The purpose of this timeline is to give a detailed account of Christianity from the beginning of the current era (AD) to the present. Question marks ('?') on dates indicate approximate dates.
The year one is the first year in the Christian calendar (there is no year zero), which is the calendar presently used (in unison with the Gregorian calendar) almost everywhere in the world. Traditionally, this was held to be the year Jesus was born; however, most modern scholars argue for an earlier or later date, the most agreed upon being between 6 BC and 4 BC.
6 Herod Archelaus deposed by Augustus; Samaria, Judea and Idumea annexed as Iudaea Province under direct Roman administration, capital at Caesarea, Quirinius became Legate (Governor) of Syria, conducted Census of Quirinius, opposed by Zealots (JA18, Luke 2:1–3, Acts 5:37)7-26 Brief period of peace, relatively free of revolt and bloodshed in Iudaea & Galilee9 Pharisee leader Hillel the Elder dies, temporary rise of Shammai14-37 Tiberius, Roman Emperor18-36 Caiaphas, appointed High Priest of Herod's Temple by Prefect Valerius Gratus, deposed by Syrian Legate Lucius Vitellius19 Jews, Jewish proselytes, astrologers, expelled from Rome26-36 Pontius Pilate, Prefect (governor) of Iudaea, recalled to Rome by Syrian Legate Vitellius on complaints of excess violence (JA18.4.2)28 or 29 John the Baptist begins his ministry in the "15th year of Tiberius" (Luke 3:1–2), saying: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 3:1–2), a relative of Jesus (Luke 1:36), a Nazirite (Luke 1:15), baptized Jesus (Mark 1:4–11), later arrested and beheaded by Herod Antipas (Luke 3:19–20), it's possible that, according to Josephus' chronology, John was not killed until 36 (JA18.5.2)Jesus begins his ministry after his baptism by John and during the rule of Pilate, preaching: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 4:12–17). While the historicity of the gospel accounts is questioned to some extent by some critical scholars and non-Christians, the traditional view states the following chronology for his ministry: Temptation, Sermon on the Mount, Appointment of the Twelve, Miracles, Temple Money Changers, Last Supper, Arrest, Trial, Passion, Crucifixion on Nisan 14th (John 19:14,Mark 14:2, Gospel of Peter) or Nisan 15th (Synoptic Gospels), entombment by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, Resurrection by God and Resurrection appearances of Jesus to Mary Magdalene and other women (Mark 16:9, John 20:10–18), Simon Peter (Luke 24:34), and others, (1Cor.15:3–9), Great Commission, Ascension, Second Coming Prophecy to fulfill the rest of Messianic prophecy such as the Resurrection of the dead, the Last Judgment, and establishment of the Kingdom of God and the Messianic Age.
Shortly after the death of Jesus (Nisan 14 or 15), the Jerusalem church is founded as the first Christian church with about 120 Jews and Jewish Proselytes (Acts 1:15), followed by Pentecost (Sivan 6), the Ananias and Sapphira incident, Pharisee Gamaliel's defense of the Apostles (5:34-39), the stoning of Saint Stephen (see also Persecution of Christians) and the subsequent dispersion of the Apostles (7:54-8:8, also Mark 16:20) which leads to the baptism of Simon Magus in Samaria (8:9-24), and also an Ethiopian eunuch (8:26-40). Paul's "Road to Damascus" conversion to "Apostle to the Gentiles" is first recorded in 9:13-16, cf. Gal 1:11-24. Peter baptizes the Roman Centurion Cornelius, who is traditionally considered the first Gentile convert to Christianity (10). The Antioch church is founded, it was there that the term Christian was first used (11:26).
37-41 Crisis under Caligula, proposed as the first open break between Rome and the Jewsbefore 44 Epistle of James if written by James the Great44? Saint James the Great: According to ancient local tradition, on 2 January of the year AD 40, the Virgin Mary appeared to James on a pillar on the bank of the Ebro River at Caesaraugusta, while he was preaching the Gospel in Spain. Following that vision, St James returned to Judea, where he was beheaded by King Herod Agrippa I in the year 44 during a Passover (Nisan 15) (Acts 12:1-3).44 Death of Herod Agrippa I (JA19.8.2, Acts 12:20-23)44-46? Theudas beheaded by Procurator Cuspius Fadus for saying he would part the Jordan river (like Moses and the Red Sea or Joshua and the Jordan) (JA20.5.1, Acts 5:36-37 places it before the Census of Quirinius)45-49? Mission of Barnabas and Paul, (Acts 13:1-14:28), to Cyprus, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe (there they were called "gods ... in human form"), then return to Syrian Antioch. Map147 The Church of the East is created by Saint Thomas48-100 Herod Agrippa II appointed King of the Jews by Claudius, seventh and last of the Herodians49 "Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he [Claudius] expelled them from Rome." (referenced in Acts 18:2)50 Passover riot in Jerusalem, 20-30,000 killed (JA20.5.3,JW2.12.1)50? Council of Jerusalem and the "Apostolic Decree", Acts 15:1-35, same as Galatians 2:1-10?, which is followed by the Incident at Antioch at which Paul publicly accuses Peter of "Judaizing" (2:11-21), see also Circumcision controversy in early Christianity50-53? Paul's 2nd mission, (Acts 15:36-18:22), split with Barnabas, to Phrygia, Galatia, Macedonia, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, "he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken", then return to Antioch; 1 Thessalonians, Galatians written? Map2. Lydia of Thyatira, a seller of purple, becomes the first European Christian convert (Acts 16:11-15)51-52 or 52-53 Proconsulship of Gallio according to an inscription, only fixed date in chronology of Paul52, November 21 St. Thomas the Apostle lands in India. Establishes churches at Kodungalloor, Palayoor, Paraur, Kottakkav, Kokkamangalam, Nilakkal, Niranam and Kollam53-57? Paul's 3rd mission, (Acts 18:23-22:30), to Galatia, Phrygia, Corinth, Ephesus, Macedonia, Greece, and Jerusalem where James the Just challenges him about rumor of teaching antinomianism (21:21); he addresses a crowd in their language (most likely Aramaic), Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Philippians written? Map355? "Egyptian prophet" (allusion to Moses) and 30,000 unarmed Jews doing The Exodus reenactment massacred by Procurator Antonius Felix (JW2.13.5, JA20.8.6, Acts 21:38)58? Paul arrested, accused of being a revolutionary, "ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes", teaching resurrection of the dead, imprisoned in Caesarea (Acts 23-26)59? Paul shipwrecked on Malta, there he is called a god (Acts 28:6)60? Paul in Rome: greeted by many "brothers", three days later calls together the Jewish leaders, who hadn't received any word from Judea about him, but were curious about "this sect", which everywhere is spoken against; he tries to convince them from the "law and prophets", with partial success – said the Gentiles would listen, and spends two years proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching "the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 28:15-31); Epistle to Philemon written?60-64? early date for writing of 1 Peter (Peter as author)before 62 Epistle of James if written by James the Just62 James the Just stoned to death for law transgression by High Priest Ananus ben Artanus, popular opinion against act results in Ananus being deposed by new procurator Lucceius Albinus (JA20.9.1)63-107? Simeon, 2nd Bishop of Jerusalem, crucified under Trajan64-68 after July 18 Great Fire of Rome, Nero blames and persecutes the Christians (or Chrestians), possibly the earliest mention of Christians, by that name, in Rome, see also Tacitus on Jesus, Paul beheaded? (Col 1:24,Eph 3:13,2 Tim 4:6-8,1Clem 5:5-7), Peter crucified upside-down? (Jn 21:18,1 Pet 5:13,Tertullian's Prescription Against Heretics chapter XXXVI,Eusebius' Church History Book III chapter I), "...a vast multitude, were convicted, not so much of the crime of incendiarism as of hatred of the human race. And in their deaths they were made the subjects of sport; for they were wrapped in the hides of wild beasts and torn to pieces by dogs, or nailed to crosses, or set on fire, and when day declined, were burned to serve for nocturnal lights." (Annals (Tacitus) XV.44)64/67(?)-76/79(?) Pope Linus succeeds Peter as Episcopus Romanus (Bishop of Rome)64 Epistle to the Hebrews written65? Q document, a hypothetical Greek text thought by many critical scholars to have been used in writing of Matthew and Luke66-73 Great Jewish Revolt: destruction of Herod's Temple and end of Judaism according to Supersessionism, Qumran community (site of Dead Sea Scrolls found in 1947)destroyed70(+/-10)? Gospel of Mark, written in Rome, by Peter's interpreter (1 Peter 5:13), original ending apparently lost, endings added c. 400, see Mark 1670? Signs Gospel written, hypothetical Greek text used in Gospel of John to prove Jesus is the Messiah70-100? Additional Pauline Epistles70-200? Gospel of Thomas, Jewish Christian Gospels: Gospel of the Ebionites, Gospel of the Hebrews, Gospel of the Nazarenes72, July 3 Martyrdom of St. Thomas the Apostle at Chinnamala, Mylapore, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)76/79(?)