A Timeline of Catholic Church History: 1 -

500 A.D.
This timeline is researched and prepared by Suzanne Fortin, Copyright 2003. All rights
reserved.

Other Timelines:
Timeline of how the Bible came to us
All Popes back to Peter
Timeline of Catholic/Orthodox Church relations

AD Event
*c. 29 AD Our Lord's Resurrection. The First Pentecost. St. Peter
20s preaches in Jerusalem and converts three thousand people, creating the
first Christian community.
*c. 35 Saul of Tarsus has an apparition of Jesus Christ and is
converted to Christianity.
30s
*c. 39 St. Peter baptizes Cornelius. This event marks the beginning of
the missionizing to the Gentiles.
*42 The first persecution of Christians in Jerusalem under Herod
Agrippa. Many Christians escape to Antioch, establishing its first
community.
40s *44 Martyrdom of St. James the Great, brother of the Apostle John.
He is the first apostle to die for the faith. He was sentenced by Herod
Agrippa in 44 AD. Today he is honored at the shrine of Santiago
Compostela.
*c. 51 The Council of Jerusalem. It rules that Gentile converts do not
50s
have to observe the Moasaic Law.
*62 Martyrdom of St James the Less, Bishop of Jerusalem. He is
stoned to death.
*64 First persecution of the Christians by Nero, who blames them for
setting a fire that burned much of Rome. Christianity soon after
becomes a capital crime.
*66 Jews revolt against Roman authority. The Christians,
60s remembering the prophecies of Christ, leave Jerusalem, led by their
bishop, St. Simeon. A civil war ensues. Nero sends Vespasian and
Titus to put down the insurrection.
*mid-60's Martyrdom of St. Paul.
*67 Martyrdom of St. Peter. Tradition states that he was crucified
upside down. St. Linus succeeds him as Pope (-76).
 *69 Fall of Jerusalem. The Temple is destroyed. Tacitus records that
600,000 Jews were slaughtered during the siege; Josephus said it was
a million.
70s *76 Pope St. Cletus (Anacletus) reigns(-88).
*c. 88 The reign of Pope St. Clement I (-97). During his pontificate,
he issues a letter to the Corinthians, urging them to submit themselves
to lawful religious authority. He writes "Our apostles also knew,
through our Lord Jesus Christ, and there would be strife on account of
80s the office of the episcopate. For this reason, therefore, inasmuch as
they had obtained a perfect fore-knowledge of this, they appointed
those [ministers] already mentioned, and afterwards gave instructions,
that when these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed
them in their ministry."
*95 Persecution of Christians in Rome under Domitian.
90s *97 Pope St. Evaristus accedes to the Chair of Peter (-105).
*c. 100 Death of John, the last apostle. The period of Public
Revelation comes to an end.
*c. 100 Birth of St. Justin Martyr (d. c. 165), Church Father. He wrote
two Apologies of the Faith, and A Dialogue with Trypho, the Jew. In
his writings, he bears witness to a number of Catholic doctrines. In
one famous passage, he describes the Order of the Mass.
*c. 105 Death of Pope St. Evaristus. Pope St. Alexander I replaces him
(-115).
100s
*c. 107-117 Martyrdom of St. Ignatius of Antioch, apostolic Father
and bishop. He was a disciple of St. John, along with St. Polycarp.
Theodoret, the Church historian says he was consecrated bishop by St.
Peter, who was at first bishop of Antioch before going to Rome.
Ignatius was martyred in Rome under Emperor Trajan's rule. It was
during the journey to Rome that he wrote his famous letters that
contain invaluble information about the early Church. He was the first
to use the term "Catholic" to describe the Church.
*111 Pliny the Younger, govenor of Bithynia, writes in a letter to the
Emperor Trajan that to his surprise, the Christians are not guilty of any
of the vices they are rumoured to engage in. He executes Christians
110s who would not apostatize.
*c. 115 Pope St. Sixtus I begins his reign (-125).
*117 Persecution of Christians under Hadrian (-138).
120s *125 Pope St. Telesphorus begins his reign (-136).
*c. 130 Birth of St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Church Father and bishop. He
had heard St. Polycarp in Smyrna. He wrote a famous treatise, Against
130s Heresies, refuting Gnosticism, and intervened in favour of the
Quartodecimians when they were excommunicated by Pope Victor I
for not observing Easter according the Roman Calendar (i.e. the first
 Sunday after the full moon after the Spring equinox).
*135 Emperor Hadrian excludes Jews from Jerusalem.
*136 Pope St. Hyginus accedes to the see of Peter (-140).
*140 Election of Pope St. Pius I (-155).
*144 Marcion of Pontus is excommunicated for heresy (Marcionism):
he believed that the God of the Old Testament is a different God than
140s that of the new, and that he is a vengeful God; he denied the
inspiration of the Old Testament. Marcionites established a parallel
church that survived for several centuries.
*155 Death of Pope St. Pius I. St. Anicetus becomes Pope (-166).
*c. 156 Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, disciple of St. John the apostle.
150s First recorded instance of devotion to a martyr and the devotion to
relics in the Martyrdom of Polycarp.
*c. 160 Birth of Tertullian, Church Father. Tertullian apostatized to
the Montanist sect and in his later years rejected the Catholic Church.
However, in his earlier years, c. 200 AD, he justified Catholic belief
160s against heretics by appealing to the apostolic origin of the Church,
whereas the heretics and their heresies were subsequent to it.
*165 Death of St. Justin Martry (b. 100), Church Father.
*166 St. Soter becomes Pope. (-175).
*172 Montanus launches his Montanist movement, based on his
private revelations. He claimed that there was an age of the Father (the
Old Testament), the Age of the Son (the New Testament) and the age
of the Holy Spirit, which he would inaugurate and which would
announce the end of the world. It denied the divine nature of the
Church and preached a very rigorous morality.
*175 St. Eleutherius succeeds as Pope (-189).
