as used by the Pope's missionaries in Bulgaria, and for
exercising beyond his authority by interfering in dioceses outside his
jurisdiction. Pope Nicholas does not accept his deposition, but dies
shortly after his condemnation.
|
|
867 AD
|
Basil
the Macedonian usurps the throne after murdering Roman Emperor Michael.
Patriarch Photius condemns the murder, refusing Emperor Basil communion.
Basil thus deposes Patriarch Photius and replaces him with his
predecessor, Ignatius.
|
|
868 AD
|
Council
of Rome, presided over by Pope Hadrian II, condemns Patriarch Photius.
|
|
869-70 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople (false council, later repudiated), presided over by
Pope Hadrian's legates, attended at first by only 12 bishops, condemns
Patriarch Photius.
|
|
877 AD
|
Patriarch Ignatius of Constantinople reposes and Photius is again
elected Patriarch.
|
|
879-80 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople (Eighth Ecumenical), convened by Roman Emperor
Basil II, presided over by Patriarch Photius, and attended by 383
bishops of both east and west. It declares the Council of Nicea in 787
to truly be the Seventh Ecumenical Council, and anathematizes those who
refuse to recognize it (particularly those in France). It also annuls
the Councils of Rome and Constantinople which had condemned Patriarch
Photius. In addition, it declares that the Creed, the Symbol of the
Faith, must remain exactly as it was handed down by the Holy Fathers.
Anyone who dares to make any additions or subtractions (especially in
regards to the filioque clause) is anathematized. Finally, it is
decreed that the Churches of East and West are not to interfere in one
another's jurisdiction, that the west is to depose western bishops and
the east is to depose eastern bishops, and that these depositions must
be recognized by all of the Churches. This council is also accepted and
fully embraced by Pope John VIII of Rome.
|
|
898 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, presided over by Patriarch Anthony, and attended by
local eastern bishops. The supporters of Patriarch Ignatius are
reconciled with the Church.
|
|
907 AD
|
Roman
Emperor Leo VI desires to marry a fourth time since his three deceased
wives failed to bear him a male successor. The ecclesiastics then divide
into two camps over whether he should be allowed a fourth marriage. The
moderates are led by Patriarch Nicholas Mysticus, whereas the extremists
are led by a rival patriarch called Euthymius.
|
|
920 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople (Tetragamy Synod), presided over by Patriarch
Theophylact, declares fourth marriages to no longer be acceptable, heels
the schism of 907 and the reposed rival patriarchs Nicholas and
Euthymius are both glorified as saints.
|
|
925 AD
|
After
conquering Macedonia and Thrace, the Bulgar Khan Symeon declares himself
"Emperor of the Bulgars and Romans." This title is later recognized by
the Pope of Rome.
|
|
941 AD
|
Russian
Prince Igor leads attack on Constantinople. However, the Romans succeed
in defending the Imperial City.
|
|
960 AD
|
St.
Athanasius founds Great Lavra, forming the first monastic community of
Mt. Athos.
|
|
988 AD
|
Prince
Vladimir of Kiev converts and Russia becomes an Orthodox Christian
state.
|
|
996 AD
|
After
the repose of Pope John XV, the Frankish King Otto III installs his
relative, Bruno, as the first German (non-Roman) Pope, who takes the
name Gregory V. At this point, the once Roman papacy converts to a
Frankish organization and becomes a simple pawn of the autocracy.
Due to the Frankish control of the papacy, the rulings of the Eighth
Ecumenical Council of 879 (of which Pope John VIII had participated) are
uncanonically rejected. This allows the filioque to be introduced
into the Church of Rome, as well as the papal claims of world domination
(heretical views condemned by the Eighth Ecumenical Council). The new
Frankish papacy also begins to reject the title of "Ecumenical
Patriarch" for the Archbishop of Constantinople (New Rome), an historic
title bestowed upon the latter as early as 7th century. A Roman Orthodox
party in the West rejects the new Frankish Germanic pope and elects a
truly Roman and Orthodox Pope, John XVI.
|
|
1010 AD
|
After
being blinded and imprisoned for several years by the Frankish Antipope
Gregory V, the last truly Roman and Orthodox Pope, John XVI of Rome,
reposes in the Lord.
|
|
1024 AD
|
Ecumenical Patriarch Eustachius of Constantinople (New Rome) and the
three other Eastern Patriarchs refuse to insert the Frankish
antipope's name in the diptychs, on the grounds that the papacy of
Old Rome has become plagued by corruption (simony) and heresy (filioque
and papal supremacy), as well as the refusal to recognize the title of
"Ecumenical Patriarch" for the Archbishop of Constantinople, according
to the ancient tradition. It was at this point that communion was
severed with the Frankish Papacy.
|
|
1032-48
AD
|
The
barbarian Count Alberich III of Tusculum seizes authority in Rome and
purchases the papal see (simony). Alberich crowns his 12 year old son as
Pope Benedict IX. This event replaces the once Roman patriarchate with a
powerless papacy that was nothing but a Frankish facade. The barbarian
pope Benedict IX is a common criminal, and even the staunchest of
Frankish apologists to not deny Benedict's acts of theft, murder and
carnal immorality. Scandals break out continuously throughout his reign
causing his dethronement. He later ascends the papal throne again, but,
wanting to marry, abdicates and sells his throne to his godfather.
Benedict later ascends for a third time until he is finally deposed in
1048. Thereafter, only such barbarians occupy the papal throne.
|
|
1050 AD
|
Council
of Vercelli, convened by King Henry I and presided over by Pope Leo III,
condemns Berengar of Tours (who believed that Christ is only spiritually
present in the Sacred Gifts, rather than physically present in the form
of his divine body and blood).
|
|
1052 AD
|
The
Archbishop of Canterbury flees from England due to political reasons.
King Edward the Confessor and a council of British bishops elects and
installs Bishop Stigand of Winchester as archbishop. The Pope of Rome
refuses to recognize the new Archbishop of Canterbury and declares the
British Church to supposedly be schismatic.
|
|
1052 AD
|
The
Frankish Norman rulers demand the Roman Orthodox Christians in Southern
Italy and Sicily to abandon the eastern rite and adopt Frankish
liturgical practices (the heretical filioque and the use of
azymes — unleavened bread). This is an attempt to estrange the
Romans of Italy with their compatriots in the free Eastern Roman Empire,
in order to assimilate them with their barbaric Frankish rulers. In
response, the Ecumenical Patriarch Michael Cerularius demands the Latin
churches in Constantinople to abandon the Latin rite and adopt the
Eastern liturgical practices. This causes the schism to widen.
|
|
1053 AD
|
Ecumenical Patriarch Michael Cerularius writes to Pope Leo IX offering
to restore his name to the diptychs of the Eastern Church if a council
is convened to heal the schism.
|
|
1054 AD
|
Pope Leo
IX sends three legates to Constantinople, the chief of which is Cardinal
Humbert of Silva Candida.
Before a council is convened, the latter marches into the Church of
Hagia Sophia and places a papal bull of excommunication upon the altar,
in which, without a trial, he uncanonically excommunicates Patriarch
Michael because the latter supposedly "omitted" [sic] the filioque from the creed and does
not accept the use of azymes in holy communion. Patriarch Michael
responds by calling a Council of Eastern bishops at which Cardinal
Humbert is anathematized, and the use of the filioque clause in
the Nicene Creed and azymes in holy communion are condemned.
Many
scholars mark this event as the "Great Schism" between the Roman
Orthodox Church and the Frankish Papacy. However, the schism had
already occurred in 1024. The events of 1054 only mark the failed
attempt to restore communion and heal the already-existing schism.
|
|
1066 AD
|
Pope Alexander II of Rome blesses the Frankish King William of Normandy
to invaded Britain and submit the Orthodox population to the Frankish
Papacy. Thus, William the Conqueror and his Norman forces defeat the
British natives at the Battle of Hastings.
|
|
1067 AD
|
William
the Conqueror is uncanonically crowned King of England by Pope Alexander
II.
|
|
1070 AD
|
Council
of Winchester, false council, convened by William the Conqueror and
presided over by Papal legates, uncanonically deposes the Orthodox
Archbishop Stigand of Canterbury, replacing him with the barbaric Norman
Bishop Lanfranc.
|
|
1072 AD
|
The last
English Orthodox Bishop, Ethelric of Durham, anathematizes the Frankish
Pope and Norman usurpers and dies a Confessor in the prisons of
Westminster.
|
|
1082 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, convened by Roman Emperor Alexius I Comnenus, and
attended by several Eastern hierarchs. It condemns the heresies of John
the Italian (who believes in Hellenic philosophy and ancient Greek
doctrines of the soul, heaven, earth and creation; that creation is
eternal or immutable; that creation is not the result of God's free
will; that the world was not created ex nihilo - from nothing;
that all of creation without exception will be restored; that heaven and
hell are only temporary; that each individual soul exists prior to the
conception of its body; that the soul is destroyed after bodily death;
that Greek philosophy is capable of explaining exactly how the Logos
united Himself to His human substance; and, who refuses to accept the
miracles of Christ, the Theotokos and the Saints).
The council also sends an epistle to the Frankish Pope Gregory VII,
calling for a solution to the schism between east and west in order to
form a military alliance against the Seljuk threat. Pope Gregory VII
responds positively, provided that his name is restored in the diptychs
of Constantinople and a council for union is convened.
|
|
1088-89
AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, convened by Roman Emperor Alexius I, adds the name of
Frankish Pope Urban II to the diptychs of Constantinople, regardless of
Filioque and Azymes, in order to form a military alliance
with the Franks against the Seljuks.
|
|
1092 AD
|
Council of Clermont, convened by the Frankish Pope Urban II, calls the
First Crusade.
|
|
1095 AD
|
Council
of Piacenza, presided over by Pope Urban II and attended by
representatives of Roman Emperor Alexius I, forms military and religious
alliance against Muslim Seljuks.
|
|
1097 AD
|
Crusaders defeat the Seljuks and capture Nicea and surrounding areas.
|
|
1098 AD
|
Crusaders capture Antioch, Edessa and Jerusalem from the Muslim Seljuks.