-88 Pope Anacletus: first Greek Pope, who succeeds Linus as Episcopus Romanus (Bishop of Rome)80(+/-20) Didache written80(+/-20)? Gospel of Matthew, based on Mark and Q, most popular in Early Christianity80(+/-20)? Gospel of Luke, based on Mark and Q, also Acts of the Apostles by same author80(+/-20)? Pastoral Epistles written (possible post-Pauline authorship)88-101? Clement, fourth Bishop of Rome: wrote Letter of the Romans to the Corinthians (Apostolic Fathers)90? Council of Jamnia of Judaism (disputed), Domitian applies the Fiscus Judaicus tax even to those who merely "lived like Jews"90(+/-10)? late date for writing of 1 Peter (associate of Peter as author)94 Testimonium Flavianum, disputed section of Jewish Antiquities by Josephus in Aramaic, translated to Koine Greek95(+/-30)? Gospel of John and Epistles of John95(+/-10)? Book of Revelation written, by John (son of Zebedee) and/or a disciple of his96 Nerva modifies the Fiscus Judaicus, from then on, practising Jews pay the tax, Christians do not98-117? Ignatius, third Bishop of Antioch, fed to the lions in the Roman Colosseum, advocated the Bishop (Eph 6:1, Mag 2:1,6:1,7:1,13:2, Tr 3:1, Smy 8:1,9:1), rejected Sabbath on Saturday in favor of "The Lord's Day" (Sunday). (Mag 9.1), rejected Judaizing (Mag 10.3), first recorded use of the term catholic (Smy 8:2).100(+/-30)? Epistle of Barnabas (Apostolic Fathers)100(+/-25)? Epistle of James if written by author other than James the Just or James the Great100(+/-10)? Epistle of Jude written, probably by doubting relative of Jesus (Mark 6,3), rejected by some early Christians due to its reference to apocryphal Book of Enoch (v14)100-150? Apocryphon of James, Gospel of Mary Magdalene, Gospel of James, Infancy Gospel of Thomas, Secret Gospel of Mark (Complete Gospels, published by Jesus Seminar)110-130? Papias, bishop of Hierapolis, writes "Expositions of the Sayings of the Lord", lost, widely quoted (Apostolic Fathers)110-160? Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, Letter to the Philippians, (Apostolic Fathers)120? Rabbi Tarfon advocates burning the Gospels125(+/-5)? 2 Peter written, widely accepted into canon by the early 4th century125? Rylands Library Papyrus P52, oldest extant NT fragment, p. 1935, parts of Jn18:31-33,37-38130-250? "Christian Apologists" writings against Roman religion: Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, Apology of Aristides, Theophilus of Antioch, Tatian, Quadratus, Melito of Sardis, Apollinaris Claudius, Marcus Minucius Felix, Arnobius, Epistle to Diognetus132-135 Bar Kokhba's revolt: final Jewish revolt, Judea and Jerusalem erased from maps, region renamed Syria Palæstina (the term Palestine was originally coined by Herodotus), Jerusalem renamed Aelia Capitolina142-144? Marcion of Sinope: bishop according to Catholic Encyclopedia, goes to Rome, possibly to buy the bishopric of Rome, upon rejection forms his own church in Rome, later called Marcionism, rejected Old Testament, decreed canon of one Gospel, one Apostolicon (10 Letters of Paul) and one Antithesis which contrasted the Old Testament with the New Testament, cited Western text-type, see also Expounding of the Law#Antithesis of the Law150? "Western Revisor" adds/subtracts from original Acts to produce Western version which is 10% larger and found in Papyrus P29,38,48 and Codex Bezae (D)150? Valentinius (most famous Christian Gnostic, according to Tertullian) narrowly loses election for Bishop of Rome150(+/-10)? Shepherd of Hermas, written in Rome (Apostolic Fathers)150-200? Other Gospels: Unknown Berlin Gospel, Gospel of Peter, Oxyrhynchus Gospels, Dialogue of the Saviour155? Montanus claims to be the Paraclete ("Counselor") of John 14:16160? Martyrdom of Polycarp (Apostolic Fathers)170? Dionysius, bishop of Corinth claimed Christians were changing and faking his own letters just as [he knew] they had changed the Gospels (Eusebius' EH 4 c.23 v.12;Ante-Nicene Fathers,v.8)170? Tatian produces "Diatessaron" (Harmony) by blending 4 "Western" text-type Gospels into 1170? Symmachus the Ebionite writes new Greek translation of Hebrew Bible177 Persecution in Lyon, martyrdom of Blandina180? Hegesippus180-202? Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon: combated heresies, cited "Western" Gospel text-type (Ante-Nicene Fathers); second "Primate of the Gauls"185-350? Muratorian fragment, 1st extant canon for New Testament after Marcion?, written in Rome by Hippolytus?, excludes Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter, 3 John; includes Wisdom of Solomon, Apocalypse of Peter186? Saint Apollonius: used the term catholic in reference to 1 John188-231 Saint Demetrius: bishop of Alexandria, condemned Origen189-198 Pope Victor I: 1st Latin Pope, excommunicated Eastern churches that continued to observe Easter on Nisan 14 Quartodeciman196? Polycrates, bishop of Ephesus (Ante-Nicene Fathers)199-217? Caius, presbyter of Rome, wrote "Dialogue against Proclus" in Ante-Nicene Fathers, rejected Revelation, said to be by Gnostic Cerinthus, see also Alogi200? Papyrus 46: 2nd Chester Beatty, Alexandrian text-type; Papyrus 66: 2nd Bodmer, John, 1956, "Alexandrian/Western" text-types; Papyrus 75: Bodmer 14-15, Luke & John, earliest extant Luke, ~Vaticanus; 200? Papyrus 32: J. Rylands Library: Titus 1:11-15;2:3-8; Papyrus 64 (+67): Mt3:9,15; 5:20-22,25-28; 26:7-8,10,14-15,22-23,31-33200? Sextus Julius Africanus200? Antipope Natalius, rival bishop of Rome, according to Eusebius's EH5.28.8-12, quoting the Little Labyrinth of Hippolytus, after being "scourged all night by the holy angels", covered in ash, dressed in sackcloth, and "after some difficulty", tearfully submitted to Pope Zephyrinus217-236 Antipope Hippolytus, Logos sect? Later dispute settled and considered martyr, Roman canon218-258 Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, cited "Western" NT text-type, claimed Christians were freely forging his letters to discredit him (Ante-Nicene Fathers)220? Clement of Alexandria, cited "Alexandrian" NT text-type & Secret Gospel of Mark & Gospel of the Egyptians; wrote "Exhortations to the Greeks"; "Rich Man's Salutation"; "To the Newly Baptized"; (Ante-Nicene Fathers)220?-340? Codex Tchacos, manuscript containing a copy of the Gospel of Judas, is written223? Tertullian: sometimes called "father of the Latin Church", because he coined trinitas, tres Personae, una Substantia, Vetus Testamentum, Novum Testamentum, convert to Montanism, cited "Western" Gospel text-type (Ante-Nicene Fathers)225? Papyrus 45: 1st Chester Beatty Papyri, Gospels (Caesarean text-type, mixed), Acts (Alexandrian text-type)235-238 Maximinus Thrax: emperor of Rome, ends Christian schism in Rome by deporting Pope Pontian and Antipope Hippolytus to Sardinia, where they soon die248-264 Dionysius, Patriarch of Alexandria see also List of Patriarchs of Alexandria250? Apostolic Constitutions, Liturgy of St James, Old Roman Symbol, Clementine literature250? Letters of Methodius, Pistis Sophia, Porphyry Tyrius, Commodianus (Ante-Nicene Fathers)250? Papyrus 72: Bodmer 5-11+, pub. 1959, "Alexandrian" text-type: Nativity of Mary; 3Cor; Odes of Solomon 11; Jude 1-25; Melito's Homily on Passover; Hymn fragment; Apology of Phileas; Ps33,34; 1Pt1:1-5:14; 2Pt1:1-3:18250? Origen, Jesus and God one substance, adopted at First Council of Nicaea in 325, compiled Hexapla; cites Alexandrian, Caesarean text-type; Eusebius claimed Origen castrated himself for Christ due to Mt19:12 (EH6.8.1-3)251-424? Synods of Carthage251-258 Antipope Novatian decreed no forgiveness for sins after baptism (An antipope was an individual whose claim to the papacy was either rejected by the Church at the time or later recognized as invalid.)254-257 Pope Stephen I: major schism over rebaptizing heretics and apostates258 "Valerian's Massacre": Roman emperor issues edict to execute immediately all Christian Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons, including Pope Sixtus II, Antipope Novatian, Cyprian of Carthage (CE: Valerian, Schaff's History Vol 2 Chap 2 § 22)264-269 Synods of Antioch: condemned Paul of Samosata, Bishop of Antioch, founder of Adoptionism (Jesus was human until Holy Spirit descended at his baptism), also condemned term homoousios adopted at Nicaea265 Gregory Thaumaturgus (Ante-Nicene Fathers)270? Anthony begins monastic movement275? Papyrus 47: 3rd Chester Beatty, ~Sinaiticus, Rev9:10-11:3,5-16:15,17-17:2276 Mani (prophet), crucified, founder of the dualistic Manichaean sect in Persia282-300? Theonas, bishop of Alexandria (Ante-Nicene Fathers)290-345? St Pachomius, founder of Christian monasticism296-304 Pope Marcellinus, offered pagan sacrifices for Diocletian, later repented. Name in Martyrology of Bede301 - Armenia is the first kingdom in history to adopt Christianity as state religion303-312 Diocletian's Massacre of Christians, includes burning of scriptures (EH 8.2)303 Saint George, patron saint of Georgia, England and other states304? Victorinus, bishop of Pettau304? Pope Marcellinus, having repented from his previous defection, suffers martyrdom with several companions306 Synod of Elvira prohibits relations between Christians and Jews310 Maxentius deports Pope Eusebius and Heraclius to Sicily (relapse controversy)312 Lucian of Antioch, founder of School of Antioch, martyred312 Vision of Constantine: while gazing into the sun he sees a cross with the words by this sign conquer, see also Labarum, he was later called the 13th Apostle and Equal-to-apostles313 Edict of Milan: Constantine and Licinius end persecution, establish toleration of Christianity313? Lateran Palace given to Pope Miltiades for residence by Constantine313? Traditional date for founding of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre314 King Urnayr of Caucasian Albania adopts Christianity as official religion314 Catholic Council of Arles, called by Constantine against Donatist schism to confirm the Council of Rome in 313314-340? Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea, church historian, cited Caesarean text-type, wrote Ecclesiastical History in 325317? Lactantius321 Constantine decrees Sunday as state "day of rest" (CJ3.12.2), see also Sol InvictusConstantine called the First Council of Nicaea in 325 to unify Christology, also called the first great Christian council by Jerome, the first ecumenical, decreed the Original Nicene Creed, but rejected by Nontrinitarians such as Arius, Theonas, Secundus of Ptolemais, Eusebius of Nicomedia, and Theognis of Nicaea who were excommunicated, also addressed Easter controversy and passed 20 Canon laws such as Canon VII which granted special recognition to Jerusalem.