*c.176-177 Athenagoras writes Embassy for the Christians,
aka Apology, a work addressed to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius and
170s his son Commodus that shows the reasonableness of the Christian
faith and the absurdity of the charges made against Christians. It also
defended the notion of the Trinity.
*177 St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against All Heresies, a work of
apologetics refuting Gnosticism, which claimed salvation through an
esoteric knowledge. Irenaeus argues that this belief counters that
universal tradition handed down from the apostles, and that the
bishops are the successors of the apostles who have the authority to
transmit Revelation. To make his point, he lists the succession of
Popes beginning with Peter.
*185 Birth of Origen, controversial Church Father. His writings were,
180s in many ways, productive for the orthodox faith. However, a number
of his ideas were problematic or downright heretical. Among them: his
 excessive allegorism in Scriptural interpretation, his subordinationist
tendencies, his belief in eternal creation and final salvation of all
souls. His writings sparked complex doctrinal controversies. In spite
of the problems, he had many admirers among orthodox Fathers.
*189 Pope Victor I takes over the See of Peter. (-199)
*189 Pope Victor I excommunicates the Quartodecimians. The
Quartodecimians of Asia Minor reckoned the date of Easter according
to the Jewish Passover, as 14 Nisan, regardless of whether or not it fell
on a Sunday, contrary to the majority of the faithful in various parts of
the Empire. Pope Victor ordered Bishop Polycrates of Ephesus to call
a synod and have the bishops of Proconsular Asia submit to the
Roman practice. The bishop called the synod, but the assembly
refused to submit, citing that the apostles John and Philip followed the
same custom. The Pope then excommunicated the bishops and their
followers. St. Irenaues protested this action as too harsh, but did not
say the Pope had overstepped his authority. This is the first record of
an episcopal council in the post-apostolic age.
*190 Pope Victor I excommunicates Theodotus for his denial that
Jesus is God. The latter gathered together a band of followers, whose
teachings would eventually influenced Paul of Samosata, the true
originator of Arianism.
190s *199 Pope St. Zephyrinus accedes to the See of Peter (-217). Pope
Zephyrinus was not inclined to philosophical speculation and would
not either endorse or condemn St. Hippolytus' attacks against the
Monarchian heresy. This made the Pope's faith appear suspect.
*c. 200 Death of St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Church Father and bishop.
*c. 200 Monarchianism makes its appearance. In contrast to Arianism,
Monarchians affirm Jesus is God, but in order to safeguard the unity
of God, they essentially deny the distinction between the Son and the
Father. St. Hippolytus was an ardent opponent of this heresy.
200s *202 Emperor Septimius Severus persecutes Christians with the aim
of establishing one common religion in the Empire.
*c.208 The first record of prayers for the dead in the writings of the
Church Fathers. Tertullian writes that a good widow prays for her
dead husband's soul in On Monogamy.
*c.213 Birth of St. Gregory of Neocaesarea, (d. c. 270) aka the
Wonderworker, aka Thaumaturgus. He defended the Unity and the
Trinity of God in his writings.
*217 Death of Pope St. Zephyrinus. Pope St. Callistus I succeeds him
210s (-222). Callistus was a former slave who was in charge of his master's
bank. He lost a lot of money to bad debts, some of the debtors being
Jews. When he attempted to recover the money, some Jews denounced
him as a Christian and he was sent to the mines of Sardinia, but
survived to return to Rome in 190 AD. During Pope Zephyrinus' reign,
 he was a power behind the throne, making his faith appear suspect to
the future anti-Pope St. Hippolytus.
*217 Election of anti-Pope St. Hippolytus, Church Father, the first
anti-Pope in Church history, and the only one venerated as a saint. He
considered Pope St. Callistus I to be a Monarchian heretic, and he
continued his claim to the Chair of Peter through to the reign of Pope
St. Pontian. He reconciled with the Church before being martyred in
the mines of Sardinia in 235.
*220 Pope St. Callistus I excommunicates Sabellius, a priest who
taught that the Son of God did not exist before the Incarnation, and
that God exists in three "modes" but not in three persons, therefore the
Son and the Father suffered at the passion. This heresy, Sabellianism,
would become prevalent in the fourth century.
220s *222 St. Urban I becomes Pope (-230).
*222 Alexander Severus becomes emperor (-235). He lifted many
harsh laws against the Christians, and essentially gave them the right
to exist as a religion. They now had the right to own property and
assemble for worship. He had a personal devotion to Jesus Christ, but
he honoured him as one among many gods.
*230 Death of Tertullian, Church Father who later joined the
Montanists, a heretical sect. His writings are invaluable for the
historical testimony they provide.
*230 St. Pontian succeeds St. Urban I as Pope (-235). In 235, the
Emperor Maximian launched a persecution against the heads of the
Church. Pontian was banished to the mines of Sardinia. In order to
make possible the election of a new Pope, he resigned.
230s *235 Pope St. Anterus reigns for forty days (-236).
*236 Election of Pope St. Fabian (-250). Eusebius relates in his
history of the Church that when it came time to elect a new Pope, the
assembly put forward several names of prominent people, but a dove
rested on Fabian's head, whom no one had considered for the office.
The assembly took it as a sign of divine favour and selected him as the
new Pope.
240s
*250-251 The Decian Persecution. The Emperor Decius requires all
citizens in every town and village of the Empire to perform acts of
worship to the gods of the State. People suspected of Christianity are
brought before a commission and required to sacrifice. Refusal meant
250s a long prison stay and subjection to torture so that the accused would
apostatize. Failing that, they are put to death. Many Christians
apostatize or obtain certificates stating that they had sacrificed. This
systematic persecution produces numerous martyrs.
*250 Martyrdom of Pope St. Fabian in the Decian persecution. He was
not given the opportunity to apostatize but was swifty executed for his
faith.