Roman Orthodox Patriarchs of Antioch and Jerusalem are exiled and
replaced with Frankish Latin Patriarchs. All Christians of Jerusalem
unite under Latin Patriarch and form one communion. However, at Pascha,
only the Roman Orthodox lamps are lit by the Holy Light, whereas the
Latins receive it second, from the hands of the Roman Orthodox. In
Antioch, however, the Roman Orthodox do not accept the Frankish
Patriarch. Thus they are divided, some under the Roman Orthodox
Patriarch, others under the Latin.
|
|
1099 AD
|
Council
of Bari, convened and presided over by Pope Urban II, and attended by
Frankish Latin bishops, as well as by Greek-speaking Roman Orthodox
bishops of Southern Italy, numbering 185 in total. The Roman Orthodox
bishops present are forced to accept the addition of the filioque
in the creed and unite with the Frankish Papacy.
|
|
1123
|
Council
of Lateran, convened and presided over by Pope Callistus II, and
attended by 300 western bishops and abbots, condemns simony and carries
out various reforms.
|
|
1139
|
Council
of Lateran, convened and presided over by Pope Innocent II, and
attended by 500 western bishops, condemns simony and the followers of
Arnold of Brescia, who refuse to accept the mysteries of the Eucharist,
priesthood, matrimony and infant baptism.
|
|
1147-48
|
Second
Crusade, called by Pope Eugenius III and led by Kings Louis VII of
France and Conrad III of Germany, in order to recapture Edessa which had
been invaded by Muslims. Passing through Constantinople, the crusaders
lay siege on Damascus, but fail to capture the city. However, they
manage to seize Lisbon in Iberia from Muslim rule.
|
|
1157 AD
|
Council
of Blachernae, convened
and presided over by Patriarch Luke Chrysoberges of
Constantinople, condemns Baselakes and Soterichus, those who believe
that Christ offered His sacrifice on the cross to His Father alone, and
not to Himself and the Holy Spirit; that the sacrifice of the Divine
Liturgy is only figuratively the sacrifice of the body and blood of
Christ; that the sacrifice of the Eucharist is not one and the same with
that of Christ on the cross; that men are reconciled with the Son
through the incarnation and with the Father through the passion; that
the deification of Christ's humanity destroyed His human nature; that
His deified human nature is not worthy of worship; that Christ's
humanity was swallowed up by His divinity and therefore His passion was
a mere illusion; that Christ's human characteristics, such as His
creaturehood, circumscription, mortality and blameless passions, are
only hypothetical, since His humanity is considered in abstraction and
not really and truly; and other heretical doctrines.
|
|
1166 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, convened and presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch
Luke Chrysoberges, condemns Constantine the Bulgarian, who believes that
the phrase "My Father is greater than I" refers only to Christ's
human nature taken in abstraction, and that Christ's human nature
retained its properties in the hypostatic union.
|
|
1179 AD
|
Council
of Lateran, convened and presided over by Pope Alexander III, and
attended by 300 western bishops, some eastern Latin bishops and one
eastern Greek bishop, firstly in order to heal the schism formed 20
years earlier by the election of antipope Hadrian IV by the Frankish
Emperor Frederick I, and secondly to condemn the Albigenses and
Waldenses (Neo-Gnostic sects based on Manichaean principles).
|
|
1189-92
AD
|
Third crusade, called by Latin pope and led by Frankish nobles, against
Muslims.
|
|
1202-04
AD
|
Fourth crusade, never reaches Middle East, but rather invades Roman
territory.
|
|
1204 AD
|
Frankish
Crusaders sack Constantinople and set up a Latin Kingdom in its
place, destroying and pillaging the city's great riches. This causes
contempt between Greeks and Latins, thereby widening the schism between
the Papist west and Orthodox east.
|
|
1210 AD
|
The
Serbians declare themselves ecclesiastically independent of the
archdiocese of Achris (Ochrid). In 1219, the Ecumenical Patriarchate
recognizes the independence of the Serbs and consecrates St. Sabbas as
Archbishop of Pec. The latter returns to Serbia and consecrates nine new
bishops, thereby establishing the Serbian Orthodox Church.
|
|
1211 AD
|
Council
of Turnovo, convened by Boril, Emperor of the Vlachs and Bulgarians,
presided over by Patriarch Basil of Ochrid, and attended by several
bishops, condemns the heresy of the Bogomils (Cathars or Puritans), who
hold a form of Gnosticism or Manichaeanism.
|
|
1215 AD
|
Council
of Lateran, convened and presided over by Pope Innocent III, and
attended by 404 western bishops, one eastern bishop (the Patriarch of
the Maronites), the delegates of the Roman Orthodox Patriarch of
Alexandria, and several delegates of the eastern Latin Patriarchs,
condemns the teachings of Abbot Joachim of Fiore, and accepts those of
Peter the Lombard, who believes the persons of the Holy Trinity are
united into a single person wherein there is neither begetting nor
proceeding, thus heretically adding a fourth person to the Trinity. This
council also declares it improper that the Greeks (Romans) rebaptize
those who had been baptized by Latins (Franks), as practiced in the
east.
|
|
1217-29
AD
|
Fifth crusade called by Franco-Latin pope and led by Frederick II
against Muslims.
|
|
1232 AD
|
Council
of Nicea-Nymphaeum, convened by Roman Emperor John Vatatzes, presided
over by Patriarch Germanus II of Constantinople, and attended by
Orthodox and Papist theologians, discussed the issue of the filioque
clause in order to solve the schism.
|
|
1245 AD
|
Council of Lyons, convened and presided over by Pope Innocent IV, and
attended by 150 western bishops as well as three eastern Latin
patriarchs, in order to discuss the problems surrounding the Muslim
threat on the Holy Land and the sufferings of the Eastern Empire; to
form a defense against the Tartars and other persecutors of the
Christians; and to determine the position of the Church in regards to
the State.
|
|
1248-54
AD
|
Sixth crusade called by pope and led by Louis IX of France.
|
|
1250 AD
|
Council
of Nicea, convened by Roman Emperor Theodore Lascaris, and attended by
eastern and western theologians in order to bring an end to the papist
schism.
|
|
1261 AD
|
Roman
Emperor Michael VIII Palaeologus recaptures Constantinople from Latin
rule.
|
|
1266 AD
|
Ecumenical Patriarch Arsenius Autoreianus is deposed for not absolving
the sins of Roman Emperor John Lascaris, but several clergy and monks
do not recognize this deposition and continue to commemorate Arsenius.
Another patriarch, Gregory of Adrianople, is elected, and the monk Joseph
absolves the emperor's sins. This forms a division between "Arsenites"
and "Josephites" which is to last 46 years.
|
|
1270 AD
|
Seventh crusade called by pope, led by Louis IX of France, goes no
further than Tunisia.
|
|
1274 AD
|
Council
of Lyons, convened and presided over by Pope Gregory X, and
attended by 300 western bishops as well as the legates of Ecumenical
Patriarch John Beccus, in order to heal the schism between the Papist
west and the Orthodox east. Emperor Michael VIII forces the Orthodox
delegation to give in to the papal claims and filioque clause in order to form
a swift union enabling the unified Christian world to defeat the Muslim
threat.
|
|
1285 AD
|
Council
of Blachernae, convened and presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch
Gregory II the Cypriot, condemns the actions of the eastern delegation
at the false council of Lyons. It also condemns the Franko-Latins who
use of the filioque clause in terms of interpreting the eternal
procession of the Holy Spirit as from both the Father and the Son,
rather than eternally from the Father alone and through the Son only in
a temporal sense.
|
|
1302 AD
|
The
Frankish Pope Boniface VIII issues a papal bull called the Unam
Sanctam, in which it is decreed that two powers rule the Church, one
is the spiritual power led by the pope himself, the other is the
temporal power of the secular rulers. The bull also declares that all
human beings ought to be subject to the Frankish pope in order to attain
salvation.
|
|
1309 AD
|
Due to
political situation in Italy, the papacy moves from Rome to Avignon in
France.
|
|
1311 AD
|
Council
of Ravenna, convened by Pope Clement V, and attended by several Western
bishops, against the ancient tradition, declares baptism by immersion to
no longer be necessary, and legalizes baptism by affusion (pouring) or
aspersion (sprinkling).
|
|
1311-13
AD
|
Council
of Vienne, convened and presided over by Pope Clement V, and attended by
120 western bishops and 4 eastern Latin patriarchs, in order to assess
the crisis in the Holy Land, to judge the Templars of Jerusalem, and to
carry out various church reforms. This council also condemns the
Beghards and Beguines who believe that a person in this present life can
acquire a degree of perfection which renders him utterly impeccable and
unable to make further progress in grace; that it is not necessary to
fast or pray after gaining this degree of perfection; that those who
have reached the said degree of perfection and spirit of liberty, are
not subject to human obedience nor obliged to any commandments of the
church; that a person can gain in this life final beatitude in every
degree of perfection that he will obtain in the life of the blessed;
that any intellectual nature in itself is naturally blessed, and that
the soul does not need the light of glory (theosis) to elevate it
to see God and enjoy him blissfully; that the practice of the virtues
belongs to the state of imperfection and the perfect soul is free from
virtues; and that the rational or intellectual soul is not essentially
and of itself the form of the human body.
|
|
1312 AD
|
Arsenite
schism of Constantinople is brought to an end by the reconciliation of
the Arsenites to the Josephites. The reposed Patriarch Arsenius is
glorified as a saint. Later, five Arsenite bishops again sever communion
with the Patriarch and die in schism. But one of these schismatic
bishops, Theoleptus of Philadelphia, is later glorified as a saint.
|
|
1341 AD
|
Council
of Hagia Sophia (Ninth Ecumenical) convened by Roman Emperor
Andronicus III, presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch John Calecas, and
attended by the Patriarchs of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem, and
several bishops and abbots, including St. Gregory Palamas. This council
condemns Barlaam of Calabria, who believes the light of Mt. Tabor is
created, and who criticizes the mystical Jesus Prayer as a
supposed practice of the Bogomils, and charges it for not proclaiming
Christ as God. Emperor Andronicus dies after the council's first
session, and the second session is convened by de facto Roman
Emperor John VI Cantacuzene, and presided over by Patriarch John Calecas.