325, 20 May- 19 June: The First Council of Nicaea325 The Kingdom of Aksum (Modern Ethiopia and Eritrea) declares Christianity as the official state religion, becoming the 2nd country to do so325 Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, ordered built by Constantine326, November 18 Pope Sylvester I consecrates the Basilica of St. Peter built by Constantine the Great over the tomb of the Apostle328-373 Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, first cite of modern 27 book New Testament canon330 Old Church of the Holy Apostles, dedicated by Constantine330, May 11: Constantinople solemly inaugurated. Constantine moves the capital of the Roman Empire to Byzantium, renaming it New Rome331 Constantine commissions Eusebius to deliver 50 Bibles for the Church of Constantinople335 Council in Jerusalem reverses Nicaea's condemnation of Arius, consecrates Jerusalem Church of the Holy Sepulchre337? Mirian III of Iberia (present-day Georgia) adopts Christianity.337, May 22: Constantine the Great dies (baptized shortly prior to his death)341-379 Shapur II's persecution of Persian Christians343? Catholic Council of Sardica, canons confirmed by Pope Julius350? Julius Firmicus Maternus350? Codex Sinaiticus(א), Codex Vaticanus Graecus 1209(B): earliest Christian Bibles, Alexandrian text-type350? Ulfilas, Arian, apostle to the Goths, translates Greek NT to Gothic350? Comma Johanneum 1Jn5:7b-8a(KJV)350? Aëtius, Arian, "Syntagmation": "God is agennetos (unbegotten)", founder of Anomoeanism350? School of Nisibis founded353-367 Hilary, bishop of Poitiers355-365 Antipope Felix II, Arian, supported by Constantius II, consecrated by Acacius of Caesarea357 Council of Sirmium issues so-called Blasphemy of Sirmium or Seventh Arian Confession, called high point of Arianism359 Council of Rimini, Dated Creed (Acacians); Pope Liberius rejects Arian creed of council360 Julian the Apostate becomes the last non-Christian Roman Emperor363-364 Council of Laodicea: Canon 29 decreed anathema for Christians who rest on the Sabbath, disputed Canon 60 named 26 NT books (excluded Revelation)366-367 Antipope Ursicinus, rival to Pope Damasus I367-403 Epiphanius, Bishop of Salamis, wrote Panarion against heresies370-379 Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea370? Doctrine of Addai at Edessa proclaims 17 book NT canon using Diatessaron (instead of the 4 Gospels) + Acts + 15 Pauline Epistles (inc. 3 Corinthians) Syriac Orthodox Church370 (d. ca.) Optatus of Milevis, who in his conflict with the sectarian Donatists stressed unity and catholicity as marks of the Church over and above holiness, and also that the sacraments derived their validity from God, not from the priest372-394 Gregory, Bishop Of Nyssa373 Ephrem the Syrian, cited Western Acts374-397 Ambrose, governor of Milan until 374, then made Bishop of Milan375-395 Ausonius, Christian governor of Gaul379-381 Gregory Nazianzus, Bishop of Constantinople380, February 27: Emperor Theodosius I issues the Edict of Thessalonica, declaring Nicene Christianity as the state church of the Roman Empire380, November 24: Emperor Theodosius I is baptised381 First Council of Constantinople, 2nd ecumenical: Jesus had true human soul, Nicene Creed of 381382 Catholic Council of Rome under Pope Damasus I sets the Biblical Canon, listing the inspired books of the Old Testament and the New Testament (disputed)383? Frumentius, Apostle of Ethiopia385 Priscillian, first heretic to be executed?386 Cyril of Jerusalem: wrote compellingly of catholicity of the Church390? Apollinaris, Bishop of Laodicea, believed Jesus had human body but divine spirit391: The Theodosian decrees outlaw most pagan rituals still practiced in Rome396-430 Augustine, bishop of Hippo, considered the founder of formalized Christian theology (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers)397? Saint Ninian evangelizes Picts in Scotland398-404 John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople, see also List of Patriarchs of Constantinople, (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers)400: Jerome's Vulgate (Latin edition and translation of the Bible) is published400? Ethiopic Bible: in Ge'ez, 81 books, standard Ethiopian Orthodox Bible400? Peshitta Bible in Syriac (Aramaic), Syr(p), OT + 22 NT, excludes: 2Pt, 2-3Jn, Jude, Rev; standard Syriac Orthodox Church Bible406 Armenian Bible, translated by Saint Mesrop, standard Armenian Orthodox Bible410, 24 August: Sack of Rome by Alaric and the Visigoths412-444 Cyril, bishop of Alexandria, coined Hypostatic union418-419 Antipope Eulalius, rival to Pope Boniface I420 St. Jerome, Vulgate translator, Latin scholar, cited expanded ending in Mark after Mark 16:8, Pericope of the Adultress addition to John (John 7:53-8:11) (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers)423-457 Theodoret, bishop of Cyrrhus, noted Tatian's Diatesseron in heavy use, wrote a Church History431 Council of Ephesus, 3rd ecumenical: repudiated Nestorianism, decreed Mary the Mother of God, forbade any changes to Nicene Creed of 381, rejected by the Persian Church, leading to the Nestorian Schism432 St Patrick begins his mission in Ireland. Almost the entire nation is Christian by the time of his death in a conversion that is both incredibly successful and largely bloodless440-461 Pope Leo the Great: sometimes considered the first pope (of influence) by non-Catholics, stopped Attila the Hun at Rome, issued Tome in support of Hypostatic Union, approved Council of Chalcedon but rejected canons in 453449 Second Council of Ephesus, Monophysite: Jesus was divine but not human450? Codex Alexandrinus(A): Alexandrian text-type; Codex Bezae(D): Greek/Latin Gospels + Acts; Codex Washingtonianus(W): Greek Gospels; both of Western text-type450? std. Aramaic Targums, Old Testament in Aramaic450? Socrates Scholasticus Church History of 305-438; Sozomen Church History of 323-425451 Council of Chalcedon, 4th ecumenical, declared Jesus is a Hypostatic Union: both human and divine in one (Chalcedonian Creed), rejected by Oriental Orthodoxy455: Sack of Rome by the Vandals. The spoils of the Temple of Jerusalem previously taken by Titus are allegedly among the treasures taken to Carthage456? Eutyches of Constantinople, Monophysite465? Prosper of Aquitaine476, September 4 Emperor Romulus Augustus is deposed in Rome, marked by many as the fall of the Western Roman Empire484-519 Acacian Schism, over Henoticon, divides Eastern (Greek) and Western (Latin) churches491 Armenian Orthodox split from East (Greek) and West (Latin) churches495, May 13 Vicar of Christ decreed a title of Bishop of Rome by Pope Gelasius I496 Clovis I, King of the Franks, baptized498-499,501-506 Antipope Laurentius, rival of Pope Symmachus, Laurentian schism500? Incense introduced in Christian church service, first plans of Vatican524 Boethius, Roman Christian philosopher, wrote "Theological Tractates", Consolation of Philosophy; (Loeb Classics) (Latin)525 Dionysius Exiguus defines Christian calendar (AD)527 Fabius Planciades Fulgentius529 Benedict of Nursia establishes his first monastery in the Abbey of Monte Cassino, Italy, where he writes the Rule of St Benedict530 Antipope Dioscorus, possibly a legitimate Pope535-536 Unusual climate changes recorded537-555 Pope Vigilius, involved in death of Pope Silverius, conspired with Justinian and Theodora, on April 11, 548 issued Judicatum supporting Justinian's anti-Hypostatic Union, excommunicated by bishops of Carthage in 550538 Byzantine general Belisarius defeats last Arian kingdom; Western Europe completely Catholic541-542 Plague of Justinian543 Justinian condemns Origen, disastrous earthquakes hit the world544 Justinian condemns the Three Chapters of Theodore of Mopsuestia (died 428) and other writings of Hypostatic Union Christology of Council of Chalcedon550 St. David converts Wales, crucifix introduced553 Second Council of Constantinople, 5th ecumenical, called by Justinian556-561 Pope Pelagius I, selected by Justinian, endorsed Judicatum563 Columba goes to Scotland to evangelize Picts, establishes monastery at Iona567 Cassiodorus589 Catholic Third Council of Toledo: Reccared and the Visigoths convert from Arianism to Catholicism and Filioque clause is added to Nicene Creed of 381590-604 Pope Gregory the Great, whom many consider the greatest pope ever, reforms church structure and administration and establishes Gregorian Chant, Seven deadly sins591-628 Theodelinda, Queen of the Lombards, began gradual conversion from Arianism to Catholicism596 St. Augustine of Canterbury sent by Pope Gregory to evangelise the Jutes600? Evagrius Scholasticus, Church History of AD431-594604 Saxon cathedral created (by Mellitus) where St Paul's Cathedral in London now stands609 Pantheon, Rome renamed Church of Santa Maria Rotonda612? Bobbio monastery in northern Italy613 Abbey of St. Gall in Switzerland614 Khosrau II of Persia conquers Damascus, Jerusalem, takes Holy Cross of Christ622 Mohammed founds Islam after fleeing to Mecca624 Battle of Badr, considered beginning of Islamic Empire625 Paulinus of York comes to convert Northumbria628 Babai the Great, pillar of Church of the East, dies628-629 Battle of Mut'ah: Heraclius recovers Cross of Christ and Jerusalem from Islam until 638632 Eorpwald of East Anglia baptized under influence of Edwin of Northumbria634-644 Umar, 2nd Sunni Islam Caliph: capital at Damascus, conquered Syria in 635, defeated Heraclius at Battle of Yarmuk in 636, conquered Egypt and Armenia in 639, Persia in 642635 Cynegils of Wessex baptized by Bishop Birinus664 Synod of Whitby unites Celtic Christianity of British Isles with Roman Catholicism680-681 Third Council of Constantinople, 6th ecumenical, against Monothelites, condemned Pope Honorius I, Patriarch Sergius I of Constantinople, Heraclius' Ecthesis681-686 Wilfrid converts Sussex687-691 Dome of the Rock built690? Old English Bible translations692 Orthodox Quinisext Council, convoked by Justinian II, approved Canons of the Apostles of Apostolic Constitutions, Clerical celibacy, rejected by Pope Constantine698 Fall of Carthage711-718 Umayyad conquest of Hispania717-718 Second Arab