*c. 250 The devotion to martyrs, once a more private practice,
becomes widespread after the Decian persection due to the great
numbers of martyrs it produced.
*c. 250 Birth of St. Anthony of Egypt (d. 355) considered to be the
founder of monasticism. Approximately 5000 disciples of both sexes
had gathered around him in the Nitrian desert (Egypt), despite his
opposition. We know of him through a biography of St. Athanasius.
*251 Council of Cartage under St. Cyprian allows those who lapsed
during the persecution to be readmitted after a period of penance.
*251 Pope St. Cornelius succeeds Pope St. Fabian (-253).
*251 Novatian becomes the second anti-Pope in Church history (-
258). He strongly disagrees with Pope Cornelius' stance allowing
those who apostatized during the Decian persecution to return to the
fold after a suitable penance. He insisted on permanent
excommunication for them. This period is known as the Novatian
Schism. The Novatian church will continue to exist up to the eighth
century, but will be absorbed by the Catholic Church.
*c. 251 St. Cyprian writes his famous treaty, On the Unity of the
Church. He argues that the Church was founded on Peter, and that the
local bishop was the head of the local Church. In practice, however, he
contradicted himself by asserting that the Pope could not make him
accept Christians baptized by heretics.
*c. 253 Death of Origen, Church Father. He probably died from the
tortured he suffered under the Decian persecution.
* 253 Election of Pope St. Lucius I (-254).
*254 St. Stephen I is elected Pope (-257). He is the first Pope known
to have invoked Matt. 16:18 as evidence for the authority of the Chair
of Peter.
*256 Pope St. Stephen I upholds the baptisms administered by
heretics.
*257 The Emperor Valerian launches a persecution against Christians
(-259). The clergy is summoned to sacrifice to the pagan gods. If they
refused, the church property they legally held in the church's name
was to be confiscated and they were to be exiled (a year later, the
penalty would be immediate execution). All faithful Christians who
met in religious assemblies were punishable by death.
*257 St. Sixtus II becomes Pope (-258). He was arrested very shortly
after his election and beheaded for his faith.
*258 Martyrdom of St. Cyprian of Carthage. He defended the
 readmission to the Church of those who apostatized during
persecution, but rejected the idea that baptism by heretics and
schismatics is valid. In his writings, he defended the primacy of Peter
as the source of unity in the Church. He remained the foremost Latin
writer until Jerome. At his execution, his followers placed cloths and
handkerchiefs near his place of execution in order to catch his blood
and thereby have a relic of him.
*259 Peace of Gallenius. Emperor Gallenius succeeds to the throne,
ends the persecution of Christians and legally recognizes their
existence. Church property is restored. This peace lasts for forty years.
Churches are built, bishops gain social prestige and Christians acquire
more social status. Christians serve the regimes of various emperors.
Christianity still remains a target for hostility.
*259 Pope St. Dionysius begins his pontificate (-268).
*c. 260 Birth of Eusebius of Caesarea, Church Father, bishop and
"Father of Church history." hisChurch history is an important source
of information about the Early Church. He also wrote theLife of
Constantine.
*261 A period of relative peace begins for the Church (-303).
*c. 265 Three councils held at this time in Antioch condemn Paul of
260s Samosata, bishop of Antioch, for his heretical teachings on the
relationship of God the Father and God the Son. He maintained that
Jesus the man was distinct from the Logos and became the Son of God
through adoption because of his merits, and that God is only One
Person. His teachings were a pre-cursor to the Arianist heresies of the
fourth century and beyond.
*269 Pope St. Felix I fills the See of Peter (-274).
*c.270-275 Death of St. Gregory of Neocaesarea (b. c.213) , aka the
Wonderworker, aka Thaumaturgus, Church Father and bishop.
*c. 272 Crucifixion of Mani by Bahram, king of Persia. Mani founded
the Manichaean religion, which centred on the battle between the good
god and the evil god. He had travelled widely, going as far as India,
and drew from many philosophies and religions-- including
Buddhism. He also claimed to be the Paraclete. His religious ideas
would persist throughout the Middle Ages, and were adopted by the
270s Cathari and the Bogomils.

*272 Emperor Aurelian rules that the bishop of a city is whomever the
bishops of Italy and Rome acknowledge as such. The ruling deprived
the deposed Paul of Samosata, bishop of Antioch, of all church
property--including churches. This way the secular arm made it
possible for Rome to effectively depose bishops.
*275 Pope St. Eutychian succeeds Pope St. Felix I.(-283).
 *283 Pope St. Caius is elected head of the Church (-296).
280s *285 Partition of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western halves.
Diocletian rules the Eastern half, Maximian, the Western.
*293 Diocletian forms the Tetrarchy. In order to improve the
transition of power upon the death of an emperor, Diocletian created a
system of co-rulers. Thus, the Emperors are Augusti, their heirs
apparent are Caesars. Diocletian chooses Galerius as Caesar;
Maximian chooses Constantius I Chlorus. The Tetrarchy system
would eventually fail in its goal of assuring smooth transitions of
290s power.
*296 Election of Pope St. Marcellinus I (-304).
*c. 297 Birth of St. Athanasius (d. 373), Doctor of the Church.
Archbishop of Alexandria. He was a staunch defender of the Divinity
of Jesus Christ against Arianism, and was exiled sevral times for his
orthodoxy.
*c. 300 Christianity introduced in Armenia.
*Constantine re-unites both halves of the Empire, becomes sole
emperor.
*302 Growing intolerance of Christians leads to the army and the
imperial service being closed to professed Christians.
*303 Persecution of Christians by Diocletian through a series of
edicts.All people were to worship state gods. Churches were to be
destroyed, Christian books were to be burned. The first act of the
persecution was to burn down the cathedral at Nicomedia.
*304 Christians faithful to the their religion are now subject to the
death penalty. The government commits massacres to terrify the
faithful.
*304 Death of Pope St. Marcellinus I.
