Unit 3 Church History | Test

Abbot/Abbess

the superior and spiritual leader of a monastery

Apologist

Defender of the Faith

Arianism

A heresy common during the first Christian centuries that denied that Jesus was truly God.

Ascetism

The practice of a strict self-discipline that uses abstinence and austerity for spiritual benefit

Caesaropapism

a political-religious system where a secular ruler (Caesar) holds supreme authority over the church (Pope), subordinating spiritual power to the state.

Christology

The study of Christ

Codex Vaticanus

From the early fourth century, the oldest complete copy of the Bible in existence; it features the forty-six books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament.

Constatine

Emperor who 1st granted Christians freedom to worship in the Roman Empire. Constantine reportedly saw a symbol in the sky (either a cross or the Chi-Rho) combined with the words "In this sign, you will conquer"

Council of Chalcedon

Convened by Pope St. Leo who promulgated the theory of the Hypostatic Union

Council of Constantinople

The teachings of the Nicaea Council were confirmed. Jesus' full divinity was affirmed. Another Issue was the divinity of the Holy Spirit.

Council of Ephesus

Revealed that Mary is "Theotokos" because her Son, Jesus, is both God and Man.

Council of Nicaea

(325 CE) A council called by Constantine to agree upon correct Christian doctrine and settle some disputes of the time: Arianism.

Desert Fathers

The name associated with the earliest monks who began to live monastic lives in the deserts of northern Africa and the Middle East.

Doctors of the Church

Saints whose writings are acknowledged by the Church for their enduring theological and spiritual value.

Ecumenical Councils

Meetings of Catholic bishops from around the world, typically convened in order to discuss and resolve pressing theological topics.

Edict of Milan/Toleration

A decree signed by emperors Constantine and Licinius in AD 313 proclaiming religious toleration in the Roman Empire, thereby ending the persecution of Christians.

Filioque

Latin term meaning "and from the Son"

Hermit

A person who lives a solitary life in order to commit himself or herself more fully to prayer and in some cases to be completely free for service to others.

Hypostatic Union

The union of Jesus Christ's divine and human natures in one Divine Person.

Illuminated Manuscript

a luxurious handmade book with painted illustrations and decorations

Justinian Code of Law

A collection of laws written in Latin that were instituted by the Byzantine emperor Justinian (527-565) and became the basis of European law. Its Christian orientation gave women and children more protection than earlier law, but it still reflected the customs of its times, like bodily mutilation for some crimes and repressive measures against non-Christians, including Jews.

Monasticism

A way of life in which men and women withdraw from the rest of the world in order to devote themselves to their faith

Nestorianism

A heresy that taught that Jesus was two persons and that Mary was the mother of the human Jesus, not the divine Jesus

Ora et Labora

Benedictine motto meaning "pray and work"

Patriarchs

The ancient fathers of the Jewish people, whose stories are recounted in the Book of Genesis. (Abraham, Issac, Jacob).

Schism

(n.) a formal split within a religious organization; any division or separation of a group or organization into hostile factions

St. Augustine of Hippo

- from a hedonistic lifestyle to a devout Christian faith

· "Doctor of the Church"

· His theological works, including the autobiography "Confessions" and "City of God," have left a indelible mark on the Western Christianity and philosophy.

St. Ambrose

· Known as the "Honey-Tongued Doctor" because he spoke sweet and wise words and his sermons attracted large crowds (Patron Saint of Beekeepers)

· Powerful preacher who, along with St. Monica, was influential in bringing about the conversion of St. Augustine

- Bishop of Milan

St. Athanasius

· St. Athanasius defended Christ's divinity against Arianism.

· While still a deacon, St. Athanasius played a crucial role at the First Council of Nicaea, aiding in the formation of the Nicene Creed.

· "Doctor of the Church"

St. Basil the Great

· Defender of Trinitarian Theology; Strongly defended the Nicene Creed and fought Arianism

· He wrote extensively regarding the co-equal relationship of the Holy Spirit to the Father and the Son

· He designed a form of monastic community that emphasized austerity, poverty and obedience.

St. Benedict of Nursia

the founder of monasticism in the west and wrote the Benedictine Rule which monks and nuns follow.

St. Columba

Irish monk; preached the Gospel to the Franks

St. Ephrem

· Born in a Christian family, but was baptized as an adult

· Teacher and possibly a deacon who wrote numerous extensive works including hymns and poems, which countered Gnosticism among other heresies and encouraged Christians to live holy lives

· Eventually became an ascetic and helped the hungry during a famine in Edessa; died from a plague caught from helping the sick.