siege of Constantinople718-1492 Reconquista: Iberian Peninsula retaken by Roman Catholic Visigoth monarchs718 Saint Boniface, archbishop of Mainz; an Englishman, given commission by Pope Gregory II to evangelize the Germans720? Disentis Abbey of Switzerland730-787 First Iconoclasm: Byzantine Emperor Leo III bans Christian icons; Pope Gregory II excommunicates him731 English Church History written by Bede732 Battle of Tours stops Islam from expanding westward750? Tower added to St Peter's Basilica at the front of the atrium752? Donation of Constantine, granted Western Roman Empire to the Pope (later proved a forgery)756 Donation of Pepin recognizes Papal States781 Nestorian Stele, Daqin Pagoda, Jesus Sutras, Christianity in China787 Second Council of Nicaea, 7th ecumenical: ends first Iconoclasm793 Sacking of the monastery of Lindisfarne marks the beginning of Viking raids on Christendom800 King Charlemagne of the Franks is crowned first Holy Roman Emperor of the West by Pope Leo III849-865 Ansgar, Archbishop of Bremen, "Apostle of the North", began evangelisation of North Germany, Denmark, Sweden855 Antipope Anastasius: Louis II, Holy Roman Emperor appoints him over Pope Benedict III but popular pressure causes withdrawal863 Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius sent by the Patriarch of Constantinople to evangelise the Slavic peoples. They translate the Bible into Slavonic869-870 Catholic Fourth Council of Constantinople condemns Patriarch Photius (rejected by Orthodox)879-880 Orthodox Fourth Council of Constantinople restores Photius, condemns Pope Nicholas I and Filioque (rejected by Catholics)897, January Cadaver Synod: Pope Stephen VI conducts trial against dead Pope Formosus, public uprising against Stephen leads to his imprisonment and strangulation909 Abbey of Cluny, Benedictine monastery, founded in France966 Duke Mieszko I of Poland baptised; Poland becomes a Christian country984 Antipope Boniface VII, murdered Pope John XIV, alleged to have murdered Pope Benedict VI in 974988? Christianization of Kievan Rus'991 Archbishop Arnulf of Rheims accuses Pope John XV of being the Antichrist997-998 Antipope John XVI, deposed by Pope Gregory V and his cousin Holy Roman Emperor Otto III1000 or 1001 Saint Stephen of Hungary crowned; Hungary becomes a Christian country1001 Byzantine emperor Basil II and Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah execute a treaty guaranteeing the protection of Christian pilgrimage routes in the Middle East1009 Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah destroys the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built over the tomb of Jesus in Jerusalem, and then rebuilds it to its current state1012 Antipope Gregory VI, removed by Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor1030 Battle of Stiklestad, considered victory of Christianity over Norwegian paganism1045 Sigfrid of Sweden, Benedictine evangelist1046 Council of Sutri: Pope Sylvester III exiled, Pope Gregory VI admits to buying the papacy and resigns, Pope Benedict IX resigns, council appoints Pope Clement II1054 East-West Schism split between Eastern (Orthodox Christianity) and Western (Roman Catholic) churches formalized1058-1059 Antipope Benedict X, defeated in war with Pope Nicholas II and Normans1061-1064 Antipope Honorius II, rival of Pope Alexander II1065 Westminster Abbey consecrated1073-1085 Pope Gregory VII: Investiture Controversy with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, proponent of clerical celibacy, opponent of simony, concubinage, Antipope Clement III1079 Stanislaus of Szczepanów, patron saint of Poland1080 Hospital of Saint John the Baptist founded in Jeruselem by merchants from Amalfi and Salerno - serves as the foundation for the Knights Hospitaller1082 Engelberg Abbey of Switzerland built1093-1109 Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, writes Cur Deus Homo (Why God Became Man), a landmark exploration of the Atonement1095-1291 10 Crusades, first called by Pope Urban II at Council of Clermont against Islamic Empire, to reconquer the Holy Land for Christendom1098 Foundation of the reforming monastery of Cîteaux, leads to the growth of the Cistercian order1101 Antipope Theodoric and Antipope Adalbert deposed by Pope Paschal II1113 Knights Hospitaller confirmed by Papal bull of Pope Paschal II, listing Blessed Gerard (Gerard Thom) as founder, (a.k.a. Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, Knights of Malta, Knights of Rhodes, and Chevaliers of Malta)1118 Knights Templar founded, to defend Holy Land1123 Catholic First Lateran Council1124 Conversion of Pomerania - first mission of Otto of Bamberg1128 Holyrood Abbey in Scotland1128 Conversion of Pomerania - second mission of Otto of Bamberg1130 Peter of Bruys burned at the stake1131 Tintern Abbey founded in Wales1131-1138 Antipope Anacletus II1139 Catholic Second Lateran Council1140? Decretum Gratiani, Catholic Canon law1142 Peter Abélard, Letters of Abelard and Heloise1144 The Saint Denis Basilica of Abbot Suger is the first major building in the style of Gothic architecture1154-1159 Pope Adrian IV, first (and to date only) English pope1155 Theotokos of Vladimir arrives to Bogolyubovo1155 Carmelites founded1163 Construction begins on Notre Dame de Paris1168 Conversion of Pomerania - Principality of Rugia missioned by Absalon1173 Waldensians founded1179 Catholic Third Lateran Council1191 Teutonic Knights founded1204-1261 Latin Empire of Constantinople1205 Saint Francis of Assisi becomes a hermit, founding the Franciscan order of friars; renounces wealth and begins his ministry1208 Start of the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars1214 Rosary is reportedly given to St. Dominic (who founded Dominican Order) by an apparition of Mary1215 Catholic Fourth Lateran Council decrees special dress for Jews and Muslims, and declares Waldensians, founded by Peter Waldo, as heretics. One of the goals is the elimination of the heresy of the Cathars1219 Francis of Assisi crosses enemy lines during the Fifth Crusade to speak to Sultan al-Kamil; the meeting ends with a meal. James of Vitry writes that Muslim soldiers returned Francis and another friar, Illuminato, "with signs of honor."1220-1263 St Alexander Nevsky, holy patron of Russia1231 Charter of the University of Paris granted by Pope Gregory IX1241 Pope Gregory IX denounced as Antichrist by Eberhard II von Truchsees, Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, at the Council of Regensburg1245 Catholic First Council of Lyon1252, May 15 Ad exstirpanda: Pope Innocent IV authorizes use of torture in Inquisitions1260 Date at which a 1988 Vatican sponsored scientific study places the origin of the Shroud of Turin1263, July 20–24 The Disputation of Barcelona is held at the royal palace of King James I of Aragon in the presence of the King, his court, and many prominent ecclesiastical dignitaries and knights, between a convert from Judaism to Christianity Dominican Friar Pablo Christiani and Rabbi Nachmanides1274 Summa Theologiae, written by Thomas Aquinas, theologian and philosopher, landmark systematic theology which later becomes official Catholic doctrine1274 Catholic Second Council of Lyon1291 Last Crusader city (Acre) falls to the Mamelukes1308-1321 Divine Comedy (Divina Commedia), by Dante Alighieri; most consensual dates are: Inferno written between 1307–1308, Purgatorio from 1307-1308 to 1313-1314 and last the Paradiso from 1313-1314 to 1321 (year of Dante's death)1307 The arrest of many of the Knights Templar, beginning confiscation of their property and extraction of confessions under torture1305-1378 Avignon Papacy, Popes reside in Avignon, France1311-1312 Catholic Council of Vienne disbands Knights Templar1313 Foundation of the legendary Order of the Rose Cross (Rosicrucian Order), a mystic Christian fraternity for the first time expounded in the major Christian literary work The Divine Comedy1314 Jacques de Molay, last Grandmaster of Knights Templar, burned at the stake1326 Metropolitan Peter moves his see from Kiev to Moscow1341-1351 Orthodox Fifth Council of Constantinople1342 Marsilius of Padua1345 Sergii Radonezhskii founds a hermitage in the woods, which grows into the Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra1378-1418 Western Schism in Roman Catholicism1380-1382 Wycliffe's Bible, by John Wycliffe, eminent theologian at Oxford, NT in 1380, OT (with help of Nicholas of Hereford) in 1382, translations into Middle English, 1st complete translation to English, includes deuterocanonical books, preaches against abuses, expresses anti-catholic views of the sacraments (Penance and Eucharist), the use of relics, and clerical celibacy1388 Twenty-five Articles of the Lollards published1408 Council of Oxford forbids translations of the Scriptures into the vernacular, unless and until they are fully approved by church authority1409 Council of Pisa declares Roman Pope Gregory XII and Avignon Pope Benedict XIII deposed, electsd Pope Alexander V (called the Pisan Pope)1414-1418 Catholic Council of Constance asks Gregory XII, Benedict XIII, Pisan Pope John XXIII to resign their papal claims, then elects Pope Martin V; condemns John Wycliffe and Jan Hus, who is burned at the stake1423-1424 Council of Siena1425 Catholic University of Leuven1430? Andrei Rublev, the greatest of medieval icon-painters1431 St. Joan of Arc, French national heroine, burned at the stake1431-1445 Catholic Council of Basel-Ferrara-Florence1439 Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, highest building in the world until 18741452 Dum Diversas, papal bull issued on 18 June 1452, credited with ushering in the West African slave trade in Europe and the New World1453 Fall of Constantinople, overrun by Ottoman Empire1455 Gutenberg Bible, first printed Bible, by Johann Gutenberg1473-1481 Sistine Chapel built1478 Spanish Inquisition established by Pope Sixtus IV1483 Martin Luther born in Eisleben1484 December 5, Summis desiderantes against Witchcraft