Christian History Timeline Vocabulary Flashcards

This flashcard set provides vocabulary terms and definitions covering the major historical milestones of Christianity based on the lecture timeline, from the birth of Christ through the Second Vatican Council.

Birth of Jesus Christ

The event marking the beginning of Christianity and God’s promise of a Savior, occurring around $4-6\,BC$ in Bethlehem during a Roman census.

Pentecost

Often called the "Birthday of the Church," it occurred $50$ days after Easter Sunday when the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples as tongues of fire.

Pentecost (Etymology)

A Greek word meaning "fiftieth."

Saul (St. Paul)

A Jew and Pharisee from Tarsus who originally persecuted Christians but became a missionary after a miraculous conversion on the road to Damascus around $33-36\,AD$.

Ananias

The individual who prayed over Saul so that he could regain his sight and be baptized.

Pauline Epistles

The $13$ letters in the New Testament traditionally credited to Paul following his conversion and foundation of many churches.

First Council of Nicaea

The first ecumenical council held in $325\,AD$ and called by Emperor Constantine the Great to address theological disputes.

Arianism

A heresy taught by Arius which claimed that Jesus was a created being and not equal to God the Father; it was rejected at the Council of Nicaea.

Homoousios

A Greek term meaning "of the same substance," used at Nicaea to declare that Jesus is fully divine and identical in substance with the Father.

Nicene Creed

A statement of faith written at the Council of Nicaea that is still recited in churches today.

Great Schism (East–West Split)

The permanent division of the Christian world in $1054\,AD$ into the Roman Catholic Church (West) and the Eastern Orthodox Church (East).

Filioque

A Latin term meaning "and the Son," which the West added to the Nicene Creed, contributing to the Great Schism.

Cardinal Humbert and Patriarch Michael Cerularius

The two figures who mutually excommunicated each other in $1054\,AD$, formalizing the split between the Western and Eastern churches.

Hagia Sophia

The location where Cardinal Humbert placed a decree of excommunication against Patriarch Michael Cerularius on the altar.

Council of Trent

A council held from $1545-1563$ as the official Catholic response to the Protestant Reformation started by Martin Luther.

Indulgences

A practice involving the sale of spiritual benefits that was criticized by Martin Luther and eventually banned by the Council of Trent.

Seven Sacraments

The specific number of sacraments confirmed as official Catholic teaching during the Council of Trent.

Tridentine Mass

The standardized Latin liturgy established and published following the Council of Trent.

Second Vatican Council (Vatican II)

A council held from $1962-1965$, convened by Pope John XXIII to renew the Church and help it respond to the modern world.

Vernacular Mass

One of the biggest practical changes from Vatican II, allowing Mass to be celebrated in local languages instead of only Latin.