St. Gregory the Great

· First pope to take the title of "Servant of the Servants of God"

· Made reforms to liturgy and wrote many books and commentaries, including the development of Gregorian Chant, which is a type of liturgical music.

· He is considered one of the four Great Doctors of the Western Church alongside, Ambrose, Augustine, and Jerome

St. Gregory Nazianzus

· Profoundly shaped Christian theology as a key defender of Nicene orthodoxy against Arianism

· Famous for his Five Theological Orations, which provided precise language for the Trinity, defending it as one God in three distinct Persons (hypostases) who share a single essence (ousia)

· He served as the Bishop of Nazianzus and later as the Bishop of Constantinople

St. Jerome

· Known for translating the Bible from its original Hebrew and Greek into Latin (Vulgate)

· Known for teaching about Christian moral life

· Patron Saint of translators and librarians

St. John Chrysostom

· Nicknamed "Chrysostomos" in Greek (Golden-Mouthed/Throated) because of his powerful sermons and skills as a preacher/orator/writer

· Was named Archbishop of Constantinople and declared a "Doctor of the Church" for his writings, in which he advocated for the poor and criticized the wealthy

· Patron Saint of orators and preachers

St. Leo the Great

·      His most significant contribution to the Church was his ability to use biblical, historical, and legal arguments to assert the primacy of the pope among all bishops, taking the title pontifex Maximus

·      He wrote the Tome of Leo, which established the doctrine of the Hypostatic Union (the teaching that Jesus Christ is both fully man and fully human) at the Council of Chalcedon in 451

·      In addition to his formal role as bishop, Leo also took care of civic matters within Rome, including feeding the poor and caring for government affairs; convincing Attila the Hun to spare Rome from attack in 452

Council of Constantinople (major issues, teachings of, resolution, etc.)

Issues: The Divinity of the Holy Spirit & Arianism.

Teachings of: Expansion of the Nicene Creed, Affirmation of the Trinity, Condemnation of Heresies

Resolutions: condemning heresies, recognizing Constantinople as "New Rome" with precedence second to Rome, and installing Nectarius as bishop

Councils of Ephesus (major issues, teachings of, resolution, etc.)

major issues: Mary's title

teachings of: Mary as “Mother of God”

resolutions: The council confirmed:

Christ is one person

The unity of Christ’s divine and human nature

Mary can be called Theotokos

Councils of Chalcedon (major issues, teachings of, resolution, etc.)

major issues: the natures of christ

teachings of: hypostatic union

resolution: The “Definition of Chalcedon”

The council issued the Definition of Chalcedon, which declared that: Jesus Christ is one person

He exists in two complete natures:

fully divine

fully human

+ Pontifex Maximus (assert the primacy of the pope among all bishops)

Council of Nicaea (major issues, teachings of, resolution, etc.)

major issues: The Arian Controversy

teachings of: The council rejected Arianism and taught that Jesus Christ is fully divine.

resolutions: Arianism was condemned as heresy

Arius was exiled

The Church officially declared that Jesus Christ is fully divine and equal with the Father

Edict of Milan/Toleration (issued by, motivation for, impact on Christianity, etc.)

Issued by: Constantine the Great, ruler of the Western Roman Empire. Licinius, ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire

Motivation for: Ending Religious Persecution, Constantine’s Support for Christianity, unity

Impact on Christianity: End of persecution, Growth of Church, supprt for Christianity.

Fall of the Western Roman Empire (reasons for, impact on Christianity, etc.)

Reasons for: Emperor Theodosius dies (Rome succumbs to repeated barbarian invasions. Leadership of ineffective, corrupt empires weakens the Empire)

impact on Christianity: The Church Became a Major Authority ((governance and protection, organized system of charitable relief for the poor, establishes schools for the clergy / laity))

Western Monasticism (early influences, impact on Christianity, etc.)

early influences:

1. St. Anthony the hermit of Egypt (father of monasticism) .

2. Another influence was Pachomius, who developed communal monastic living (monks living together under shared rules).

3. "The life of St. Antony", wrote by St. Athanasius brought many ideas of eastern Monasticism to the west

4. St. Columba spread monasticism through europe

impact on Christianity:

- Christianization of Europe

- Preservation of Western learning and knowledge

- creation of art

- more efficient agriculture, wool-production, and vine growing techniques

- provided education