This council condemns Acindynus, who takes the opposite extreme to
Barlaam of Calabria, believing that the light of Mt. Tabor is the divine
essence itself, rather than God's uncreated grace and energy, distinct
from His divine essence.
|
|
1345 AD
|
King
Stephan Urosh VI Dushan of Serbia elevates the archbishop of Pec to the
status of patriarch, and is then crowned by him as "Emperor of the Serbs
and the Romans."
|
|
1346 AD
|
Council
of Adrianople, convened and presided over by Patriarch Lazarus of
Jerusalem, and attended by several Thracian bishops, deposes Ecumenical
Patriarch John Calecas for supporting and ordaining the condemned
heretic, Acindynus.
|
|
1347 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople (Palamite), convened by Roman Empress Anne of
Savoy and her infant son Emperor John V, deposes Calecas and confirms
the Tome of 1341.
|
|
1351 AD
|
Council
of Blachernae (Palamite), convened by Roman Emperor John VI
Cantacuzene, presided over by Patriarch Callistus of Constantinople, and
attended by several bishops, the most prominent of which was St. Gregory
Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica. This council condemns the Anti-Palamites,
and brings a final end to the Acindynite heresy.
|
|
1378 AD
|
The
Frankish Pope Gregory XI returns the papacy from Avignon back to Rome
and dies shortly thereafter. The residents of Rome cause riots and havoc
demanding the election of a Roman pope, as opposed to a Frankish one.
Fearing their safety, the cardinals elect an Italian, Bartholomew of
Bari, who takes the name Urban VI. However, due to Urban's ill treatment
of his cardinals, 13 of them declare his election flawed due to the
riots preceding it, and elect a new, Frankish pope, Clement VII, who
eventually resides in Avignon. Henceforth there are two popes, two
papacies, two papal lineages, two sets of cardinals and two hierarchies:
those of Rome and of Avignon. This event is referred to by historians as
either the "Great Schism," the "Western Schism" or the "Avignon
Schism."
|
|
1409 AD
|
Council
of Pisa, convened and presided over by Cardinal de Malesset, bishop of
Palestrina, and attended by 4 Latin patriarchs, 22 cardinals, 80 bishops
and hundreds of lower clergy, condemn and depose the two rival popes,
Gregory XII of Rome and Benedict XIII of Avignon, and declare both to be
schismatics. This council then ordains a new pope, Alexander V. However,
the two other popes do not recognize their deposition, and henceforth
there are three popes, three papacies, three papal lineages, three sets
of cardinals and three hierarchies: those of Rome, those of Avignon and
those of Pisa.
|
|
1414-18
AD
|
Council
of Constance, convened by the German Emperor-elect Sigismund, presided
over by Pope John XXIII, successor to Pope Alexander V of Pisa, and
attended by 3 Latin Patriarchs, 29 Cardinals, and 150 bishops
representing all three popes, in order to bring an end to the "Western
Schism." This council declares itself, and all general councils,
superior in authority to the pope and forces all three popes to resign.
Pope Gregory XII of Rome soon abdicates; Pope John XXIII of Pisa departs
the council, which in turn deposes him, but he later resigns and his
deposition is lifted; Pope Benedict XIII of Avignon, on the other hand,
refuses to abdicate, and even after his condemnation and deposition,
continues to serve in Spain as an antipope. The council elects Martin V
as the new pope, who is to reside in Rome. The final sessions of the
Council of Constance are attended by the Roman Emperor Michael
Palaeologus, along with 19 Eastern Orthodox bishops. In addition to
resolving the "Western Schism," this council also condemns the heretical
teachings of the protestant reformers, John Wycliff of England and John
Hus of Bohemia.
|
|
1431-49
AD
|
Council
of Basel, convened by Pope Martin V, presided over by his legate,
Cardinal Julian Caesarini, and attended by several cardinals and
bishops. It confirms the decisions of the Council of Constance in that
general councils are to be convened as often as possible, that these
councils are the highest authority in the Church, even higher than the
pope, and that the pope does not have the power to prematurely dissolve
the council or make any such decisions without the majority vote of the
council members. Pope Martin dies shortly after the council begins, and
Eugene IV is promptly elected. The council sessions continue under the
presidency of Cardinal Julian, until Pope Eugene dissolves the Council
of Basel in 1437 in favor of holding a council in Ferrara. However, the
majority of bishops attending the Council of Basel, not accepting the
pope's authority in making this single-handed decision, refuse to
dissolve and demand the pope to appear before them on the charge of
disobedience. After warning the pope several times but to no avail, they
condemn him of schism and heresy, depose him, and elect a new pope,
Felix V, in his stead. Pope Eugene does not recognize his deposition by
the Council of Basel, nor the election of the antipope Felix, but
convenes a new council in Ferrara.
|
|
1438-39
AD
|
Council
of Ferrara, convened and presided over by Pope Eugene IV, and attended
by several cardinals and bishops. It declares the Council of Basel to be
officially dissolved, condemns the bishops who remained thereat of
schism and heresy, and nullifies their council decisions from the time
of the dissolution onwards. The purpose of the Council of Ferrara is to
unite with the Eastern Churches and thereby strengthen the Christian
front against Islam. The Roman Emperor John Palaeologus eventually
arrives at the council, followed by Ecumenical Patriarch Joasaph of
Constantinople and representatives of the Roman Orthodox Patriarchates
of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem, numbering about 700 in total. The
question of the filioque clause and the use of azymes is
not discussed, but rather only the issue in regards to purgatory. After
countless debates, neither side could be persuaded to accept the other's
position. With the permission of the Easterners, Pope Eugene dissolves
the Council of Ferrara and a new council is convened at Florence, at
which the religious debates between Easterners and Westerners continues.
|
|
1439-42
AD
|
Council
of Florence, convened by Roman Emperor John Palaeologus, presided over
by Pope Eugene IV, and attended by Ecumenical Patriarch Joasaph and
several bishops representing both Eastern and Western Churches. The
question of the filioque clause is discussed and debated but to
no avail, for neither side would concede to the other’s position.
However, Ecumenical Patriarch Joachim suddenly dies, and the Westerners
produce a document claiming that the late patriarch had conceded to all
the western doctrines and had signed a declaration of union before his
death. The Easterners follow suit and sign the declaration of union, all
except St. Mark Eugenicus, Archbishop of Ephesus, who refuses any form
of compromise in matters of the faith. Of those who do sign, all clearly
state that it is merely their personal opinion and that no true union
can be accomplished unless the Roman Orthodox Church convenes a general
council in the East and unanimously accepts the decisions of the Council
of Florence. This, however, does not occur, for the great majority of
Orthodox clergy and laity staunchly protest against the union. Upon
returning to the East, most of the bishops who had signed the union
withdraw their signatures and again confess their fidelity to the
Orthodox Faith. In the meantime, back at Florence, a union is formed
between the Westerners and the Armenian Monophysites, after the latter
accept the definition of the Council of Chalcedon. Later a union is
formed with the Jacobite Syrian Monophysites along similar guidelines.
After this, a union is formed with the Coptic Monophysites of Egypt,
again along the same guidelines as the other Monophysites, with the sole
addition that the Copts are required to discontinue neonatal
circumcision, which had been a prominent tradition among them, despite
the decision of the Apostolic Council of Jerusalem. The Armenians,
Syrians and Copts reject the union years later and return to their
previous Monophysite tendencies.
|
|
1443-45
AD
|
Council
of Lateran, convened and presided over by Pope Eugene IV, and attended
by several cardinals and bishops, forms a union with the Nestorian
Chaldeans of Cyprus, as well as those of Mesopotamia, between the
Tigris and Euphrates rivers, who are required to renounce the teachings
of Nestorius and accept the Council of Ephesus and all subsequent
ecumenical councils. A union is also formed with the Maronite Syrians
of Cyprus, who are required to renounce the Monothelite teachings of
Macarius of Antioch.
|
|
1448 AD
|
Council
of Kiev deposes Metropolitan Isidore who had participated in the false
Council of Florence, and elects Metropolitan Jonah, declaring autonomy
for the Russian Church.
|
|
1453 AD
|
Turks
led by Mehmet II capture Constantinople (New Rome), the Great Imperial
City.
|
|
1458 AD
|
Frankish
Pope Eugene IV of Rome sends a Latin Metropolitan of Kiev to replace the
exiled Isidore. Thus the south-western Russians are in submission to the
Pope and opposed to the Orthodox rival church under Metropolitan Jonah
of Moscow and all Russia.
|
|
1461 AD
|
Turks
capture Trebizond, the last major Roman city, thus ending the Roman
Empire.
|
|
1470 AD
|
The
Latin Metropolitan of Kiev and his Ruthenian subjects sever communion
with the Pope of Rome and enter under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical
Patriarchate.
|
|
1472 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, convened and presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch
Dionysius I and attended by several bishops representing the Orthodox
patriarchates, condemns the decisions of the false council of Florence,
declares the filioque clause and western doctrine of purgatory to
be heretical, and sets requirements for Latin converts.
|
|
1472 AD
|
Grand
Duke of Moscow Ivan III the Great marries Sophia, the niece of the last
Roman Emperor Constantine XI Dragases Palaeologus, and assumes the
titles of Autocrat, Roman Emperor and Caesar (Czar). He also adopts the
Roman Imperial emblem, the double-headed eagle, to symbolize the power
of his newly established Russian Empire.
|
|
1484 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, convened by Ecumenical Patriarch Symeon I, and
attended by several bishops, declares Latin converts to be received by
the rite of Chrismation. |
|
1512-17
AD
|
Council
of Lateran, convened and presided over by Pope Julius II and attended by
several cardinals and bishops, repudiates the Council of Pisa and annuls
the French "Pragmatic Sanction." Pope Julius dies and Leo X is elected.