300s
*305 Emperors Diocletian and Maximian resign. Galerius, viciously
anti-Christian, succedes as emperor in the East. The new emperor in
the West, Constantius Chlorus, ceases the persecution in his domains.
*c. 305 The Council of Elvira, Spain approves the first canon
imposing clerical celibacy.
*306 Constanine becomes the emperor in the West and continues the
policy of toleration towards Christians.
*306 Galerius orders all his subjects to make pagan sacrifices.
*306 Birth of St. Ephraem the Syrian (d. 373), Doctor of the Church.
Known as the Harp of the Holy Spirit. Author of the Nisibene Hymns,
some of which are Marian.
*308 Election of Pope St. Marcellus I (-309). His stance against
apostates who demanded immediate re-entry into the Church raised a
 commotion and led to the Emperor Maxentius exiling him. He died
soone after leaving Rome.
*309 Reign of Pope St. Eusebius.
*310 Sapor II becomes king of the Persian Empire (-381). Until the
third century, the Church grew in Persia without persecution.
However, with the accession of the Sassinid Dynasty (227 AD) the
Church became suspect and was eventually persecuted. Under Sapor
II, Christians are subject to a persecution worse than any undertaken
by the Roman Emperors. It was considered the religion of the Roman
Empire, with whom the Persian were constantly at war.
*311 An edict of toleration is emitted in the names of Galerius,
Constantine and Licinius. The emperors come to realize that
persecution produced non-believers in either the gods of the state or in
the Christian God. Emperor Maximinus of Daza only follows the
policy for six months, then continues the persecution in the East.
*31l Pope St. Militiades begins his reign (-314).
*311 The Beginning of the Donatist Schism. Donatus, Primate of
Numidia, will not recognize the election of Cecilian as Bishop of
Carthage. Cecillian's consecrator is Felix of Aptonga, a man who had
allegedly apostatized under Maximian's persecution (303-305). To the
Donatists, apostasy and other serious sins destroys a priest's spiritual
powers. The priest's powers are therefore dependent on his personal
holiness. Donatus holds a council which illegally elects a pretendant to
310s the see. Although he lives in Carthage, Donatus has no jurisdiction
there.
*312 Martyrdom of Lucian of Antioch during the persecution of
Maximinus of Daza. He taught that the Word (logos) was a creature.
He taught Arius, the heresiarch, and his teaching was at the origin of
the Arian heresy. He is also known for having rejected allegorical
interpretations and was strongly literal in his biblical interpreations.
He reconciled with the Church.
*312 Constantine defeats the Emperor Maxentius at the battle of the
Milvian Bridge. The night before the battle, Constantine has a vision
of a cross in the sky and the words "In this sign you shall conquer."
After the victory, Constantine orders that the cross be put on the
soldiers' shields and standards. Once Constantine enters Rome, he
offers the Lateran Palace to the Pope as a residence.
*313 Edict of Milan. Toleration of Christians in the Western Roman
Empire. All people, not only Christians, have freedom of religion so
long as they render honour to "the divinity." Emperor Constantine
returns Church property. In the Eastern Empire, Maximinus continues
to persecute Christians until he grants them toleration in a last-ditch
effort to gain their favour and keep alive his struggle against his
 enemy Licinius.
*313 Constantine intervenes on the Donatist schism and recognizes
the election of Cecillian of Carthage, the orthodox candidate. The
churches held by Donatists are handed over to Catholics.
*313 The Lateran palace makes its first appearance in Catholic history
as it is the scence of an appeal of the Donatists in the matter of
Cecillian's election as Bishop of Carthage. Emperor Constantine chose
the bishops to sit on the tribunal, but the Pope presided over it. It rules
in favour of Cecillian.
*314 St. Sylvester I is elected Pope (-335)
*c.314 Constantine agrees to hear a new appeal by the Donatists in the
case of Cecillian's Episcopal election. This time the appeal is brought
to a secular court. The Donatists maintained that Felix of Aptonga
could not have validly ordained Cecillian because he had apostatized
during a persecution. The police books of the persecution were
produced, and there was no evidence Felix had ever been arrested. It
was also shown that the Donatists had attempted to forge the
certificate proving his guilt. Constantine sends this evidence to the
Council of Arles, where the Fathers note that the Donatists are "crazy
fanatics, a danger to Christianity." They rule in favour of Cecillian.
*315 Birth of St. Cyril of Jerusalem (d. 387), Doctor of the Church.
He fought Arianism in the East.
*315 Birth of St. Hilary of Poitiers (d. 368), Doctor of the Church.
*316 Constantine hears another appeal of the Donatists in the matter
of the election of Cecillian of Carthage. He rules in favour of
Cecillian. He rules that the churches held by the Donatists were to be
handed over to the Catholics, and that the Donatists were forbidden to
meet.
*c. 318 Beginnings of the Arianist controversy. Arius taught: that the
Father and the Son were not of the same substance, and therefore the
latter was inferior; and that the Word (Logos) is a creature and that the
Holy Spirit is a creature of the Logos.
*320 St. Pachomius founds the first two monasteries-- on for each sex
in Tabennisi.
*321 The Donatists appeal to Constantine for toleration. He grants it,
in spite of his contempt for the sect.
*323 Licinius, Emperor of the East launches a persecution against
320s
Christians.
*323 Constantine and Licinius do battle at Chrysopolis. Licinius dies
six months later. Constantine has no rival and is the sole ruler of the
Empire. Constantine preserves freedom of religion but his attitude
towards paganism becomes contemptuous. Paganism and Christianity
 enjoy equal status before the law.
*325 The Council of Nicea. Presided by Emperor Constantine and
Hosius of Cordoba. Pope St. Sylvester I sends papal legates, being too
old to make the journery from Rome. Many of the bishops in
attendance had been physically injured in the persecutions of previous
decades. The Council defines trinitarian belief in God. The Father and
God the Son are declared of the same substance against the teachings
of Arius. Emperor Constantine considers heresy to be a form of
rebellion, and banishes Arian bishops to Illyria.