issued by Pope Innocent VIII1487 Persecution and crusade against the Waldensians instigated by Pope Innocent VIII1492 Columbus opens new continents to Christianity1498 Girolamo Savonarola, Dominican priest, writes Bonfire of the Vanities1506 Pope Julius II orders the Old St. Peter's Basilica torn down and authorizes Donato Bramante to plan a new structure (demolition completed in 1606); Vatican Swiss Guard founded1508-1512 Michelangelo frescoes the Sistine Chapel's vaulted ceiling1512-1517 Catholic Fifth Council of the Lateran: condemned Conciliarism1517 95 Theses of Martin Luther begins German Protestant Reformation1518 Heidelberg Disputation: Martin Luther puts forth his Theology of the Cross1519 Leipzig Debate between Martin Luther and Johann Eck1520 Luther publishes three monumental works, To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and On the Freedom of a Christian1521 Luther refuses to recant his works at the Diet of Worms1521 Papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem (It Pleases the Roman Pontiff) excommunicates Luther1521 Ferdinand Magellan claims the Philippines for Spain, first mass and subsequent conversion to Catholicism, first in East Asia1522 Luther Bible, German NT translation1524 The Freedom of the Will published by Erasmus1525 On the Bondage of the Will published by Luther in response to Erasmus1525 Anabaptist movement begins1526 Tyndale's NT, English NT translation from 1516 Greek text of Erasmus, first printed edition, reflects influence of Luther's NT in rejecting priest for elder, church for congregation, banned in 1546 by Henry VIII of England1526 Luther publishes his German Mass and The Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ—Against the Fanatics, his first written work against the Sacramentarians1528 Reformation in Denmark-Norway and Holstein, Lutheranism is officially adopted1528 Luther affirms the real presence of Christ's body and blood in his Confession Concerning Christ's Supper1529 Marburg Colloquy, Luther defends doctrine of Real Presence in discussion with Zwingli1530 Augsburg Confession, first doctrinal statement of the Lutheran Church1531 Huldrych Zwingli is killed during the Second war of Kappel1531 Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico: According to tradition, when the roses fell from it the icon of the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared imprinted on the cactus cloth. The sudden, extraordinary success of the evangelizing of ten million Indians in the decade of 1531–1541.1534 Henry VIII establishes new independent entity Church of England, see also English Reformation1534 Jesuit order founded by Ignatius of Loyola, helped reconvert large areas of Poland, Hungary, and south Germany and sent missionaries to the New World, India, and China1535-1537 Myles Coverdale's Bible, used Tyndale's NT along with Latin and German versions, included Apocrypha at the end of the OT (like Luther's Bible of 1534) as was done in later English versions, 1537 edition received royal licence, but banned in 1546 by Henry VIII1535 Thomas More refuses to accept King Henry VIII's claim to be the supreme head of the Church in England, and is executed1535-1679 Forty Martyrs of England and Wales1536 Desiderius Erasmus, eminent Dutch humanist and editor of the Textus Receptus, dies1536 Tyndale put to death, left his OT translation in manuscript, English ecclesiastical authorities ordered his Bible burned because it was thought to be part of Lutheran reform1536 Institutes of the Christian Religion written by John Calvin (Calvinism)1536 John of Leiden, fanatic Dutch Anabaptist1536 Jacob Hutter, founder of Hutterites1536 Helvetic Confessions of the Reformed Churches of Switzerland1536-1540 Dissolution of the Monasteries in England, Wales and Ireland1536 Pilgrimage of Grace1536-1541 Michelangelo paints "The Last Judgement"1537 Christian III of Denmark decreed Lutheranism state religion of Norway and Denmark1537 Luther writes Smalcald Articles1537-1551 Matthew Bible, by John Rogers, based on Tyndale and Coverdale received royal licence but not authorized for use in public worship, numerous editions, 1551 edition contained offensive notes (based on Tyndale)1539-1569 Great Bible, by Thomas Cromwell, 1st English Bible to be authorized for public use in English churches, defective in many places, based on last Tyndale's NT of 1534-1535, corrected by a Latin version of the Hebrew OT, Latin Bible of Erasmus, and Complutensian Polyglot, last edition 1569, never denounced by England1541 John Calvin returns to Geneva1542 Roman Inquisition established by Pope Paul III1542 Robert Bellarmine born - became a Cardinal Inquisitor under Pope Clement VIII1543 Parliament of England bans Tyndale's translation as a "crafty, false and untrue translation"1545-1563 Catholic Council of Trent: Counter-Reformation against Protestantism, clearly defined an official theology and biblical canon1549 Original Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England written by Thomas Cranmer1551 The Stoglav Church Council (One Hundred Chapters) Moscow, Russia1552 Joachim Westphal starts controversy against Calvinists, defending Lutheran doctrine of Real Presence1552 Francis Xavier, Jesuit missionary, "Apostle of the Indies"1553 Pontifical Gregorian University founded at Vatican City1553 Michael Servetus founder of Unitarianism, burned at the stake in Geneva1553-1558 Queen Mary I of England persecutes reformers: John Rogers, Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley, Thomas Cranmer; of 238 burned at the stake1555 Peace of Augsburg gives religious freedom in Germany only to Lutheran Protestants1558 Church of England permanently reestablished after Mary I of England dies1559 Military Order of the Golden Spur founded by Pope Paul IV1560 Geneva Bible, NT a revision of Matthew's version of Tyndale with use of Theodore Beza's NT (1556), OT a thorough revision of Great Bible, appointed to be read in Scotland (but not England), at least 140 editions, first Bible with chapter and verse numbers1560 Scots Confession, Church of Scotland, Scottish Reformation1560-1598 French Wars of Religion1560-1812 Goa Inquisition, persecution of Hindus and Jews in India, see also Christianity in India1561 Menno Simons, founder of Mennonites1563 Thirty-Nine Articles of Church of England, also decreed Biblical canon1563 Heidelberg Catechism of Reformed churches1565-73 Examination of the Council of Trent by Martin Chemnitz1566 Roman Catechism and Index of Prohibited Books published1569 Metropolitan Philip of Moscow strangled by Malyuta Skuratov1571 Dutch Reformed Church established1571 Battle of Lepanto saves Christian Europe; Pope Pius V organizes the Holy League led by Don Juan de Austria to defend Europe from the larger Islamic Ottoman forces (230 galleys and 56 galliots)1572 John Knox founds Scottish Presbyterian Church, due to disagreement with Lutherans over sacraments and church government1572-1606 Bishops' Bible, a revision of the Great Bible checked against the Hebrew text, 1st to be published in England by episcopal authority1572 St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre: Thousands of Protestants murdered in France1577 Formula of Concord adopted by German Lutherans1579 Discovery of the holiest Russian icon, Our Lady of Kazan1580 Book of Concord of Lutheranism1582 St Teresa of Avila dies1582 Gregorian calendar of Pope Gregory XIII adopted at different times in different regions of the world1582 Rheims New Testament published - it later became part of the 1610 Douay–Rheims Bible1585 Jesuit scholar Francisco Ribera publishes first futurist interpretation, of the Biblical books of Daniel and Revelation1587 Toyotomi Hideyoshi expels Jesuits from Kyūshū1587? Mission Nombre De Dios in St. Augustine, Florida, considered first Catholic mission to North America1588 Spanish Armada defeated in its efforts to reconquer England for Catholicism1589 Metropolitan Jove is elected the first Patriarch of Moscow1590 Michelangelo's dome in St Peter's Basilica completed1591 St John of the Cross1592 The Clementine Vulgate of Pope Clement VIII, replaced the Sistine Vulgate of 1590, the standard Latin Catholic Bible until the Second Vatican Council1596 Ukrainian Catholic Church forms when Ukrainian subjects of the king of Poland are reunited with Rome, largest Byzantine Catholic Church1598 Edict of Nantes grants toleration to French Protestants (Huguenots)1600 Giordano Bruno, Dominican priest, burned at the stake1604 Fausto Paolo Sozzini Socinianism1606 Carlo Maderno redesigns St Peter's Basilica into a Latin cross1607 Jamestown, Virginia founded1608 Quebec City founded by Samuel de Champlain1609 Baptist Church founded by John Smyth, due to objections to infant baptism and demands for church-state separation1609-1610 Douay-Rheims Bible, 1st Catholic English translation, OT published in two volumes, based on an unofficial Louvain text corrected by Sistine Vulgate, NT is Rheims text of 15821611 King James Version (Authorised Version) is published, based primarily on Tyndale's work and Bishop's Bible of 1572, first printings included separate Apocrypha between the testaments1614 Fama Fraternitatis, the first Rosicrucian manifesto (may have been in circulation ca. 1610) presenting the "The Fraternity of the Rose Cross"1615 Confessio Fraternitatis, the second Rosicrucian manifesto describing the "Most Honorable Order" as Christian1616 Chemical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz, the third Rosicrucian manifesto (an hermetic allegory presenting alchemical and Christian elements)1618-1648 Thirty Years' War1620 Plymouth Colony founded by Puritans1622-1642 Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu1630 City upon a Hill, sermon by John Winthrop1634-37 Confessio catholica by Lutheran theologian Johann Gerhard1635 Roger Williams banished from Massachusetts Bay Colony, for advocating separation of church and state1636 Founding of what was later known as Harvard University as a training school for