The latter presides over the Council, which formulates several canons
and anathematizes the philosopher Peter Pomponazzi, who had taught
heretical Aristotelian doctrines in regards to the soul.
|
|
1517 AD
|
Martin
Luther nails his 95 theses to the door of the castle church in
Wittenburg. Protestant Reformation begins in Germany with Lutheran
schism (Lutheranism).
|
|
1534 AD
|
King Henry VIII creates the independent Church of England, after
separating from the Pope of Rome, due to the fact that the latter would
not grant him permission to divorce his wife and remarry. The Church of
England later reforms and becomes a protestant sect.
|
|
1541 AD
|
Calvin leads Protestant Reformation in Geneva forming Calvinist schism
(Calvinism).
|
|
1545-62
AD
|
Council of Trent, convened and presided over by Pope Paul III and
attended by several bishops, condemns Lutheranism, Calvinism and other
heretical forms of Protestantism.
|
|
1551 AD
|
Council
of Moscow ( "Stoglav Synod" or "Council of the 100 Chapters"), convened
by Russian Emperor Ivan IV the Terrible, presided over by Metropolitan
Macarius of Moscow, and attended by several bishops of the Russian
Church, formulates canons in regards to church discipline and liturgy,
and glorifies (canonizes) numerous Russian saints.
|
|
1560 AD
|
John
Knox leads Protestant Reformation in Scotland and forms Presbyterian
Church.
|
|
1569 AD
|
Frankish Pope Pius V orders his subjects to no longer make the sign of
the cross with three fingers and from the right shoulder to the left (as
was the ancient tradition), but rather with the entire extended hand and
from the left shoulder to the right, in order to be different from the
Easterners. The signing of the cross with three fingers is preserved
only for the Pope, for bishops, and for the Carthusian and Dominican
monastic orders.
|
|
1582 AD
|
Robert Browne leads Reformation in Holland and forms Congregationalist
Church.
|
|
1582 AD
|
Frankish Pope Gregory XIII, with the help of pagan astronomers,
formulates the new, papal, Gregorian Calendar, and demands its
acceptance throughout the world.
|
|
1582 AD
|
King
Sigismund III of Poland, a Franco-Latin, adopts the Gregorian Calendar
within the realms of his kingdom. Thus the Ruthenian Orthodox Church,
centered at Kiev and under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical
Patriarchate, inquires whether it should also adopt the Gregorian
calendar, but Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremiah II calls a council and
addresses a Patriarchal Sigilium (Bull) to the people of Trigovisty,
under Polish rule, and to the entire Orthodox world in general, warning
them not to adopt the new, papal, Gregorian calendar.
|
|
1583 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople (Pan-Orthodox Synod), convened and presided over
by Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremiah II, called the Illustrious, of
Constantinople, and attended by Patriarchs Sylvester of Alexandria and
Sophronius of Jerusalem and several other bishops, condemns those who
uncanonically and heretically insert the filioque clause in the
Nicene creed, thereby believing that the Holy Spirit proceeds
essentially and hypostatically from both the Father and the Son, rather
than essentially from the Father alone, and from the Father and Son
together only in a temporal sense; those who do not administer both the
body and blood in the Eucharist, bur rather only the body, claiming that
it is sufficient, although Christ administered both kinds; those who
administer the body in the form of unleavened bread, contrary to the
gospels and ancient tradition; those who perform the mystery of holy
baptism by sprinkling, rather than by triple immersion; those who
believe that at the Second Coming the Lord will judge only bodies and
not also souls, or embodied souls; that Christians who had failed to
repent on earth go to a mythical purgatory where they are cleansed by
fire before entering paradise, or that hell is not everlasting but only
temporary, as in the teachings of Origen; that the Pope of Rome, rather
than the Lord Jesus Christ, is the head of the Church, and supposedly
has certain rights to admit people into paradise by way of indulgences,
passports or licenses to sin; and those who trample upon the decrees of
the First Ecumenical Council of Nicea by adopting the unorthodox
Gregorian Paschalion and Menologion (i.e. the new
calendar).
|
|
1587 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople (Pan-Orthodox Synod), convened and presided over
by Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremiah II and attended by Patriarchs Sylvester
of Alexandria, Joachim V of Antioch, Sophronius of Jerusalem and several
bishops, condemns any attempt to adopt the new, papal, Gregorian
calendar or to revise the Julian calendar.
|
|
1589 AD
|
Council
of Moscow, convened by Russian Emperor Theodore I, presided over by
Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremiah II, and attended by several Greek and
Russian bishops, raises Metropolitan Job of Moscow to the rank of
Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, thereby restoring the ancient pentarchy, Moscow having replaced the fallen Old Rome.
|
|
1589 AD
|
Council
of Vilna, convened and presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremiah
II, and attended by several bishops, formulates regulations for the
administration of the Ruthenian Church and elects Metropolitan Michael
Rahoza of Kiev as exarch and primate.
|
|
1593 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople (Pan-Orthodox Synod), convened by Russian Emperor
Theodore I, presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremiah II, and
attended by Patriarchs Meletius Pegas of Alexandria, Joachim VI of
Antioch, Sophronius of Jerusalem, Job of Moscow and several bishops,
condemns the use of the new, Gregorian calendar.
|
|
1594 AD
|
Council
of Brest-Litovsk, convened by King Sigismund III of Poland, presided
over by Metropolitan Michael of Kiev, and attended by the Ruthenian
bishops, severs communion with Ecumenical Patriarchate and petitions for
union with Franco-Latin Pope Clement VIII.
|
|
1595 AD
|
Council
of Rome, convened and presided over by Franco-Latin Pope Clement VIII,
and attended by several cardinals and bishops, receives the Ruthenians
into communion, allowing them to recite the creed without the
filioque clause and to retain the Eastern rite. This event forms the
"Greek Catholic," "Byzantine Catholic" or "Uniate Catholic" Church.
|
|
1596 AD
|
Council
of Brest-Litovsk, convened by Prince Constantine of Ostrog, presided
over by Bishop Gideon Balaban of Lemburg, and attended by Bishop Michael
Kopystenski of Przemysl, Archimandrite Nicephorus (representing the
Ecumenical Patriarch), Cyril Lucaris (representing the Patriarch of
Alexandria) and several fathers, condemn the union of the Ruthenians
with the Pope, declare the maintenance of the Old Calendar, and petition
the Ecumenical Patriarchate to depose the Uniate metropolitan and
bishops.
|
|
1605 AD
|
John Smyth leads Protestant Reformation in Amsterdam and forms Baptist
Church.
|
|
1620 AD
|
Council
of Moscow, convened by Russian Tsar Michael, presided over by
Patriarch Philaret, and attended by several bishops, declare Latin
converts to be received by the rite of baptism, due to the fact that
Latins baptize by aspersion rather than triple immersion.
|
|
1628 AD
|
Council
of Kiev, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Job of Kiev, and
attended by bishops from throughout western Russia (at that time under
Polish rule), condemn the union of Brest-Litovsk, depose and
excommunicate the apostate Uniates, and declare their fidelity to the
Orthodox Christian faith and loyalty to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
|
|
1628 AD
|
Michael Jones leads Reformation in Holland and forms Dutch Reformed
Church.
|
|
1638 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, convened and presided over by Patriarch Jeremiah II,
and attended by several bishops, condemns the heretical Calvinism of
Patriarch Cyril Lucaris.
|
|
1642 AD
|
Council
of Jassy, convened by the Duke of Moldavia, presided over by
Metropolitan Peter Moghila of Kiev, and attended by several bishops
representing all five Orthodox patriarchates, condemns the Latin and
Calvinist heresies and especially the Uniates who had been converted by
Latin and Calvinist missionaries, confirms various so-called Apocryphal
books as being genuine parts of scripture, and corrects the Latin errors
of the Confession of Peter Moghila, thereby permitting it to be
used for Orthodox catechism.
