SECTION 1
The Church in the Early
Christian Centuries (pp. 8-66)
SECTION 1, PART 4
The Age of the Fathers
(pp. 51-66)
Introduction (p.51)
• First three centuries were marked by infantile growth through periodic
persecution and martyrdom
• Fourth century marked a change which began with the legalization of
Christianity by Constantine in 313 a.d.
• Open worship and practice of the faith brought on new heresies
• The Church dealt with these new threats through:
• Ecumenical Councils
• The writings of the Fathers of the Church
• The Church grew in strength and organization in fourth and fifth
centuries
• The Church would fill the vacuum of leadership created for Christians
and all subjects of the Western Roman Empire when the Empire fell
in 476 a.d.
• Four Articles
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(A. 11) – Constantine and the Edict of Milan
(A. 12) – The Fathers of the Church
(A. 13) – Church Councils and Doctrinal Development
(A. 14) – The Collapse of the Roman Empire of the West
Article 11: Constantine and the Edict of Milan (pp. 52-54)
• The Church not only survived the profound hardships of the
first three centuries but they also thrived
• By 300 a.d. in Asia Minor, North Africa, Gaul, and the Arabian Peninsula
• Verge of transformation from challenged and persecuted
minority to highest protection in the Empire
• Lasting effect upon both and their relationship
• Tipping point was the death of Emperor Constantius in 306 a.d.
• The Roman army chose his son and their general Constantine (272-337
a.d.) as his replacement
• Found a rival emperor when he marched to Rome to take power (tetrarchs
had popped up during Diocletian’s reign that ended in 305)
• Ecclesial historian Eusebius tells story of dream, Chi-Rho, and victory
• Constantine won the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 ad over Maxentius
to become Western Roman Emperor
Article 11: Constantine and the Edict of Milan cont. (pp. 52-54)
• Constantine and the Eastern Roman Emperor Licinius passed the
Edict of Milan in 313 a.d. to celebrate the end of tetrarchy
• Christianity along with all religions of the Empire are now legal and no longer
persecuted
• Christian clergy are now exempt from taxation
• Christian property that had been confiscated was returned
• Constantine commissioned the building of churches in Rome, Byzantium, and
Palestine
• Christian worship began to change at this time
• Worship transitioned from small secret house liturgies to larger public liturgies
• The liturgy became more organized and ritualized
• Larger church structures were now needed
• Built by Constantine at first then other Christians based off the pattern of official
Roman buildings known as basilicas
• St. Peter’s & St. Paul’s in Rome and Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem
Article 11: Constantine and the Edict of Milan cont. (pp. 52-54)
• Constantine defeated Licinius in 324 a.d. and moved the capital to
Byzantium and named it New Rome as Emperor; today Istanbul, Turkey
• Empire was divided into two major centers
• Led to two major centers of Christianity that developed two distinct
liturgical and architectural styles
• Eventually would lead to two distinct but related sets of beliefs and
government
• Both styles conveyed the transcendence of God
• East: large dome representing the heavens with altar behind an iconostasis;
focused on the Parousia and God’s Kingdom
• West: long tall naves, 2 or 4 vaulted aisles, with an semicircular apse at one
end, eventually trancepts would form the shape of a cross; focused on
sacrifice on the visible altar
• Both styles are essentially the same and accidentally complementary
• St. Helena, Calvary hill, temple of Aphrodite, true cross, Holy Sepulcher
(dedicated 14 Sept 335 a.d.), Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross,
and arrow prayer “We adore you…”
Homework
• Read pp. 55-59 (A. 12)
• p. 66; #1
Article 12: The Fathers of the Church (pp. 55-59)
• The Edict of Milan moved the Church from the Apologetical to the Patristic
Period like the apologists had done for the Apostolic Period
• Define Fathers of the Church
• Tertullian (160-220 a.d) and Origen (182-254 a.d.) initiated
• Western Dates— to Isidore of Seville +636 a.d.
• Easter Dates— to John Damascene +780 a.d.