ministers - the first of thousands of institutions of Christian higher education founded in the USA1636-1638 Cornelius Jansen, bishop of Ypres, founder of Jansenism1637-1638 Shimabara Rebellion1638 Anne Hutchinson banished as a heretic from Massachusetts1641 John Cotton, advocate of theonomy, helps to establish the social constitution of the Massachusetts Bay Colony1643 Acta Sanctorum1643 John Campanius arrives in New Sweden1644 Rhode Island founded by Roger Williams as first colony to establish complete religious liberty1644 Long Parliament directs that only Hebrew canon be read in the Church of England (effectively removing the Apocrypha)1646 Westminster Standards produced by the Assembly, one of the first and undoubtedly the most important and lasting religious document drafted after the reconvention of the Parliament, also decrees Biblical canon1648 George Fox founds the Quaker movement1648 Treaty of Westphalia ends Thirty Year's War, extends religious toleration to Calvinists1650 Bishop James Ussher calculates date of creation as October 23, 4004 BC1653-56 Raskol of the Russian Orthodox Church1655-1677, Abraham Calovius publishes Systema Iocorum theologicorum, height of Lutheran scholasticism1660-1685 King Charles II of England, restoration of monarchy, continuing through James II, reversed decision of Long Parliament of 1644, reinstating the Apocrypha, reversal not heeded by non-conformists1666 Paul Gerhardt, Lutheran pastor and hymnwriter, is removed from his position as a pastor in Nikolaikirche in Berlin, when he refuses to accept "syncretistic" edict of the Elector Friedrich Wilhelm I of Brandenburg1672 Greek Orthodox Synod of Jerusalem: decreed Biblical canon1675 Philipp Jakob Spener publishes Pia Desideria, which becomes a manifesto for Pietism1678 John Bunyan publishes Pilgrim's Progress1682 Avvakum, leader of the Old Believers, burned at the stake in the Far North of Russia1683 Roger Williams, advocate of Separation of church and state, founder of Providence, Rhode Island, dies1685 Edict of Fontainebleau outlaws Protestantism in France1685 James II of England baptizes his son as a Catholic1685 Orthodoxy introduced to Beijing by Russian Orthodox Church1688 'Glorious Revolution' overthrows James II of England over fears of Catholic restoration; William of Orange takes English throne1689 English Bill of Rights establishes religious liberty1692 Salem witch trials held in Colonial America1692-1721 Chinese Rites controversy1693 Jacob Amman founds Amish sect1701 Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands splits with Roman Catholicism1706 Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg, missionary, arrives in Tranquebar1707 Examen theologicum acroamaticum by David Hollatz: the last great Lutheran doctrinal work before the Age of Enlightenment1718-22 Orthodox Lutheran Valentin Ernst Löscher publishes The Complete Timotheus Verinus against Pietism1721 Peter the Great substitutes Moscow Patriarchate with the Holy Synod1722 Hans Egede, missionary, arrives in Greenland1728 The Vicar of Bray (song)1730-1749 First Great Awakening in U.S.1735 Welsh Methodist revival1738 Methodist movement, led by John Wesley and his hymn-writing brother Charles, begins1740 Johann Phillip Fabricius, missionary, arrives in South India1741 Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, famous Fire and brimstone sermon1741 George Frederick Handel performs his classic gospel oratorio "Messiah" for the first time1754 An Historical Account of Two Notable Corruptions of Scripture, by Isaac Newton, published1767-1815 Suppression of the Jesuits1768 New Smyrna, Florida, Greek Orthodox colony, founded1768 Reimarus dies without publishing his radical critic work distinguishing Historical Jesus versus Christ of Faith1769 Mission San Diego de Alcala, first California mission1771 Emanuel Swedenborg publishes his "Universal Theology of the True Christian Religion", later used by others to found Swedenborgianism1774 Ann Lee, leader of American Shakers, emigrates to New York from England1774 Gotthold Ephraim Lessing starts publishing Reimarus' works on historical Jesus as Anonymous Fragments, starting Liberal Theology Era (in Christology)1776-1788 Gibbon's The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, critical of Christianity1776 Mission Dolores, San Francisco1779 Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom: "Jesus never coerced anyone to follow him, and the imposition of a religion by government officials is impious"1780 Robert Raikes begins Sunday schools to reach poor and uneducated children in England1784 American Methodists form Methodist Episcopal Church at so-called "Christmas Conference", led by bishops Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury1784 Roman Catholicism is re-introduced in Korea, and disseminates after almost 200 years since its first introduction in 15931789-1815 John Carroll, Archdiocese of Baltimore, first Roman Catholic US bishop1789-1801 Dechristianisation of France during the French Revolution1791 First Amendment to the United States Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"1793 Herman of Alaska brings Orthodoxy to Alaska1795 The Age of Reason, written by Thomas Paine, advocates Deism1796 Treaty with Tripoli (1796), article 11: "the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion"1800 Friedrich Schleiermacher publishes his first book, beginning Liberal Christianity movement1801 Cane Ridge Revival in Cane Ridge, Kentucky initiates the Christians (Stone Movement) wing of the Restoration Movement1809 Disciples of Christ (Campbell Movement) wing of the Restoration Movement initiated with the publication of the Declaration and Address of the Christian Association of Washington1815 Peter the Aleut, orthodox Christian, tortured and martyred in Catholic San Francisco, California1816 Bishop Richard Allen, a former slave, founds the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the first African-American denomination1817 Claus Harms publishes 95 theses against rationalism and the Prussian Union of churches1819 Thomas Jefferson produces the Jefferson Bible1824 English translation of Wilhelm Gesenius' ...Handwörterbuch...: Hebrew-English Lexicon, Hendrickson Publishers1827 Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg takes on the editorship of the Evangelische Kirchenzeitung, the chief literary organ of the Neo-Lutheranism1828 Plymouth Brethren founded; promotes Dispensationalism1830 Catherine Laboure receives Miraculous Medal from the Blessed Mother in Paris, France1830 Charles Finney's revivals lead to Second Great Awakening in America1830, April 6 Church of Christ (Mormonism, Latter Day Saint Movement) founded by Joseph Smith. Book of Mormon also published1831 William Miller begins the Advent Movement, by preaching his first sermon on the Biblical books of Daniel and Revelation1832 Christians (Stone Movement) and Disciples of Christ (Campbell Movement) merge to form the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement1832, February 28- Persecution of Old Lutherans: by a royal decree all Lutheran worship is declared illegal in Prussia in favour of the Prussian Union agenda1833 John Keble's sermon "National Apostasy" initiates the Oxford Movement in England1838-1839 Saxon Lutherans objecting to theological rationalism emigrate from Germany to the United States; settle in Perry County, Missouri. Leads to formation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod1843 Disruption of: schism within the established Church of Scotland1844 Hans Paludan Smith Schreuder, missionary, arrives in Port Natal, South Africa1844 Lars Levi Laestadius experiences awakening—beginning of Laestadianism1844, October 22 Great Disappointment: false prediction of Second Coming of Christ by Millerites1844, December Ellen G. White, co-founder and prophetess of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, has her first vision1845 Southern Baptist Convention formed in Augusta, Georgia1846 Bernadette Soubirous receives the first of 18 apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lourdes, France. Six million a year visit Lourdes Shrine1847 Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod founded in Chicago, Illinois1847 John Christian Frederick Heyer, missionary, arrives in Andhra Pradesh, India1848 Epistle to the Easterners and Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs response1848 Perfectionist movement in western New York state1849 Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe founds the first deaconess house in Neuendettelsau, Bavaria1850 Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod founded in Milwaukee1853 Synod of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America founded outside Madison, Wisconsin1854 Missionary Hudson Taylor arrives in China1854 Immaculate Conception defined as Catholic dogma1855 Søren Kierkegaard, founder of Christian existentialism1855 Samuel Simon Schmucker begins attempt to replace the Augsburg Confession with the Definite Platform in the General Synod, leading to schism in 18661859 Ashbel Green Simonton, missionary, arrives in Brazil and founds Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil, the oldest Brazilian Protestant denomination1863 Seventh-day Adventist Church officially formed 19 years after the Great Disappointment1865 Methodist preacher William Booth founds the Salvation Army, vowing to bring the gospel into the streets to the most desperate and needy1866 General Council (Lutheran) formed by ten Lutheran synods in the United States1869-1870 Catholic First Vatican Council asserts doctrine of Papal Infallibility (rejected by Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland)1870 Italy declares war on the Papal States; Italian Army enters Rome; Papal States cease to exist1871 Pontmain, France is saved from advancing German troops with the appearing of Our Lady of Hope1871-1878 German Kulturkampf against Roman Catholicism1872 Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America