|
|
1666-67
AD
|
Council
of Moscow (Pan-Orthodox Synod), convened by Russian Emperor Alexis,
presided over by Patriarch Païsius of Alexandria, and attended by
Patriarchs Macarius of Antioch and Joasaph of Moscow, Metropolitans
Athanasius of Iconium (representing the Ecumenical Patriarch), Ananias
of Sinai (representing the Patriarch of Jerusalem), and several bishops
and fathers, condemn the Old Ritualists (who refused to comply with
corrections made in order to comply with the Church's liturgical unity,
such as celebrating feast days on the same day as the rest of the
Orthodox Churches, making the sign of the cross with three fingers
instead of two, not kneeling on Sundays, etc); allows heretics and
schismatics to be received into the Orthodox Church by the rite of
chrismation, as an act of economy (dispensation), instead of
baptism; and forbids the iconographic depiction of the Holy Trinity with
God the Father as an old man and the Holy Spirit as a dove, due to the
fact that it transgresses the rules of Orthodox iconography as expressed
by the Seventh Ecumenical Council, and because the form of this image is
of unorthodox Western origin.
|
|
1670 AD
|
Council
of Jerusalem, convened and presided over by Patriarch Dositheus,
condemns al the Franco-Latin heresies, including the new, papal,
Gregorian calendar.
|
|
1672 AD
|
Council of Jerusalem (Pan-Orthodox Synod),
convened
and presided over by Patriarch Dositheus, and attended by several
bishops, condemns the Patriarch Cyril Lucaris for his heretical
Calvinist theories (that salvation is by grace alone and therefore God
supposedly predestined the salvation or damnation of each individual
without taking any of their deeds into account, making man's free will
irrelevant to salvation; prating that God wills the damnation of souls
for no fault of their own; and that holy communion is not truly the
Lord's holy body and precious blood, but rather only symbolic of the
Lord's suffering). The acts of this council are later signed by all five
patriarchates, including that of Russia, thereby making its decisions
equivalent to that of a Pan-Orthodox Council.
|
|
1701 AD
|
Metropolitan Athanasius of Transylvania (under Hungarian rule) accepts
union with the Franco-Latins, thereby forming the Uniate Greek-Catholic
Church in Romania.
|
|
1724 AD
|
Due to
Franco-Latin missionaries in Syria, the Roman Orthodox Patriarchate of
Antioch becomes tainted with pro-uniate, Latin-minded clergy. After the
repose of the Roman Orthodox Patriarch Athanasius III Debbas of Antioch
and all the East, the pro-Latin party headquartered in Damascus
uncanonically elects Cyril VI as new patriarch. A week later, the Roman
Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch elects Sylvester the Cypriot as
rightful successor to the throne. The other Roman Orthodox patriarchates
recognize the election of Sylvester, whereas Cyril and his party are
condemned as schismatics. Having fallen into schism from the Roman
Orthodox Church, the schismatics unite with the Frankish papacy and form
what came to be known as the Melkite Greek Catholic Church.
|
|
1754 AD
|
The
kyriakon of St. Anne's Skete on Mt. Athos is built and Orthodox
faithful throughout the world send the names of their deceased relatives
to be commemorated at the full services held in kyriakon. At
first, the memorial services are only held on Saturdays, but due to the
multitude of names to be commemorated, services begin to be held on
other days of the week, including Sundays. This causes controversy as
many fathers disagree with the practice of commemorating the dead on
Sunday, the day of Resurrection. The fathers who disagree with the
practice are scorned and called Kollyvades. Among these fathers,
who are later glorified as saints, are Macarius Notaras of Corinth,
Athanasius of Paros, Nicodemus of Athos and Arsenius of Paros (the
latter had even died in "schism").
|
|
1755-56
AD
|
Council
of Constantinople (Pan-Orthodox Council), convened and presided over
by Ecumenical Patriarch Cyril V, and attended by Patriarchs Matthew of
Alexandria and Parthenius of Jerusalem, and several bishops representing
the Orthodox patriarchates (the acts of this council are also later
signed by Patriarch Sylvester of Antioch), decree that Western converts
must be baptized upon their reception into the Orthodox Church. This
council also condemns and anathematizes anyone that dares to change the
calendar.
|
|
1766 AD
|
Council
of Cetinje, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Sabbas of Zeta
and Cetinje, declares the Archdiocese of Montenegro to be independent.
The autocephaly is later recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and
the Churches of Russia and Serbia.
|
|
1772 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, convened and presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch
Theodosius II, and attended by Patriarch Sophronius of Jerusalem and
several bishops, declares the Kollyvades to be correct in serving
memorials on Saturdays, but does not judge those who perform them on
Sundays or any other day of the week.
|
|
1773 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, convened and presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch
Samuel Hantzeris, declares it proper to serve memorials for the dead on
Saturday alone.
|
|
1774 AD
|
Council
of Koutloumousiou in Athos, convened and presided over by Ecumenical
Patriarch Cyril V, and attended by Patriarch Matthew of Alexandria and
10 bishops in total, anathematize whoever does not accept the synodical
decisions on the Kollyvades issue.
|
|
1776 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, convened and presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch
Sophronius II, and attended by several bishops, excommunicates the
Kollyvades.
|
|
1780 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, convened and presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch
Sophronius II, and attended by several bishops, condemns the
iconographic depiction of the Holy Trinity with God the Father as an
old man and the Holy Spirit as a dove, due to its Franco-Latin origins,
and because it transgresses the rules of Orthodox iconography.
|
|
1815 AD
|
Council
of Cyprus, convened and presided over by Archbishop Cyprian of New
Justiniana, and attended by several bishops, condemns freemasonry.
|
|
1819 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, convened and presided over by Patriarch St. Gregory
V, endorses the teachings of the Kollyvades (forbidding memorial
services for the dead to be held on Sundays, recommending frequent
communion, and observing the empirical experience of hesychasm,
regardless of metaphysical speculations and rationalism).
|
|
1821 AD
|
—The
Roman Orthodox Revolution is sparked and spreads throughout the
Ottoman Empire, giving hope for the re-establishment of the Roman
Orthodox State (Romania).
|
|
1827 AD
|
—Council
of Constantinople, convened and presided over by Patriarch Agathangelus
I, and attended by several bishops, condemns any attempt to revise the
church calendar.
|
|
1828 AD
|
—The
Roman State is re-established in Peloponnesus under John
Cappodistrias, with the provisional capital of Nauplia en Romania (Napoli
de Romania, Naples of Romania).
|
|
1832 AD
|
—London
Conference declares the newly established Roman State to be known as the
"Kingdom of Greece" or Basileia tes Hellados in Greek, for Athens
to be its capital, for its people to be called Greeks or Hellenes,
and to be ruled by King Otto, a Bavarian royal.
|
|
1833 AD
|
—Council
of Nauplia, declares the liberated areas to be ecclesiastically
independent of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and to be governed by a
five-member synod of bishops.
|
|
1848 AD
|
—Council
of Constantinople (Pan-Orthodox Synod), convened and presided over
by Ecumenical Patriarch Anthimus VI, and attended by Patriarchs
Hierotheus of Alexandria, Methodius of Antioch, Cyril of Jerusalem and
33 bishops representing the Orthodox patriarchates, condemns all the
Franco-Latin heresies that had arisen up until that time.
|
|
1850 AD
|
—Council
of Constantinople, convened and presided over by Patriarch Anthimus VI,
and attended by several bishops, recognizes the autocephaly of the
Church of Greece.
|
|
1865 AD
|
—The
Romanian Church declares itself independent of the Ecumenical
Patriarchate.
|
|
1869-70
AD
|
—Council
of Vatican, convened and presided over by Pope Pius IX, and attended by
several cardinals and bishops, confirms the false new dogma of the
so-called Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary by St. Anne, and
declares the pope, while he speaks ex cathedra in matters of
dogma and church order, he is supposedly infallible. Many Franco-Latins
disagree with this definition of papal infallibility and form what is
later known as the Old Catholic Church, prominent in Germany and
neighboring lands.
|
|
1870 AD
|
Slavic-speaking Orthodox Christians living in the Thracian and
Macedonian regions of the Ottoman Empire, who up until this time had
referred to themselves as Romans and had belonged to the Rum Milet
(Roman sub-nation under Ottoman rule), begin calling themselves
Bulgarians as a reaction to the Greek-speaking Orthodox Christians of
the same areas who had forsaken their Roman name and identity by
adopting the term Hellenes. This ethnic schism between Slavic and Greek
speaking Roman Orthodox Christians soon leads to an ecclesiastical
schism. The Bulgarians sever communion with the Ecumenical Patriarch
Anthimus VI of Constantinople (New Rome), and in his place install their
own Bulgarian patriarch in Constantinople, as well as their own
Bulgarian Metropolitans and Bishops in every major town of Thrace and
Macedonia.
|
|
1872 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople (Pan-Orthodox Synod), convened and presided over
by Ecumenical Patriarch Anthimus VI, and attended by Patriarchs
Sophronius IV of Alexandria and Procopius II of Jerusalem and several
bishops, condemn phyletism (ethnocentric belief that Orthodox Christians
in a given place and time should be divided into separate exarchates,
based on ethnicity), and the Bulgarian schism is condemned. The
decisions of this council are later accepted by the other local Orthodox
Churches.
|
|
1879 AD
|
Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Procopius I of
Athens, and attended by several bishops, condemns the Makrakists, who
believe in the Protestant delusion that humans supposedly each consist
of three natures: a body, soul and spirit; and that the former two are
mortal and corruptible whereas the latter is divine, being the Holy
Spirit; rather than believing that all men consist of only a single
human nature; that this one nature consists of two compartments, to wit,
a body and a soul; that man's sprit is simply another term for his soul
and these terms are used interchangeably; that the human nature does not
consist of anything divine in and of itself; and that the human soul or
spirit is not eternal, but is rather created immortal and incorruptible
by divine grace.
|
|
1879 AD
|
Council
of Sremsky-Carlovtsy, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Michael
and attended by several bishops, declares the Serbian Orthodox Church to
be autocephalous.
