INTRODUCTION TO THE ORTHODOX CHURCH SERIES
Session
1: History
Introduction
1. The Beginnings
Jesus Christ the
fulfillment of the Prophesies of a Savior of the World
Pentecost / Early Church
Organization
Witness and Martyrdom
Councils / Soborny
The Apostolic Council –
Acts 15
Local, Regional and
Ecumenical Councils
2. Byzantium – The Church of the Ecumenical
Councils
Edict of Milan –
Constantine & Licinius – 313 Constantinople – 324
Who is Jesus Christ? False
Answers provoke the response of the Church
The First Six Ecumenical
Councils: I. Nicaea -325 (Arianism) (4 Patriarchs); II.
Constantinople -381 (Holy Trinity) (Constantinople
Patriarchate); III. Ephesus -431 (Nestorianism); IV.
Chalcedon (Monophysiticism) (“two natures [“physeis”]
in one hypostasis [person] & canon 28 – Bishops of Rome
and Constantinople; V. Constantinople -553 (Reaffirms
Chalcedon); VI. Constantinople 680-1 (Monotheleticism)
102 canons.
Rise of Islam – Mohammed
+632. Military Methods. Fall of the Eastern
Patriarchates – Importance of Constantinople
Iconoclastic Controversy – Ecumenical
Council VII. Nicaea 787.
Council of 843 – Sunday of
Orthodoxy
Saints – Monks – Emperors
3. Constantinople and Rome: Schism (9th
through 13th centuries)
The “Great Schism” –
Multiple Causes. Bishop of Rome / Doctrine of Holy
Spirit
Culture / Changed Traditions / Political Conflicts
[Barbarian Tribes / Charlemagne] / Papal Claims / The
“Filioque / Celibacy / Azymes
From Estrangement to
Schism 858 to 1204
Photios and Nicholas I -
858 / Diptychs -1009 (The Two “Sergius’”
Great Schism – 1054 / 4th
Crusade – 1204
Reunion Attempts / Lyon 1274 (Military & Ecclesial Trade
– Orthodox people reject)
Florence- Ferarra 1438-9 – Orthodox people
reject) Fall of Constantinople - 1453
Hesychast Controversy –
Gregory Palamas 1206-1359 and Barlaam (Apophatic
Theology [Energy-Essences Distinction]), Jesus Prayer,
Mysticism and Eucharist
4. The Conversion of the Slavs
Cyril and Methodios – 9th
c. / Patriarch Photios / Moravian Mission – Slavonic
Language, Cultural Incarnation / Clash with Western
Missions / Churches of Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania /
Incarnation of Churches in Cultures – Nationalisms
Russia: Kiev Period
(988-1237) / Princess Olga -955 / Vladimir -988 Baptised
/ Petchersky Monastery / Mongol Invasion -1237 – 1480 /
Rise of Moscow / St Alexander Nevsky –Military Victories
over Westerners / St. Stephen of Perm – Missionary / St.
Sergius of Radonezh – national saint / St. Sergius of
Moscow “Builder of Russia” / St. Theodosius of Kiev –
Mystic / Two tendencies
5. The Church Under Islam
Islam and Christianity “People of the Book” / Sultan
installs Patriarch Gennadios 1453 / “Guaranteed
inferiority of Orthodox Christians” / “Rum Millet” –
Roman Nation / Bishops agents of Muslim government /
Conservatism / Western Influence / Western Proselytizing
/ Uniatism (Council of Brest 1596) / Orthodox – RC
conflict /
“Confessions of Faith” 17th and 18th
c. / Orthodox spiritual life – St. Nikodemos of Holy
Mountain – The Philokalia.
6. Moscow and St. Petersburg
Moscow “Third Rome” /
Moscow New Patriarchate (result of Florence-Ferrara) /
Marriage of Ivan II and Sophia, niece of last Byzantine
Emperor -1472 / Reforms of Patriarch Nicon 1652-3 / Old
Believers Schism / Peter the Great: 1682-1735 –
Westernization of Russian Church / 1800’s Spiritual
Revitalization – St. Paissy Velichkovky – translation of
“Philokalia,” The Way of the Pilgrim & Fr. John
Kronstadt / Missionary Work / Revival of Theology /
Patriarchate Revived 1917 / Communist Revolution.
7. Contemporary Orthodoxy
Breakup of Ottoman Empire
/ the National Churches / the Decline of Ecumenical
Patriarchate / Mount Athos 17 Monasteries, International
/ the Other ancient Patriarchates / Church of Greece
1821 / Cyprus / Sinai
Persecution under
Communists / Soviet Constitution & Church / severe
restrictions / the Post-Soviet era Church-State
Relations / Rise of Orthodox Mission efforts / America
and other “diaspora” situations / Orthodox Unity issues
/ the Future of Orthodox Christianity
Conclusions from the History of the Orthodox Church
QUESTION AND ANSWER TIME
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