*325 Building of Church of Natitvity, Bethlehem.
*326 Constantine recognizes the Novatian Church, the parallel Church
established under the Novatian schism in the preceding century. It
would die out a century later in Rome, but would survive until at least
the seventh century in the East.
*329 Birth of St. Basil the Great (d. 379), Doctor of the Church and
father of Eastern monasticism. He was the first to draw up a rule of
life and he developed the concept of the novitiate.
*c. 329 Birth of St. Gregory of Nanzianzus (d. 389), Doctor of the
Church, one of the traditional four Greek Doctors.
*330 Building of first St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It was torn down in
1506 and re-built.
*330 Birth of St. Gregory Nanzianzus (d. 390), Doctor of the Church.
One of the Cappadocian Fathers.
*331 Seat of the Roman Empire moved to Constantinople (formerly
Byzantium).
*331 Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia, an Arian, schemes to have a
local synod depose the orthodox bishop Eustathius of Antioch.
Constantine recognizes the authority of the synod and expels
Eustathius. His successor, Paulinus of Tyre dies a few months later,
and, for the first time in history, a secular ruler interferes in the choice
330s of a bishop. Constantine recommends the Arian Euphronios, who was
elected.
*335 By this time Eusebius of Nicomedia succeeds in convincing the
emperor of his orthodoxy by proposing at the Council of Jerusalem an
ambiguous formula of faith to which both Arians and Catholics can
adhere.
*336 Reign of Pope St. Mark.
*336 Death of Arius, heresiarch, creator of the Arian herersy. Right
before his death, the Emperor Constantine's sister, Constantia,
requested on her deathbed that Arius be recalled from his place of
banishment and exonerated. The Emperor paid heed to her request. He
ordered the bishop of Alexandria to give Arius Communion, but the
 latter died right before he was to receive. The populace views it a sign
of divine condemnation.
*336 The earliest record of the celebration of Christmas in Rome. The
East kept the Feast of Epiphany, January 6th.
*337 Death of Constantine. He was baptized on his deathbed by
bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia, an ally of Arius. The Empire is ruled
by his three sons, Constantine II, Constantius II and Constans.
*337 Election of Pope St. Julius I (-352).
*338 Election of St. Julius I (-352).
*c. 340-350 The Arian bishop Ulfilas makes a corrupt translation of
the Bible into the Gothic language and converts the Goths. From then
on, barbarian tribes that converted to Christianity were Arian, until the
conversion of the Franks in the 6th century.
*340 Birth of St. Ambrose of Milan, one of the four traditional Latin
Doctors of the Church. He baptized St. Augustine. He fought the
Arian heresy in the West and promoted consecrated virginity.
*341 Emperors Constants and Constantius II abolish and prohibit
pagan sacrifices. Pagan sentiment becomes very anti-Christian.
*341 Death of Eusebius of Nicomedia, bishop of Constantinople. He
schemed to depose Catholic bishops throughout the empire and
replace them with Arians. He made Arians appear orthodox through
ambiguous formulas of faith.
*c. 343 Birth of St. Jerome (d. 420), one of the four traditional
340s Doctors of the Latin Church. He translated the Bible from Hebrew and
Greek texts into Latin and produced the first authoritative translation,
the Vulgate. At that time, Latin was still a vernacular language. He
also wrote a treaty against Helvidius, upholding the Virgin Birth.
*347 Birth of St. John Chrysostom (d. 407), Doctor of the Church and
Bishop of Constantinople. He is the foremost Greek Doctor of the
Church, known especially for his homilies on Scripture. He alienated
the court at Constaninople with his preaching against the vanities of
the rich. The conspiracy of his enemies resulted in his exile. The Pope
and many Western bishops supported him but could not obtain justice
for him.
*347 Emperor Constans ends the toleration of Donatists in Numidia.
The period of Donatist dominance in Africa had been one of license,
including riots and massacres. He exiles the Donatist bishops and
hands their churches to Catholics.
*350 Assassination of Emperor Constans. Constantius II, an Arian,
becomes sole Emperor. Arians attempt to link St. Athanasius with
350s
Constans' assassin.
*353 Emperor Constantius II prohibits idol worship under penalty of
 death. The Western Empire is majoritarily Pagan.
*352 Reign of Pope Liberius (-366), the first Pope who is not
considered a saint. He would not be pressured by Constantius to
condemn St. Athanasius.
*354 Birth of St. Augustine of Hippo (d. 430), Doctor of the Church.
One of the four traditional Doctors of the Latin Church. One of the
greatest theologians in the history of the Church. Among his most
famous works: Confessions, City of God, On the Trinity.
*354 Constantius II ignores his own law and confirms the rights and
privileges of the city of Rome, including their share of state subsidies.
*c. 355 Constantius II kidnaps Pope Liberius to pressure him to
condemn St. Athanasius, and thereby approve the Arian creed. The
Pope refuses and is banished to Baerea in Thrace. Constantius
attempts to replace Liberius with Felix, but the laypeople of Rome
would not hear of it.
*357 Constantius II is persuaded to allow Pope Liberius to return to
Rome. There is some dispute as to whether his return was prompted
by his signing a semi-Arian formula that would have satisfied
Constantius, or by the Roman faithful, who drove out Felix, the anti-
Pope. Much appears to be uncertain about this situation.
*c. 360 Scrolls begin to be replaced by books.
*361 Emperor Julian "the Apostate" becomes Roman Emperor (-363).
He was brought up in Arian Christianity in his early childhood, but
was tutored by Pagans in his adolescence. Upon his accession to the
throne, he attempts revive Paganism, and in his contempt the Christian
Faith, he tries to re-build the Temple in Jerusalem, but fails.
*362 Emperor Julian recalls the exiled Donatist bishops.