|
|
1885 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, convened and presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch
Joachim IV, and attended by several bishops, recognizes the
autocephalous status of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The autocephaly is
later recognized by the other Churches.
|
|
1888 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, convened and presided over by Patriarch Dionysius V,
and attended by several bishops, permits the reception of Western
converts to Orthodoxy by the rite of chrismation as an act of
economia (dispensation) in extreme circumstances.
|
|
1895 AD
|
—Council
of Constantinople, convened and presided over by Patriarch Anthimus VII,
and attended by 13 bishops in total, condemns all the Franco-Latin
heresies, including the new false dogma of the so-called Immaculate
Conception of the Virgin Mary by St. Anne, and the blasphemous teaching
that the pope is supposedly infallible and undeposable.
|
|
1899 AD
|
—Council
of Constantinople, convened and presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch
Constantine V, and attended by several bishops, deposes the
newly-elected Patriarch Meletius II of Antioch, on the grounds of
phyletism, due to the fact that the latter had been elected by an
anti-Greek, pro-Arab party within the Antiochene Patriarchate, a similar
party to that which caused the Melkite schism of 1724 and subsequent
union with the Latins.
|
|
1902-04
AD
|
—Council
of Constantinople (Pan-Orthodox Council), convened and presided over
by Patriarch Joachim III, and attended by several bishops, addresses the
local Orthodox Churches of Alexandria, Jerusalem, Cyprus, Russia,
Greece, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, requesting each to convene a
council to decide two issues: firstly, whether steps should be taken for
the Orthodox Church to enter into dialogue and subsequent communion with
the so-called Old Catholics who had separated from the Pope in 1870
because they refused to accept the decisions of the Vatican Council
regarding papal infallibility; and secondly, if an agreement could be
reached in regards to whether or not to revise the Julian calendar or
accept the Gregorian calendar, as requested by many proponents of
revision. The Local Orthodox Churches each convene councils to discuss
the issues at hand. These councils are: the Council of Alexandria
(1902), presided over by Patriarch Photius; the Council of Jerusalem
(1903), presided over by Patriarch Damian; the Council of Moscow (1903),
presided over by Metropolitan Vladimir; the Council of Bucharest (1903),
presided over by the Metropolitan of Wallachia; the council of Athens
(1903) presided over by Metropolitan Theocletus; the council of
Karlovtsi (1904), presided over by Metropolitan Innocent; and the
Council of Cetinje (1904), presided over by Metropolitan Metrophanes.
The Council of Constantinople (1904) is then resumed under the
presidency of Patriarch Joachim III, and in accordance with the
decisions of the Local Orthodox Churches it is decided that Universal
Orthodoxy is in favor of communion with the Old Catholics so as long as
the latter condemn all the Franco-Latin heresies and return to the fold
of the Orthodox Church; and that Universal Orthodoxy condemns any
attempt to revise the Julian calendar or accept the Gregorian, declaring
that all Local Orthodox Churches adhere to the patristic Orthodox
paschalion and menologion.
|
|
1912 AD
|
—Council
of Constantinople, convened and presided over by Patriarch Joachim III,
and attended by several bishops, condemns the Onomatodoxi
(name-worshippers), who believed that the name of God is not only holy
and filled with the grace of God, but blasphemously prate that God's
name is rather holy in and of itself, being God Himself.
|
|
1913 AD
|
—Council
of Constantinople, convened and presided over by Patriarch Germanus V,
and attended by several bishops, again condemns the Onomatodoxi
(name-worshippers).
|
|
1913 AD
|
Council
of Moscow, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Macarius of
Moscow, and attended by several bishops, condemns the Onomatodoxi
(name-worshippers).
|
|
1914-18
AD
|
World
War I.
|
|
1918 AD
|
Council
of Moscow, convened and presided over by Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow, and
attended by several bishops, condemns and anathematizes Militant Atheism
(Marxism, Communism) which had taken control over Russia after the
Bolshevik Revolution. This council also confirms the earlier
condemnation of the Onomatodoxi (name-worshippers).
|
|
1919 AD
|
—Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Germanus of
Demetrias, and attended by several bishops, again condemns the new
calendar.
|
|
1920 AD
|
Council
of Moscow, convened and presided over by Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow and
all Russia, and attended by several bishops, ratifies a directive to
allow Russian dioceses outside Russia, or out of contact with the Moscow
Patriarchate due to the Bolshevik persecutions, to set up self-governing
temporary higher church administrations.
|
|
1920 AD
|
—Council
of Constantinople (Syncretistic Synod), convened and presided over by
Metropolitan Dorotheus of Prusa, and attended by several bishops, seeks
union with the heterodox Westerners. This remarkable about-face is
mostly due to the patriarchate's fear of the spread of Communism
throughout the eastern lands, especially after the fall of the Russian
and Ottoman empires and the rise of the new Bolshevik and Kemalian
nations, the latter of which had begun a campaign of ethnically
cleansing Asia Minor of its native Roman Orthodox population and placed
the Ecumenical Patriarchate in jeopardy). Fearing the future, the
council blasphemously declares union with heterodox possible, regardless
of doctrinal differences; proposes the adoption of a new calendar common
to all denominations; and calls for the convention of so-called
pan-Christian assemblies for theological dialogue leading to the union
of all Eastern and Western confessions.
|
|
1921 AD
|
—Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Germanus of
Demetrias, and attended by several bishops, deposes Metropolitan
Meletius Metaxakis of Athens for supporting the revolutionary
government, which had caused the Venizelist schism. However, after his
deposition by the Church of Greece, Metaxakis manages to usurp the
throne of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Upon his installment by the
revolutionary government, Metaxakis recognizes the orders of the
heretical Anglican Church of England.
|
|
1922 AD
|
—Council
of Moscow, convened and presided over by Patriarch Tikhon, and attended
by several bishops, condemns and anathematizes the renovationists (a
modernist sect that styled itself as the “Living Church” and introduced
the new calendar, shortened services, abolished the fasts, and allowed
priests to cut their hair, shave and wear secular clothing; the
renovationists also had strong ties with the antichristian Bolshevik
regime).
|
|
1923 AD
|
—Council
of Constantinople (Syncretistic Synod), convened and presided over by
Ecumenical Patriarch Meletius IV Metaxakis (a professed 33 degree
freemason, who had been deposed by the Church of Greece), and attended
by Bishop Gore of Oxford (another freemason, representing the Anglican
heretics), Metropolitans Callinicus of Cyzicus and Basil of Nicea (a
freemason representing the Church of Cyprus, and who later usurps the
Ecumenical throne in 1925), Archbishop Alexander Nomolovsky (a freemason
who had already been suspended by the Church of Russia), Metropolitan
Gabriel of Montenegro (representing the Church of Serbia), Metropolitan
James of Dyrrachium (representing the Church of Greece), Archbishop
Anastasius Gribanovsky (representing the Russian Orthodox Church in
Exile, who abandons the synod without signing any agreements), and
Archimandrite Julius Scriban (representing the Church of Romania). The
Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem and Moscow, and the
Churches of Georgia and Bulgaria are not represented. This heretical
congress proposes: to abandon the historic Orthodox Paschalion
and Menologion and adopt the new calendar; to transfer major
feastdays to the nearest Sundays in order to lessen the holidays; to
allow a married episcopate, for widowed priests to remarry and for
unmarried priests to be allowed to marry after their ordination; to
shorten the Church services; to abolish the fasts; to allow clergy to
cut their hair and shave their beards; and to allow clergy to wear
secular clothing in public. The Local Orthodox Churches do not recognize
this false council, and a month later riots break out in the streets
forcing Patriarch Meletius Metaxakis to resign from office.
|
|
1923 AD
|
—Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Chrysostom of
Athens, and attended by 4 bishops (only 2 of which agree), decides to
adopt the new calendar.
|
|
1924 AD
|
—Council
of Alexandria, convened and presided over by Patriarch Photius of
Alexandria, and attended by several bishops, condemns the decision of
the Church of Greece to adopt the new calendar and calls for a
Pan-Orthodox Council. Patriarchs Gregory of Antioch and Damian of
Jerusalem and Archbishop Cyril of Cyprus reply by also condemning the
new calendar and by offering Patriarch Photius their complete support.
|
|
1924 AD
|
—The
Ecumenical Patriarchate and the State Church of Greece implement the
change of the calendar and demand all Local Orthodox Churches to also
implement the change. Patriarch Photius of Alexandria sharply rejects
the innovation and declares that his Patriarchate is to remain with the
old calendar. His stance is joined shortly thereafter by Patriarch
Gregory of Antioch, Patriarch Damian of Jerusalem and Archbishop Cyril
of Cyprus. Patriarch Demetrius of Serbia replies that although the
Serbian Church was at one stage willing to adopt the new calendar, it
has now changed its mind and has decided to remain with the calendar of
the Holy Fathers. Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow, due to a faulty
translation of Ecumenical Patriarch Gregory’s telegraph, thinks that the
entire Orthodox world has adopted the new calendar and therefore decides
to follow suit. However, upon hearing that the majority of Local
Orthodox Churches had rejected the innovation, Patriarch Tikhon does not
implement the change. Metropolitan Anthony of Kiev, and the Holy Synod
of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, condemns the introduction of the
new calendar. The only Local Orthodox Church that implements the change
of the calendar is the Church of Romania under Metropolitan Myron of
Wallachia. The latter is therefore rewarded with the title of patriarch
due to his blind obedience.
|
|
1926 AD
|
Although
deposed by the Church of Greece and forced to resign from the position
of Ecumenical Patriarch, Meletius Metaxakis usurps the Alexandrian
throne and implements the calendar change in that patriarchate. The
Church of Cyprus follows in 1928.
|
|
1927 AD
|
—Metropolitan Sergius Stragorodsky, a leading Russian bishop, declares
the Church to be completely loyal and subject to the antichristian
Soviet government. Several bishops throughout Russia protest against
this declaration, and are forced underground, thereby forming the
Catacomb Church of Russia. The Russian Church Abroad also protests.