organized1876 Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (Germany) founded1878 First translation of the New Testament into Batak by Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen1879 Knock, Ireland is location of apparition of Our Lady, Queen of Ireland1879 Church of Christ, Scientist founded in Boston by Mary Baker Eddy1881-1894 Revised Version, called for by Church of England, uses Greek based on Septuagint (B) and (S), Hebrew Masoretic Text used in OT, follows Greek order of words, greater accuracy than AV, includes Apocrypha, scholarship never disputed1884 Charles Taze Russell founds Bible Student movement1885-1887 Uganda Martyrs1885 Baltimore Catechism published1886 Moody Bible Institute founded1886 Onesimos Nesib begins translation of the entire Bible into the Oromo language1886 Johann Flierl, missionary, arrives in New Guinea1891 Albert Maclaren and Copland King, Anglican missionaries, arrive in New Guinea1893 Heresy trial of Luther Alexander Gotwald1894 The Kingdom of God is Within You, by Leo Tolstoy, start of Christian anarchism1897 Christian flag conceived in Brooklyn, New York1899 Gideons International founded1903 First group baptism at Sattelberg Mission Station under Christian Keyser in New Guinea paves way for mass conversions during the following years1904 Welsh revival1904 Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil - Igreja Evangélica Luterana do Brasil - is founded in Juni 24, in São Pedro do Sul city, State Rio Grande do Sul1905 French law on the separation of Church and State1906 Albert Schweitzer publishes The Quest of the Historical Jesus (English translation 1910)1906 Biblia Hebraica1906-1909 Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, CA begins modern Pentecostal movement1907 The Church of God in Christ is formed as a Pentecostal body1907-1912 Nicholas of Japan, Archbishop of Japanese Orthodox Church1908 Church of the Nazarene founded in Pilot Point, Texas1909 Scofield Reference Bible published1909-1911 The Rosicrucian Fellowship, an international association of Esoteric Christian mystics, founded at Mount Ecclesia1910 Christian Congregation in Brazil founded in Santo Antônio da Platina, Brazil by Italo-American Louis Francescon. It begins Pentecostalism in Brazil and South America1910 Edinburgh Missionary Conference launches modern missions movement and modern ecumenical movement; 5-point statement of the Presbyterian General Assembly also used by Fundamentalists1910-1915 The Fundamentals, a 12-volume collection of essays by 64 British and American scholars and preachers, forms foundation of Fundamentalism1913 Catholic Encyclopedia1914 Welsh Church Act 19141914 Iglesia ni Cristo incorporated in the Philippines1914 Paul Olaf Bodding completes his translation of the Bible into the Santali language1915 Ellen G. White, co-founder and prophetess of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, dies1915-1923 The Armenian Genocide occurs1916 Father Divine founds International Peace Mission movement1916 And did those feet in ancient time1917 Heinrich Hansen publishes Lutheran Evangelical Catholic theses Stimuli et Clavi1917 Our Lady of Fatima appears Marian apparitions to 3 young people, in Fatima, Portugal - Jacinta Marto, Francisco Marto and Lúcia Santos ("Sister Lucia")1917 - 13 October Miracle of the Sun is witnessed by as many as 100,000 people in the Cova da Iria fields near Fátima, Portugal ("How the Sun Danced at Midday at Fátima")1917 Restitution of the Moscow Patriarchy with Tikhon as patriarch1917 True Jesus Church founded in Beijing1918 Execution of Holy Martyrs of Russia, including the last tsar, Nicholas II, and his wife, Alexandra Feodorovna, by the Communists1918 United Lutheran Church in America founded1919 Karl Barth's Commentary on Romans is published, critiquing Liberal Christianity and beginning the neo-orthodox movement1920 The Ecclesia, an Esoteric Christian Temple, is erected and dedicated on Christmas Day (December 25)1921 Oxford Group founded at Oxford1923 Aimee Semple McPherson builds Angelus Temple1924 First religious radio station in the U.S., KFUO (AM), founded1925 Scopes Trial causes division among Fundamentalists1925 United Church of Canada formed1925 St. Therese of Lisieux canonized1925 The World Conference of Life and Work is held in Stockholm, Sweden1926 Father Charles Coughlin's first radio broadcast1926-1929 Cristero War in Mexico: The Constitution of 1917 brings persecution of Christian practices and anti-clerical laws - approximately 4,000 Catholic priests are expelled, assassinated or executed1927 Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly founds the Congregation of Sisters of the Destitute1927 Pope Pius XI decrees Comma Johanneum open to dispute1929 Lateran Treaty signed, containing three agreements between kingdom of Italy and the papacy1929 Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly dies1929 Voice of Prophecy radio ministry founded by Seventh-day Adventist pastor H.M.S. Richards Sr.1930 Rastafari movement founded1930 Old American Lutheran Church founded1930 The Lutheran Hour begins with Walter A. Maier as speaker1931 Jehovah's Witnesses formally separate from the Bible Student movement1931 Christ the Redeemer (statue) built in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil1932 Franz Pieper's A Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the Missouri Synod adopted by the LCMS1932 Marian apparitions to five school children in Beauraing, Belgium as Lady Virgin of the Poor1933 Catholic Worker Movement founded1934 Herbert W. Armstrong founds Radio Church of God1935 Gunnar Rosendal publishes Lutheran High Church manifesto Kyrklig förnyelse1935 Dr. Frank C. Laubach, known as "The Apostle to the Illiterates", working in the Philippines, develops a literacy program that continues to teach millions of people to read1935 Rahlf's critical edition of the Koine Greek Septuagint published1935 Billy Sunday, early U.S. radio evangelist, dies1938 First Debbarma Christian, Manindra Debbarma, is baptized at Agartala1938 Tripura Baptist Christian Union established at Laxmilunga, Tripura1939 Southern and Northern US branches of the Methodist Episcopal Church, along with the Methodist Protestant Church, reunite to form The Methodist Church (slavery had divided the church in the 19th century)1940 Monumento Nacional de Santa Cruz del Valle de los Caidos, world's largest cross, 152.4 meters high1942 National Association of Evangelicals founded1945 On the Feast of the Annunciation, "Our Lady" appears to a simple woman, Ida Peerdeman, in Amsterdam. This is the first of 56 appearances as "Our Lady of All Nations", which took place between 1945 and 1959.1945 Dietrich Bonhoeffer is executed by the Nazis1945 Ludwig Müller1945 The Nag Hammadi library is discovered1946-1952 Revised Standard Version, revision of AV "based on consonantal Hebrew text" for OT and best available texts for NT, done in response to changes in English usage1947 Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism by Carl F. H. Henry, a landmark of Evangelicalism versus Fundamentalism in US1947 Oral Roberts founds Evangelistic Association1947 Dead Sea scrolls discovered1947 Lutheran World Federation founded1948 World Council of Churches is founded1948 Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel, see also Christian Zionism1949 evangelist Billy Graham preaches his first Los Angeles crusade1949 - October 2 Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Community - Comunidade Evangélica Luterana São João da Igreja Evangélica Luterana do Brasil - is founded in Passo Fundo city, State Rio Grande do Sul1950 First part of the Common Confession between the American Lutheran Church and the LCMS is adopted, resulting in the schism of the Orthodox Lutheran Conference1950 New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures released1950 Assumption of Mary decreed by Pope Pius XII1950 Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa1951 Bishop Fulton Sheen (1919–1979) debuts his television program Life is Worth Living on the DuMont Network. His half hour lecture program on Roman Catholic theology remained the number one show on U.S. television for its time slot, winning several Emmys until Sheen ended the program in 19571951 The Last Temptation, a fictional account of the life of Jesus written by Nikos Kazantzakis, wherein Christ's divinity is juxtaposed with his humanity, is published, and promptly banned in many countries1951 Campus Crusade for Christ founded at UCLA1952 Novum Testamentum Graece, critical edition of Greek NT, basis of modern translations1952 C. S. Lewis' Mere Christianity published1952 This Is the Life TV series begins1954 Unification Church founded by Reverend Sun Myung Moon, under the name Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (acronym HSA-UWC)1954 U.S. Pledge of Allegiance modified by act of Congress from "one nation, indivisible" to "one nation under God, indivisible"1956 In God We Trust designated U.S. national motto1956 Anchor Bible Series1956 The Ten Commandments (1956 film)1956 It Is Written television ministry founded by Seventh-day Adventist pastor George Vandeman1957 United Church of Christ founded by ecumenical union of Congregationalists and Evangelical & Reformed, representing Calvinists and Lutherans1957 English translation of Walter Bauer's Wörterbuch ...: A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, University of Chicago Press1958 Sedevacantism1959 Family Radio founded by Harold Camping1959 Franz Pieper's A Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the Missouri Synod reaffirmed by the LCMS1960 Merger creates the "new" American Lutheran Church1960 John F. Kennedy becomes the first Roman Catholic to be elected President of the United States1961 New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures published1961 Christian Broadcasting Network founded by Pat Robertson1962 Engel v. Vitale, first U.S. Supreme Court decision against School prayer1962 