*363 Emperor Julian "the Apostate" dies before getting a chance to
launch a systematic persecution against the Christians, although mobs
that riot and kill them go unpunished.
360s *363 Jovinian, a Catholic, becomes Emperor. He restores toleration
for all religions.He reigns only for nine months.
*364 Valentinian, a Catholic, now rules the Western empire (-375).
He takes the property of State-run temples, but instead of handing it
over to the Church, as Constantius II did, he puts the imperial treasury
in charge of it.
*364 The Arian Valens becomes Emperor of the Eastern Empire (-
378). He seeks to Arianize his Christian subjects and makes life
difficult for Catholics.
*366 Reign of Pope St. Damasus I (-384). He is most famous for
compelling St. Jerome to undertake a faithful translation of the
 Scriptures, the version known as the Vulgate. St. Damasus condemned
Apollinarianism and Macedonianism. He approved the canons of the
Ecumenical Council of Constantinople (381).
*c. 368 Death of St. Hilary of Poitiers (b. 315), Doctor of the Church
and bishop. He was exiled for his orthodox faith by the Emperor
Constantius, but eventually was able to return to Poitiers. He
attempted to reconcile the Semi-Arians and the orthodox faithful.
*370 Valens, Emperor of the East, orders the bishops of his realm to
conform to an Arian formula on pain of of deposition and exile. Many
refuse. Their churches are handed over to Arian appointees. Other
dioceses organize resistance, and in some cases massacres ensue.
*373 Death of St. Athanasius (b. 297), Doctor of the Church, Bishop
of Alexandria.
*373 Death of St. Ephraim of Nisibis, Church Father. Gratian,
Emperor of the Western Empire (-383). He abolishes the office of
Pontifex Maximus, the head of the Pagan religion, which, by default,
was held by the Roman Emperor, even if he was Christian (although
he did not necessarily exercise the office). Under the influence of
Ambrosius, Gratian prohibited Pagan worship at Rome; refused to
wear the insignia of the pontifex maximus as unbefitting a Christian;
removed the Altar of Victory from the Senate House at Rome, despite
protests of the pagan members of the Senate, and confiscated its
revenues; forbade legacies of real property to the Vestals; and
abolished other privileges belonging to them and to the pontiffs.
Nevertheless he was still deified after his death. Gratian also published
370s an edict that all their subjects should profess the faith of the bishops of
Rome and Alexandria (i.e., the Nicene faith). The move was mainly
thrust at the various beliefs that had arisen out of Arianism, but
smaller dissident sects, such as the Macedonians, were also prohibited.
*376 Birth of St. Cyril of Alexandria (d. 444), Doctor of the Church.
Opposed Nestorianism.
*377 A synod in Rome condemns the teachings of Apollinaris of
Laodicea. Apollinarism posited that Christ had a human body and a
human sensitive soul, but his rational mind was taken over by the
Logos or the Divine nature of the Second Person of the Trinity. It was
also condemned at the first Council of Constantinople, 381.
*379 Theodosius, a devout Catholic, becomes the Eastern Roman
Emperor (-395). For the first time in half a century, the State would
favour Catholicism over Arianism. Theodosius is the first emperor to
legislate against heresy. The churches of heretics are to be confiscated
and handed over to the Catholic Church. Heretical gatherings are
forbidden and heretics cannot make wills or inherit. He also legislates
against apostasy from Christianity to Paganism.
 *379 Death of St. Basil the Great (b. 329), Doctor of the Church.
*c. 381 Emperor Theodosius makes Christianity the de facto official
religion of the Empire by forbidding the worship of the ancient Gods.
*381 The First Council of Constantinople. Presided by Pope Damasus
and Emperor Theodosius I. It proclaimed the divinity of the Holy
Spirit.
*382 By this time, the pagan priesthood in the Western Empire no
longer enjoys any of its former privileges, and the State has
confiscated temple property, making their legacies void.
*383 Roman legions begin to leave Britain. British Christians
gradually disconnected from Rome until St. Augustine of Canterbury
re-introduces the faith in 590.
*384 Pope St. Siricius begins his reign (-399).
*c. 385 Priscillian becomes the first heretic ever sentenced to death
under a Christian prince. He was executed for witchcraft, which was a
capital offense, but in reality, he made enemies because of his
Manichaean doctrines. Many in the Church protest this action. St.
Martin of Tours objects to the interference of a lay court in an
ecclesiastical matter. Pope Siricius denounces Bishop Ithacus of
Treves for being the leader of the campaign against Priscillian.
*c. 386 Death of St. Gregory of Nyssa, Church Father, brother of St.
380s Basil the Great. Before he became a monk, he was married. His wife
either died or became a nun.
*c. 386 Death of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor of the
Church. He is famous for a quotation demonstrating the antiquity of
the practice of Commuion in the hand: "Do not come with thy palms
stretched flat nor with fingers separated. But making thy left hand a
seat for thy right, and hollowing thy palm, receive the Body of Christ,
responding Amen."
*386 St. Ambrose refuses to hand over a church to the Arian sect
when ordered to do so by the Emperor. In a sermon he says a famous
phrase " The emperor is within the Church, and not above the
Church." He says of the Arians: " it has been the crime of the Arians,
the crime which stamps them as the worst of all heretics, that "they
were willing to surrender to Caesar the right to rule the Church." The
Emperor backs down.
*388 Christians attack and burn down a synagogue in Callinicum at
the instigation of the Bishop. St. Ambrose persuades Emperor
Theodosius to not force the local bishop to pay for its restoration. In a
letter to the Emperor, he makes many arguments, but principal among
them is that re-building the synagogue would amount to being disloyal
to the Faith, and that the law is unfairly applied, seeing as Jews burned
a number of churches during the reign of Julian the Apostate, and no
 one was punished. The Emperor ignores the letter. But when he
attends Mass presided by St. Ambrose, the bishop refuses to offer the
sacrifice until the Emperor revokes his edict.