Sergius's followers later form the "Moscow Patriarchate," created by
Stalin in 1943.
|
|
1928 AD
|
Council
of Syzran-Yeltz-Vyshny-Volochok in Russia (Nomadic Synod), convened and
presided over by Bishop Mark Novoselov, and attended at first by 3 other
bishops and 3 priests, each representing a different Catacomb Synod
(i.e. Danilovites, Josephites, Andrewites, Victorites, Yaroslavlites,
Yedinovertsy, etc). This council condemns the renovationists as well as
the sergianists as schismatics, declares them bereft of sacramental
grace, and requires their chrismation upon reception into the Church.
|
|
1928 AD
|
Council
of Constantinople, convened and presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch
Basil III, and attended by several bishops, transfers the dioceses of
Southern Macedonia and Western Thrace to the jurisdiction of the State
Church of Greece, and elevates Metropolitan Chrysostom of Athens to the
status of Archbishop of Athens and all Greece.
|
|
1929 AD
|
—Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Archbishop Chrysostom of
Athens, and attended by 44 bishops (most of which had been transferred
to this jurisdiction the preceding year), decides to legitimize the
adoption of the new calendar. Of the 44 bishops present, 13 depart the
council meeting, 27 refuse to endorse the decree, and only 4 sign.
|
|
1932 AD
|
—Council
of Sremsky-Carlovtsy, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Anthony
of Kiev and attended by several bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church
Abroad, condemns freemasonry and declares unrepentant freemasons to be
excommunicated.
|
|
1933 AD
|
Council
of Antioch, convened and presided over by Patriarch Alexander III, and
attended by several bishops, declares baptism necessary for the
reception of Western converts.
|
|
1933 AD
|
Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Archbishop Chrysostom of
Athens, and attended by several bishops, condemns freemasonry and all
affiliated organizations.
|
|
1935 AD
|
Council
of Sremsky-Carlovtsy, convened and presided over by Metropolitan
Anastasius, and attended by several bishops, condemns the heretical
Sophism or Sophiology preached in the Parisian school by Archimandrite
Sergius Bulgakov (the belief that Sophia—God’s Wisdom—is a
feminine personality, the soul of the world, thereby adding a fourth
hypostasis to the Holy Trinity, replacing God the Father with a
“mother-goddess” and other false doctrines based on Plato’s pagan
philosophy, cabbalistic teachings, and heretical Valentinian Gnosticism,
which had been condemned by the early Church). This council declares the
Parisians (under the Ecumenical Patriarchate) to be bereft of grace.
|
|
1935 AD
|
Council
of Keratea, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Germanus of
Demetrias, and attended by Metropolitans Chrysostom of Florina,
Chrysostom of Zacynth, Germanus of the Cyclades, Christopher of Megaris,
Polycarp of Diaulia and Matthew of Bresthena, condemn the introduction
of the new calendar, declare the State Church of Greece to be in schism,
and formulate regulations for the new seven-member synod. Metropolitan
Germanus of Demetrias is installed as locum tenens of the
Archdiocesan throne, 5 of the remaining bishops are given ruling
dioceses, whereas Chrysostom, the former Metropolitan of Florina, is
placed in charge of apostolic ministry and foreign affairs, and is sent
to the East to garner support from the Patriarchates of Antioch and
Jerusalem.
|
|
1935 AD
|
—Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Germanus of
Demetrias, and attended by Metropolitans Chrysostom of Florina, Germanus
of the Cyclades and Matthew of Bresthena, and several archimandrites and
fathers, declares the State Church of Greece to be fully schismatic and
bereft of sacramental grace.
|
|
1937 AD
|
—Council
of Ust-Kut in Russia, confirms the decisions of the 1928 Nomadic
Council.
|
|
1938 AD
|
—Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Germanus of the
Cyclades, attended by Metropolitan Matthew of Bresthena, and several
archimandrites and fathers, condemns Florinism, as preached by
Chrysostom of Florina (the belief that those who fall under anathema and
sever themselves from the Church are supposedly only potentially but not
actually in schism, and therefore possess sacramental grace; that
supposedly only a Pan-Orthodox Council has the power to condemn heresies
that have already been condemned by numerous Pan-Orthodox Councils in
the past; and that the official church, even if in schism and under
anathema, is supposedly the “Mother Church” and “source of grace” simply
because it is recognized as such by the state authorities.
|
|
1939-45
AD
|
—World
War II.
|
|
1945 AD
|
—The
Bulgarian Church restores communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate,
adopts the new calendar and the Metropolitan of Sofia is elevated to the
rank of Patriarch.
|
|
1945 AD
|
—Council
of Athens (false council), convened and presided over by Metropolitan
Chrysostom of Florina and attended by 2 bishops, officially endorses the
false teachings of Florinism (later known as Cyprianism). This decision
is repudiated in 1950.
|
|
1948 AD
|
—Council
of Amsterdam (Syncretistic Synod), at which the World Council of
Churches (WCC) is established for the purpose of ecumenical dialogue and
joint prayer between Orthodox and Protestants. The new calendarist
Churches of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Romania and Greece
participate, along with countless Protestant sects.
|
|
1948 AD
|
—Council
of Moscow (Sergianistic Synod), convened by the antichristian atheist
Stalin, presided over by Patriarch Alexius of Moscow, and attended by
representatives of the Churches of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch,
Russia, Georgia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece,
Czechoslovakia and Poland, praises Stalin and endorses a pro-communist
political stance and ironically condemns ecumenism, purely for political
reasons, despite the fact that the Churches represented at this council
are ecumenistic, and become even more deeply involved in ecumenism after
this council's resolution.
|
|
1948 AD
|
—Council
of Chirchik in Russia, convened and presided over by Archbishop
Theodore, and attended by 13 bishops representing each of the Catacomb
synods, condemns the sergianistic false council of 1948, and declares
Metropolitan Anastasius of the Russian Church Abroad to be the true
leader of the Russian Orthodox Church.
|
|
1949 AD
|
—Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Archbishop Matthew of Athens,
and attended by 4 bishops and several archimandrites and fathers,
condemns freemasonry.
|
|
1950 AD
|
—Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Chrysostom of
Florina, and attended by 3 bishops, repudiates Florinism and apologizes
for causing a schism. In the next year 1 Florinite bishop dies and the
remaining 3 resign from the episcopate. Of those that resign, 2 join the
new calendarists, leaving Chrysostom of Florina alone until he dies in
1955, leaving no successors, thus bringing the Florinite hierarchy to an
end.
|
|
1956 AD
|
Council
of Slatioara in Moldavia, convened and presided over by Metropolitan
Galaction, and attended by 3 bishops and several archimandrites and
fathers, condemns the introduction of the new calendar, declares the new
calendarists to be schismatic, and formally establishes the Holy Synod
of the True Orthodox Church of Romania.
|
|
1957 AD
|
Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Demetrius of
Thessalonica, and attended by 12 bishops of the True Orthodox Churches
of Greece and Cyprus, condemns new calendarism, modernism, ecumenism and
syncretism, especially in regards to the involvement of various
so-called Orthodox clergy and laymen in the heretical World Council of
Churches convention of Amsterdam in 1948.
|
|
1960 AD
|
Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Archbishop Agathangelus of
Athens, and attended by several bishops, deposes the disobedient
archimandrites Acacius Pappas (the elder), Acacius Pappas (the younger),
Auxentius Pastras and several other monks for canonical infractions.
Archbishop Matthew had ordained these archimandrites, but because he
refused to consecrate them to the episcopacy, they departed and took the
lead of the bishopless Florinite flock. These deposed monks later
succeed in obtaining consecrations from a new calendarist Romanian
bishop and a Russian bishop acting without the knowledge or permission
of his Synod, thereby forming the “Acacian” schism, which eventually
splinters into a bewilderment of factions both in Greece and abroad.
|
|
1961-63
AD
|
—Council
of Rhodes (Syncretistic Synod), convened and presided over by Ecumenical
Patriarch Athenagoras, and attended by several bishops representing each
of the official Local Orthodox Churches, agrees to enter into ecumenical
dialogue with the Papists.
|
|
1963 AD
|
—Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Archbishop Agathangelus, and
attended by several bishops, condemns and anathematizes the heretical
Russellites, otherwise known as so-called “witnesses of Jehovah,” who
follow Arianism, Chiliasm, Gnosticism and countless other heresies
already condemned by the early Church.
|
|
1963 AD
|
—Council
of Grayslake in Illinois, convened and presided over by Metropolitan
Dionysius Milivojevic, and attended by several fathers, severs communion
with Patriarch Germanus of Serbia due to the latter’s involvement with
the antichristian communist government of Yugoslavia, thereby forming
the Free Serbian Orthodox Church in the Diaspora.
|
|
1963-65
AD
|
—Council
of Vatican (Syncretistic Synod), convened and presided over at first by
Pope John XXIII (a Rosicrucian Freemason) and later by Pope Paul VI
(another Freemason), and attended by several cardinals and bishops,
declares the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Anglican Church of
England to possess the grace of the priesthood and apostolic succession,
and encourages ecumenical dialogue and joint prayers with the Orthodox
and Protestants. In addition to this, the false religions of Hinduism,
Buddhism, Islam and Judaism are declared to possess some form of truth,
and Catholics are called upon to acquire a better understanding of these
non-Christian confessions. At the end of the council, Pope Paul VI takes
off his papal miter (traditionally worn by the Roman popes as a sign of
authority) and places it upon the altar. From that day forward, the
Roman popes no longer wear the papal miter, but rather a normal tiara
common to all Latin bishops.