• Topics: Scripture, Tradition, papacy, doctrine, liturgy, praxis
• Requirements: theologically bounded, holiness, approved by Church
• Not required but many were bishops—official teachers
• Conclusion: shaped the very Tradition of the Church they are a part of
• Some are given the special title Doctor of the Church—define and examples
• St. Athanasius (297-373)
• Alexandria, North Africa bishop
• Opposed Alexandrian priest Arius (250-336) and his heresy of Arianism—define
• Upheld Council of Nicaea (325); wrote Athanasian Creed—one being & substance
• Also wrote On the Incarnation and The Life of Anthony (of the desert)
Article 12: The Fathers of the Church cont. (pp. 55-59)
• St. Basil the Great (330-379)
• Also opposed Arianism by supporting Nicaea
• Wrote theological works but especially practical works about caring for the poor
and the first rule for eastern monasticism
• Father Christmas in the East
• St. Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390)
• Archbishop of Constantinople
• Classically trained philosopher and orator so brought Hellenistic ideas to Church
• Famous for his writings on the doctrine of Trinity
• St. Ambrose (339-397)
• Fought Arianism and paganism as bishop of Milan
• Promoted Church authority to the displeasure of Theodosius I
• Brought the Greek Fathers to the West
• Wrote On the Duties of the Clergy and On the Sacraments
• Partly responsible for converting St. Augustine
Article 12: The Fathers of the Church cont. (pp. 55-59)
• St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430)
• Perhaps best known Father and Doctor of the Church
• Early life focused on pleasure and the search for truth
• Monica, Plato, Ambrose, and God led him to baptism in 387 by Ambrose
• Totally dedicated to God—lived like a monk and wrote prolifically
• Ordained priest in Hippo, North Africa in 391 and bishop a few years later
• Wrote Confessions, City of God, On Grace, On Original Sin, and many
more
• St. Jerome (347-420)
• Eremitical monk from Rome who founded a monastery in Bethlehem in
386
• Translated the bible from Greek and Hebrew into Latin—the Vulgate
• Still the Church’s official translation—working on a new edition of the
Vulgate
Article 12: The Fathers of the Church cont. (pp. 55-59)
• St. John Chrysostom (349-407)
• Succeeded Gregory Nazianzus as archbishop of Constantinople
• Denounced abuse of authority and supported reform of the Church and State
• Lived austere and was a forceful preacher—golden mouthed to ordinary Christians
• One of Three Eastern and Orthodox Holy Hierarchs
• St. Leo the Great (440-461)
• Pope during politically turbulent time since Roman had fallen and West was
• Increased the authority of the Church and the papacy in the West over Emperor
• Authority from Christ to Peter to popes to bishops—no jurisdiction for emperor
• Wrote Tome which defended Christ’s one person but two natures—Chalcedon 451
• St. Gregory the Great (590-604)
• Established papal authority in temporal affairs in midst of leadership void of West
• Relief for poor, schools, seminaries, liturgical reforms, calendar, Rome, …
• Missionaries to Germanic Angles and Saxons in “England”
• Wrote Dialogues and is one of the greatest Father, Doctor, and Pope of the Church
Homework
• Read pp. 59-63 (A. 13)
• p. 66; 2-3
A. 13: Church Councils and Doctrinal Development (pp. 59-63)
• Freedom from persecution afforded followers of Christ the leisure to
start clarifying the beliefs and teachings (doctrine) of the Church
• Trinity, Jesus’s person and nature, Mary’s relationship to Christ, etc…
• Not everyone agreed at first so disputes and even heresies and schisms
ensued during the 4th and 5th century and beyond
• Church dealt with primarily through Ecumenical Councils
• 1) The Council of Nicaea (325 a.d.)
• Convened in Nicaea by Constantine not far from new capital New Rome
• Also ordered Arius’ books burned
• First Ecumenical Council—define; why not Jerusalem (49-50)?
• Addressed the issue of Arius and Arianism—only God can redeem us
• 300 bishops gathered to denounce Arius and develop a creed—Nicene
• Finished and promulgated at Constantinople in 381
• Emphasized Jesus divine nature--“begotten” and “consubstantial”
• Arianism had spread far and wide so would not relent easily
A. 13: Church Councils and Doctrinal Development cont. (pp. 59-63)
• 2) The Council of Constantinople (381 a.d.)
• Athanasius and Ambrose upheld Nicaea and fought Arius after council
• Council was convened in capital not far from Nicaea to confirm the
teachings of Nicaea and Jesus’ full divinity and added city as Patriarch
• Combatted the Macedonians by affirming the divine nature of the H.S.