*c. 389 Death of St. Gregory of Nanzianzus, Doctor of the Church.
*390 St. Ambrose threatens Theodosius with excommunication for
massacring 7000 people in Thessalonica as punishment for the murder
of an imperial official. Theodosius does public penance.
*391 Emperor Theodosius closes all pagan temples in his realm.
*392 Upon the death of Western Emperor Valentinian II, Theodosius
becomes the sole ruler of the whole Roman Empire. He forbids all
pagan household rites and idols, but does not compel any of his Pagan
subjects to become Christian. Paganism will continue to exist, mainly
in the backwaters, for the next three centuries.
*c. 392 Death of Apollinaris of Laodicea, heresiarch. In his early
years, he was respected for his classical and Scriptural knowledge, on
the same level as St. Athanasius, St. Basil and St. Jerome. However,
he taught that Christ's reason was taken over by the Logos. Apollnaris
390s did not reconcile with the Church.
*c. 393 Birth of Theodoret of Cyrus, Church Father, bishop and
historian. He opposed St. Cyril of Alexandria in the Nestorian
controversy, but he eventually submitted to the Council of Ephesus on
the matter.
*397 Death of St. Ambrose of Milan (b. 340), Doctor of the Church.
*399 Election of Pope St. Anastasius (-401). A man of great holiness,
he was friends with St. Augustine and St. Jerome. He condemned
Origenism.
*397 Death of St. Martin of Tours. He was the first saint honoured for
his asceticism, not for martyrdom, and whose prayers were invoked in
liturgy. He is considered the founder of monasticism in the West. He
was also the first to attempt to convert the pagan countryside of Gaul.
*401 Reign of Pope Innocent I (-417).
*405 St. Jerome completes his translation of the Old Testament from
the Hebrew.
*405 Emperor Honorius declares Donatists to be heretics and that they
400s should be rooted out.
*407 Death of St. John Chrysostom (b. 347) Church Doctor and
Bishop of Constantinople. He died from exposure to the elements
during his forced march to Pontus, his place of exile.
*410 The Sack of Rome by the Visigoths, led by Alaric. This event is
410s the inspiration for St. Augustine of Hippo's monumental work, The
City of God.
 *410 The Donatists are granted toleration by Emperor Honorius.
*c. 411 Beginning of the Pelagian controversy in Northern Africa.
Pelagius, an unordained monk, denied the theory of Original Sin,
stating that death was a physical necessity, not a result of Original Sin,
and that Adam's fault was transmitted through bad example. He denied
the necessity of grace to perform good acts, and affirmed it was
possible to lead a life completely free of sin. St. Augustine refuted
these beliefs at length.
*411 286 Catholic Bishops and 279 Donatist Bishops meet at a
conference in Carthage to discuss reunion. It was presided by an
Imperial official. He rules that the Donatists have to submit to the
Catholic Church. An imperial edict the following January, 412,
confirms this decision and threatens banishment for all who disobey.
*415 After the Jews massacred a group of Chrisitans, St. Cyril of
Alexandria organizes a mob to drive out the Jews from Alexandria, as
the Prefect of the city, Orestes, sided with the Jews and had
condemned a guilty Christian for disturbing the peace.
*417 Election of Pope St. Zosimus (-418).
*418 Election of Pope St. Boniface I (-422).
*418 The Council of Carthage condemns Pelagianism. Emperor
Honorius banishes all Pelagians from the cities of Italy. Eighteen
bishops, led by Julian of Eclanum, must leave their sees for refusing to
sign an orthodox creed, not because it was anti-Pelagian, but because
it was based on St. Augustine's ideas.
*419 The Council of Africa produces the first Code of Canon Law in
Church history: the Codex Canonum Ecclesiae Africanae. It forbade
appeals overseas in disciplinary matters, including to Rome.
*c. 420 The Semi-Pelagian controversy erupts. Many Pelagians
accepted the condemnation of their beliefs at the Council of Carthage
(418). In light of that, a more moderate form of Pelagianism, Semi-
Pelagianism, arose. It stated that the act of will preceded the grace of
salvation. The main proponents of this belief were the monks of
Marseilles, including Vincent of Lerins and its main opponents were
St. Augustine and his disciple Prosper of Aquitaine. It was condemned
at the Second Council of Orange, 529.
420s *422 Pope St. Celestine I begins his pontificate (-432). During his
reign, Nestorius, patriarch of Constantinople, professed the heresy of
the two-person nature of Christ, known as Nestorianism.
*c. 422 A mob of Christians in Alexandria murder Hypatia, a
renowned female pagan philosopher. They tore her to shreds using
sharp roof tiling, then burnt her remains. Damascius attributes the
murder to St. Cyril of Alexandria's envy of her reputation; he is,
however, a Christian-hater. The Church historian Socrates does not
 mention any motive on Cyril's part, but says that it did bring disgrace
on the Church of Alexandria. More about the incident here
*426 The Council of Africa formally requests the Pope that he not be
so ready to hear appeals settled in their jurisdiction or lift
excommunications that they have imposed. Rome makes no reply.
*427 Nestorius, heresiarch, is appointed Bishop of Constantinople.
*428 Nestorius campaigns and obtains a new law against heresy. His
friend, the monk Anastasius, in attempt to promte Nestorius' theology,
preaches that the title "Mother of God" should only be used with the
greatest of care, if at all. This creates a tumult. Nestorius
excommunicates those who object to this novel theology. They appeal
to the Emperor.
*429 Vandals invade North Africa led by Genseric. They were Arian
and very anti-Catholic. Catholic churches are burnt, Catholic meetings
are prohibited, and Catholic clergy are exiled and replaced by Arian
clergy.
*430 Death of St. Augustine (b. 354), Church Doctor and bishop.