|
|
1965 AD
|
—Council
of Jerusalem (Syncretistic Synod), convened and presided over by Pope
Paul VI, and attended by Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras, and several
Franco-Latin and Orthodox bishops, lift the anathemas of 1054 regardless
of doctrinal differences. The two faiths are theoretically united and
joint prayers commence. The True Orthodox protest.
|
|
1968 AD
|
—Council
of Uppsala (Syncretistic Synod - WCC), at which the Orthodox, Catholic
and Protestant delegations blasphemously declare that none of them have
known the truth, and pray for “truth” to be found in the future as a
product of their ecumenical dialogue.
|
|
1968 AD
|
—Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras inserts Pope Paul VI’s name in the
diptychs, thereby restoring complete liturgical communion with the
unrepentant heretical Frankish papacy.
|
|
1969 AD
|
—Council
of New York, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Philaret,
receives into communion the Acacian schism of Greece under Archbishop
Auxentius Pastras.
|
|
1971 AD
|
—Council
of New York, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Philaret, and
attended by several Russian bishops, as well as Metropolitans Callistus
of Corinth and Epiphanius of Citium representing the True Orthodox
Church of Greece and Cyprus, respectively. The Russian bishops accept
the ecclesiology of the Greek bishops in regards to the schismatic
status of the new calendarists and also conform to the Greek practice of
receiving converts from Western denominations by the rite of holy
baptism.
|
|
1972 AD
|
—Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Callistus, and
attended by several bishops of the True Orthodox Church of Greece and of
the Acacian synod, in order to heal the schism, but to no avail. The
Acacians under Auxentius depart the council.
|
|
1974 AD
|
—Council
of New York, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Philaret, and
attended by several bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, as
well as 2 bishops representing the True Orthodox Churches of Greece and
Cyprus. This council states that the introduction of the new calendar
caused a schism and declares the validity of new calendarist sacraments
to be “in doubt.” This council also declares the Sergianist Moscow
Patriarchate to be in schism and with doubtful mysteries. Finally, the
1667 ban on the Old Russian rite is lifted, preparing the way for
schismatic old ritualists to return to the fold of the True Orthodox
Church through confession of the faith and chrismation.
|
|
1974 AD
|
—Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Archbishop Auxentius, and
attended by 8 Acacian bishops, confirms the Athenian councils of 1935
and 1950, declaring the new calendarists to be fully schismatical and
therefore void of sacramental grace.
|
|
1976 AD
|
—Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Archbishop Andrew, and attended
by 12 bishops of the True Orthodox Churches of Greece and Cyprus, severs
communion with the Russian Church Abroad until such a time that the
Russian bishops officially declare the new calendarists to be fully
schismatic, and thereby terminate joint services with new calendarist
bishops, and cease offering the sacraments to new calendarists.
|
|
1978 AD
|
—Council
of New York, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Philaret, and
attended by several bishops, severs communion with the Acacian synod due
to the canonical infractions of Archbishop Auxentius and other Acacian
bishops.
|
|
1981 AD
|
—Council
of Grayslake in Illinois, convened and presided over by Metropolitan
Irenaeus of the Free Serbian Orthodox Church, and attended by several
bishops, condemns ecumenism and enters into communion with the Acacians
under Archbishop Auxentius.
|
|
1983 AD
|
—Council
of New York, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Philaret, and
attended by 13 bishops, condemns ecumenism and the heretical branch
theory, and anathematizes those who knowingly remain in communion with
ecumenist heretics.
|
|
1985 AD
|
—Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Archbishop Andrew, and attended
by several bishops, archimandrites and fathers of the True Orthodox
Church of Greece, condemns and repudiates the syncretistic false
Constantinopolitan councils of 1920 and 1923 which set forth the
introduction of modernism and ecumenism in the realms of Orthodoxy, and
the false Athenian council of 1923 which introduced the new calendar.
This council also anathematizes the heretical Ecumenical Patriarchs
Meletius Metaxakis, Basil III and Athenagoras, as well as Archbishop
Chrysostom Papadopoulos of Athens.
|
|
1985 AD
|
—Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Archbishop Auxentius, and
attended by 16 Acacian bishops, unites the Auxentian, Callistite and
Gerontian factions in which the Acacians were up until this time
divided, and confirms the Athenian councils of 1935, 1950 and 1974,
declaring the new calendarists to be fully schismatic and bereft of
grace.
|
|
1986 AD
|
—Council
of Assisi (Syncretistic Synod), convened and presided over by Pope John
Paul II, and attended by several new calendarist and ecumenist
"Orthodox," participate in joint prayer with Protestants and
representatives of various non-Christian religions.
|
|
1990 AD
|
—Council
of Barr (Syncretistic Synod - WCC), attended by so-called "Orthodox,"
Catholic and Protestant delegations, "affirms the need to move beyond a
theology which confines salvation to the explicit personal commitment
to Jesus Christ," thereby declaring that faith in Christ is not
necessary, and that one can be saved by other (non-Christian) means.
|
|
1991 AD
|
—Council
of Damascus (Syncretistic Synod), convened and presided over by
Patriarch Ignatius IV of Antioch, and attended by the heretical
Monophysite Jacobite Syrian Patriarch Zakka. The two patriarchs enter
into full communion and declare their patriarchates to be "sister
churches" despite the christological differences.
|
|
1991 AD
|
—Council
of Athens, convened and presided over by Archbishop Andrew, and attended
by several bishops, adopts the teachings of St. Nicodemus of Athos in
regards to permitting veneration of the western Holy Trinity icon in
order to prevent scandals among the faithful.
|
|
1991 AD
|
Council
of Grayslake in Illinois (false council), convened and presided over by
Metropolitan Irenaeus of the Free Serbian Orthodox Church, and attended
by several bishops, declares its submition to the sergianistic,
ecumenistic Patriarchate of Serbia.
|
|
1992 AD
|
Council
of Athens (false council), convened and presided over by Archbishop
Andrew, and attended by several bishops, condemns those who prefer the
traditional Orthodox icon of the Hospitality of Abraham as a symbol of
the Holy Trinity rather than the western- style Holy Trinity icon,
despite the fact that the latter icon had been forbidden by the
Pan-Orthodox Council of 1667 and the Constantinopolitan Council of 1780.
The council is placed under house arrest during its session; the bishops
who desire to depart are not permitted to do so until signing the
council’s decrees. Archbishop Andrew of Greece, Metropolitan Epiphanius
of Cyprus, Metropolitan Nicholas of Piraeus, Metropolitan Pachomius of
Argolis and the synodical secretary, Archimandrite Cerycus, repudiate
their signatures shortly after the council. The decisions of this
council are never published in the official periodical of the Synod, but
they are uncanonically distributed by other means.
|
|
1993 AD
|
Council
of Balamand (Syncretistic Synod), attended by representatives of the
"Orthodox" Churches of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Russia,
Romania, Cyprus, Poland, Albania and Finland, declare the so-called
Roman Catholics to be a "sister church."
|
|
1994 AD
|
Council
of Jerusalem, convened and presided over by Patriarch Diodorus, and
attended by several bishops, condemns ecumenism and syncretism,
especially in regards to the union of the Patriarchate of Antioch with
the Monophysites and the Balamand agreement of eucharistic unity with
the Franco-Latin Papists.
|
|
1994 AD
|
Council
of New York (false council), convened and presided over by Metropolitan
Vitaly, and attended by several bishops, endorses Florinism (the belief
that the modernists, sergianists and ecumenists are the “Mother Church”
and possess sacramental grace) and enters into Eucharistic communion
with the Cyprianites (an Acacian faction that confesses Florinism). The
Synod of Metropolitan Vitaly repudiates this resolution in 2001.
|
|
1997 AD
|
Council
of Athens (false council), convened and presided over by Metropolitan
Gregory of Messenia, and attended by 4 bishops, anathematizes those who
refer to the western- style Holy Trinity icon as untraditional or
unorthodox. In so doing, this council condemns countless saints and
fathers. Within 5 years, 3 of the bishops that attended this false
council die and 1 departs the synod, leaving Metropolitan Gregory of
Messenia alone.
|
|
2000 AD
|
Council
of New York (false council), convened and presided over by Metropolitan
Vitaly, and attended by several bishops, declares its willingness to
enter into agreements with and eventually submit to the sergianistic
and ecumenistic Moscow Patriarchate.
|
|
2001 AD
|
Council
of Mansonville, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Vitaly, and
attended by 3 bishops, declares it has no Eucharistic communion with the
Moscow and Belgrade Patriarchates; repudiates the 1994 communion with
the Cyprianites; confirms the 1983 anathema against ecumenism; and
condemns the Laurites (those who accept the false council of 2000 and
are paving their way towards union with the ecumenists).
|
|
2002 AD
|
Council
of Mansonville, convened and presided over by Metropolitan Vitaly, and
attended by 4 bishops, thoroughly condemns the heresy of Florinism (Cyprianism). |
|
Roman Emperor Constantine
Council ofNicea
(1st Ecumenical)
Council of Constantinople
(2nd Ecumenical)
Council of Ephesus
(3rd Ecumenical)
Council of Chalcedon
(4th Ecumenical)
Council of Constantinople
(5th Ecumenical)
Council of Constantinople
(6th Ecumenical)
Council of Nicea
(7th Ecumenical)
Triumph of
Orthodoxy
Council of Constantinople
(8th Ecumenical),
The
Fourth
Crusade |