• Not stated by Nicaea so door to HS being Son’s creation & servant of the
Father
• 3) The Council of Ephesus (431 a.d.)
• Convened by Theodosius II in South Western Asia Minor
• Partiarch of Constantinople, Nestorius, rejected the Marian title
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Theotokos in favor of the title Christotokos
Gave rise to Nestorianism—Mary gave birth to Jesus not the Logos
Split Jesus into two persons—divine and human
Affirmed Jesus is one divine person with two natures—human and
divine
Affirmed Mary is Theotokos and Christotokos
A. 13: Church Councils and Doctrinal Development cont. (pp. 59-63)
• 4) The Council of Chalcedon (451 a.d.)
• Convened by Pope Leo I (the Great) across the river from Constantinople
• Developed the hypostatic union which clarified and developed Ephesus
• Some eastern church communities began separating due to Chalcedon
• Oriental Orthodoxy—Armenia, Syria, Coptic (Egypt), and Ethiopian
• St. Ephrem, Father (306-373) affirmed hypostatic union
• Decided Rome 1st and Constantinople 2nd in authority; added Jerusalem
• Punish/replace Syria and Alexandria for leaving but Leo I upset
• Emperor in East fiddle in Church more through weak Patriarchs in Constantinople
• 6 centuries of disputes would ensue before final break in 11th century
• Pope in Rome head of Latin or Roman or Western Christianity
• Emperor/Patriarch in Constantinople head of Eastern Christianity/Orthodoxy
• Theology and complicated history of Patriarchs and patriarchates
• Church’s duty of protecting the faith is ongoing process from Nicaea to
Vatican II(1962-65: Church and Modern World) and into future
• Ecumenical ongoing problem in itself—West accepts 21, East 7, and Orient 3
Homework
• Read pp. 63-66 (A. 14)
• p. 66; 6-7 (4-5 are from A. 14 and 6-7 are
from A. 13 for some reason)
A. 14: The Collapse of the Roman Empire of the West (pp. 63-66)
• Roman Empire flourished from 27 b.c. to 324 a.d. but began to
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decline in the fourth century and fell in the fifth
• Mediterranean = center of learning, culture, comfort, and military
supremacy
Constantine moved capital to East in 324 so East grew in power and
influence but West began to stagnate and decline
• Corrupt & ineffective emperors & barbarian invasions complicated
In 395, Theodosius I died—last strong emperor, followers were weak
• Social & moral decay, weak military, expanding empire, economic
hardships = empire vulnerable to barbarian raids that had been
ongoing
Rome sacked in 410 by Germanic Visigoths; City of God by Augustine
Rome falls in 455 & the West in 476—Romulus Augustus to Odaecer
A. 14: The Collapse of the Roman Empire of the West cont. (pp. 63-66)
• Byzantine Empire (476-1453 a.d.)
• Good start with strong Emperor Justinian (527-565 a.d.)
• Pushed back barbarians from North Africa, Spain, and Italy to partially restore the
Western Empire; reformed and codified Roman law that would lead to European
law, commissioned Hagia Sophia around Constantine’s burial chamber
• Byzantine culture flourished
• Weak leaders followed who widened gap between East and West
• Byzantine Empire fell in in 1453 to Ottoman Turks
• Church began to fill the vacuum of leadership in the West through
tough, intelligent, and courageous popes such as Gregory and Leo
• Stable institution who had history of caring for the poor; organized in Rome
• Supported by noble Roman Christians and Church owned farms
• Also began to educate clergy through schools; laity were also welcome
• Pope Leo the (I) Great
• Stood up to attacks to Church’s belief’s and Roman Empire in the West to
shape the papacy into a force of Western leadership
• Mediated peace between Roman governors and with Attila the Hun
• Doctor of the Church for teaching on Church authority & natures of Christ
Homework
• p. 66; 4-5 (4-5 are from A. 14 and 6-7 are
from A. 13 for some reason)
• Study for the 1.4 Quiz tomorrow (pp. 51-66;
AA. 11-14)
• Make sure the 1.4 HW is ready to turn in
tomorrow (p. 66; 1-7)