*431 Ecumenical Council of Ephesus, presided by St. Cyril of
Alexandria in the name of Pope Celestine I. It condemns
Nestorianism, the belief that Christ is two persons and declared Mary
is the Mother of God (theotokos). It also condemned Pelagianism.
*432 Pope St. Celestine I sends St. Patrick to evangelize Ireland.
430s *432 Pope St. Sixtus III begins his pontificate (-440).
*c.434 Death of St. Vincent of Lerins, Church Father and Abbot,
famous for upholding the universal opinion of the Fathers as the Rule
of Faith in disputed matters.
*436 Promulgation of the Theodosian Code, isseud by Theodosius II.
It was a systematic presentation of laws in existence. Observance of
Sunday, Christmas, Epiphany, Easter and Pentecost enforced.
*440 Election of Pope St. Leo I "The Great" (-461), Doctor of the
Church. He vigourously fought many heresies: Manichaenism,
Priscillianism, Euctychianism, Monophytism and Nestorianism. He is
famous for his encounter with Attilia the Hun, whom he persuaded not
to pillage Rome. He also obtained a promise from Genseric, leader of
the Vandals, that they would not injure the inhabitants of Rome when
440s they sacked it in 455.
*444 Death of St. Cyril of Alexandria (b. 376), Doctor of the Church.
He fought the teachings of Nestorius, proclaiming Christ had two
natures in one person, and that Mary was thereby the God-bearer
(Theotokos) the Mother of God. Unfortunately, he used the phrase "
one incarnate nature of God the Word" to express his orthodox belief.
This phrase led to misunderstandings, to the extent that Monophysites
 claimed he was on their side.
*c. 447 Death of Sozomen, Church Father and historian. He continued
the Church history begun by Eusebius in the previous century.
*449 The "Robber Council" of Ephesus. Eutyches, a monk from
Constantinople, had been condemned by his bishop, Flavian, for
teaching that Christ only had a divine nature. He made an appeal to the
emperor to hold a Council, which has been dubbed the "Robber
Council" of Ephesus. Pope St. Leo I had written a famous letter for the
occasion, the Tome of Leo, in which he explained the Catholic Faith
on the subject of the two natures of Christ. His letter is ignored at the
Council. Eutyches' condemnation is made void, while Flavian is
deposed and sentenced to prison for his orthodox faith.
*451 The ecumenical Council of Chalcedon, presided by the Emperor
Marcian and the legates of Pope St. Leo I. Over five hundred bishops
attend. They approve the Tome of St. Leo as an orthodox statement of
faith. It affirms that there is a hypostasis in Christ, a union of the
Divine and the Human natures in one person. Bishop Dioscoros of
Alexandria is condemned for having protected Eutyches the heretic.
450s The Council also denounces the intervention of the Emperor in
religious affairs.
*454 At the death of the exiled Monophysite bishop Dioscoros of
Alexandria, they elect a successor, Timothy, nicknamed "the Cat" to
replace the Catholic bishop who had already been installed. Imperial
troops are sent in to restore order and Timothy the Cat is exiled along
with other Monophysite bishops.
*461 Beginning of reign of Pope St. Hilarus (-468).
460s *461 Death of St. Patrick, apostle to the Irish.
*468 St. Simplicius becomes Pope (-483).
*477 Death of Genseric, King of the Vandals and persecutor of
Catholics. His successor, Hunseric, seeks to eliminate Catholicism
entirely from Northern Africa. He assembles 466 Catholic bishops and
470s gives them four months to apostatize to Arianism, or else the
traditional imperial decrees against heresy would be applied to them.
Many trades are closed off to the common people unless they can
produce a certificate of Arian conformity.
*480 Birth of St. Benedict of Nursia (d. 543), founder of Western
monasticism and originator of the Benedictine Rule.
*483 St. Felix III is elected Pope (-492).
480s *484 Beginning of Acacian Schism. Pope Felix III excommunicates
Patriarch Acacia of Constantinople for signing the Henoticon, a vague
document, which contained no heretical statement, but did not
condemn Monophytism. It was intended by the Emperor Zeno to be a
compromise formula of faith to please both Catholics and
 Monophysites.
*491 The Armenian Church secedes from the Church of Rome and
Constantinople.
*492-496 Pope Gelasius I. He was also a staunch defender of the
papal office during the Acacian Schism.
*494 Some persecuted bishops of North Africa are recalled from exile.
*496 Pope Anastasius II begins his reign (-498).
*496 Clovis, king of the Franks, converts to Catholicism. When his
troops appear to be losing against the Alemanni at Strasbourg, he
490s
invokes the God of his Catholic wife Clotilda to give him victory. He
is baptized by St. Remi, and brings the Franks to the Catholic fold, the
first barbarian people to adopt Catholicism.
*498 Election of Pope St. Symmachus (-514).
*499 The Synod of Rome issues decree on papal elections. It banned
discussions on the election of a future Pope during a reigning Pope's
lifetime. It was an attempt to conspire to make an election truly
democratic, and not make the reigning Pope choose his successor.

Editorial note on the Timeline

The primary purpose of the Timeline is to be a quick reference to important dates for Catholic
apologists. It also gives a general overview of the history of the Church to the Catholic who
might like an idea of what occurred in the past, but has little inclination to read in-depth. The
Timeline contains dates concerned with secular history that are pertinent to the Catholic
apologist, as well as quirky Catholic history bits for the trivia buff. I've attempted to include as
many important events as possible, both good and bad, and to include facts commonly raised
in Catholic apologetic discussions. In some cases, I have attempted to debunk common myths.
It would be beyond the scope of this work to count every historical objection and accusation
made regarding Catholicism.

Sources

1. Bernard Grun, Timetables of History

2. The online Catholic Encyclopedia-- numerous articles.
3. Oxford Dictionary of Saints
4. Our Sunday Visitor Online Almanac
5. Philip Hughes, A History of the Church to the Eve of the Reformation
6. J.M. Roberts, The Penguin History of the World