Karl Rahner, Joseph Ratzinger, Yves Congar, John Courtney Murray, Hans Küng among others appointed "periti" for upcoming Second Vatican Council. Rahner famous for paraphrasing Augustine's axiom: "Many whom God has the Church does not have; and many whom the Church has, God does not have."1962-1965 Catholic Second Vatican Council, announced by Pope John XXIII in 1959, produces 16 documents which become official Roman Catholic teaching after approval by the Pope, purpose to renew "ourselves and the flocks committed to us"1963 Martin Luther King leads a civil rights march in Washington, D.C.1963 A campaign by atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair results in U.S. Supreme Court ruling prohibiting reading of Bible in public schools1963 Oral Roberts University founded1963 Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America dissolves in schism1963 New Testament of Beck's American Translation completed, thousands of copies distributed through The Lutheran Hour1965 Reginald H. Fuller's The Foundations of New Testament Christology1965 Rousas John Rushdoony founds Chalcedon Foundation1965 Nostra aetate declaration promulgated at Vatican II that repudiates the charge of deicide against Jews1966 Roman Catholic Index of Prohibited Books abolished1966 Raymond E. Brown's Commentary on the Gospel of John1967 Lutheran Council in the United States of America organized1968 Zeitoun, Egypt, a bright image of the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Zeitoun was seen over the Coptic Orthodox Church of Saint Demiana for over a 3-year period. Over six million Egyptians and foreigners saw the image, including Copts, Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestants, Muslims, Jews and people of no particular faith1968 United Methodist Church formed with union of Methodist Church & Evangelical United Brethren Church, becoming the largest Methodist/Wesleyan church in the world1970s The Jesus movement takes hold in the U.S. One-way.org1970 Mass of Paul VI replaces Tridentine Mass1970 The Late, Great Planet Earth, futurist book by Hal Lindsey, published1970? Chick Publications1971 New American Standard Bible1971 The Exorcist, a novel of demonic possession and the mysteries of the Catholic faith, is published1971 Liberty University founded by Jerry Falwell1972 Most Lutheran free churches in Germany merge, forming the Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church1973, June 12- Near the city of Akita, "Our Lady" appeared to Agnes Katsuko Sasagawa. Three messages were given to her over a period 5 months Our Lady of Akita.1973 The Apostle in the End-Time Arsenio Tan Ferriol founded Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch)1973 Trinity Broadcasting Network founded by Paul and Jan Crouch1973 New International Version of the Bible is first published (revised in 1978, 1984), using a variety of Greek texts, Masoretic Hebrew texts, and current English style1973 Walkout at Concordia Seminary begins the Seminex controversy in the LCMS1974 Jim Bakker founds PTL television ministry1975 Bruce Metzger's Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament1976 Anneliese Michel, Bavarian woman, undergoes exorcism against demon possession1976 Suicide by self-immolation of East German pastor Oskar Brüsewitz, leads to mass protests against communism1977 New Perspective on Paul1977 Focus on the Family founded by James Dobson1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy1978-2005 Pope John Paul II: reaffirmed moral traditions (The Splendor of Truth)1979 Moral Majority founded by Jerry Falwell1979 Jesus (1979 film), most watched movie of all time according to New York Times1979-1982? New King James Version, complete revision of 1611 AV, updates archaisms while retaining style1980 Glacier View Conference: Seventh-day Adventist pastor and professor Desmond Ford is defrocked for questioning the sanctuary doctrine of the church, in a 1979 lecture at Pacific Union College1981 Kibeho, Rwanda reported that "Our Lady" appeared to several teenagers telling them to pray to avoid "rivers of blood" (Marian apparitions)1981 Mother Angelica launches EWTN; it grows to become one of the largest television networks in the world; the operation expands to radio in 19921981 Institute on Religion and Democracy is founded1981 Pope John Paul II shot by Mehmet Ali Agca; survives and later forgives him1982 Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics1985 Jesus Seminar founded1985 E. P. Sanders' Jesus and Judaism published1986 Chicago Statement on Biblical Application1986 Desmond Tutu becomes Anglican Archbishop of South Africa; joins anti-apartheid movement1987 Danver's Statement - Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood1988 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America founded1988 Lutheran Council in the United States of America dissolved1988 Christian Coalition founded by Pat Robertson1988 The Last Temptation of Christ, directed by Martin Scorsese, is released by Universal Pictures, and promptly attacked as heretical by organized Christian and Catholic groups1988 The celebration of 1,000 years since the baptism of Kievan Rus throughout the R.O.C.1988 Assemblies of God pastor Jimmy Swaggart caught in sex scandal1989 New Revised Standard Version1990 American Center for Law and Justice founded1991 John P. Meier's series A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus, v. 11992 New Catechism of the Catholic Church published1993 Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference founded1993 International Lutheran Council founded1994 "Evangelicals & Catholics Together"1994 Porvoo Communion1994 Answers In Genesis founded by Ken Ham1994, July 3- Glorification of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco1996 Cambridge Declaration - Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals1997, March 5–10- World Council of Churches: Towards a Common Date for Easter, see also Reform of the date of Easter1998, April 6 PBS Frontline: From Jesus to Christ1999 International House of Prayer in Kansas City begins non-stop 24/7 continual prayer1999, October 31- signing of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification between the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church1999 Gospel of Jesus Christ - An Evangelical Celebration; a consensus Gospel endorsed by various evangelical leaders including J.I. Packer, John Ankerberg, Jerry Falwell, Thomas C. Oden, R.C. Sproul, Wayne Grudem, Charles Swindoll, et al.1999 Radical Orthodoxy Christian theological movement begins, critiquing modern secularism and emphasizing the return to traditional doctrine; similar to the Paleo-orthodoxy Christian theological movement of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, which sees the consensual understanding of the faith among the Church Fathers as the basis of Biblical interpretation and the foundation of the Church2000 Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ founded in schism from Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) over fellowship with the Episcopal Church (TEC)2000 Visions of the Virgin Mary are reported in Assiut, Upper Egypt; phenomena associated to Mary is reported again in 2006, in a church at the same location during the Mass. Local Coptic priests and then the Coptic Orthodox Church of Assiut issue statements in 2000 and 2006 respectively2001 The Way of the Master founded2001 Armenia marks 1,700th anniversary of Christianity as its state religion (First country to adopt Christianity as its state religion - Kingdom of Armenia - 301 AD)2003 the Mission Province is established in Church of Sweden: new era for confessional Lutheranism in Scandinavia2005 Death of Pope John Paul II, election of Pope Benedict XVI2006 World Methodist Council votes unanimously to adopt the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (July 18).2006 The Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism, signed by several Christian denominations in the Middle East, criticizes the doctrine as associating the Gospel with imperialism and militarism2006 A film of the Gospel of Judas, a 2nd-century Gnostic account of Judas discovered in the 1970s, is shown on TV2007 The Creation Museum opens in Kentucky, United States2007 The American Association of Lutheran Churches and LCMS declare pulpit and altar fellowship2007, May 17- The Russian Orthodox Church is reunified after 80 years of schism2008 Conservative Anglicans indicate that they plan to split from liberal Anglicans in "The Jerusalem Declaration"2009 Damien of Molokai canonized; apostle to lepers2009, August 21- The Minneapolis Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA passes four ministry policy resolutions that will permit clergy in committed homosexual partnerships to be rostered leaders within the ELCA2009 The Rosicrucian Fellowship, an international association of Esoteric Christian mystics, celebrates the centennial anniversary -- The Fraternity should remain secret one hundred years; the celebration ceremonies, on August 8 and November 13 at Mount Ecclesia, serve the purpose of heralding the revival of the Christian mystic path of the Rose Cross.2009 Mar Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly declared Servant of God2009 Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience is issued, signed by over 150 American religious leaders2009 Dr. Frederick Eikerenkoetter (Reverend Ike), a pioneering prosperity preacher, dies2010 Lutheran CORE creates North American Lutheran Church in schism from the ELCA2010, October 31- Attack on Baghdad church results in 52 deaths2011, January 1- A church in Alexandria, Egypt is bombed, killing 21 people, mostly Christians2011 Martyrdom of Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistani politician and the only Christian elected member of the National Assembly, who was an outspoken critic of Pakistan's blasphemy laws2013, March- Pope Francis, an Argentinean, becomes the first non-European pope in modern times