FSC Associate Article
A Church in History - Presenter: Dawn Mayer - April 25, 2026
By Mary Mosser, FSC Associate
Dawn started our day with a prayer and a quick summary of her March presentation on the Apostolic era (30 AD–100 AD). During the Apostolic period, early Christians continued to worship in the Temple, then gathered in their homes to pray, reflect on Jesus’ teachings, remember His life and resurrection, and break bread together. The homes where they worshipped were known as house churches.
The New Testament was composed during the Apostolic era, but centuries passed before it was recognized. By the 2nd century, the four Gospels were widely accepted. In the 3rd century, the core collection of books was universally accepted. Finally, in the 4th century, the 27-book canon was recognized.
By the end of the 1st century, all the apostles and eyewitnesses to Jesus’ life had passed away. The Church, now mostly separated from the synagogue, began developing its own more formal practices and structures.
Jesus commissioned twelve men as His apostles. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the apostles appointed successors. Early successors of the apostles became the first bishops, leading to the hierarchy of bishop, priest and deacon. Deacons were appointed to take care of the practical needs of the early church, such as caring for the poor, widows and orphans.
The Last Supper (1495–1498) by Leonardo da Vinci
The era of Apostolic Fathers (70 AD – 150 AD) followed the Apostolic era. These early Christian leaders personally knew the apostles, and they played a crucial role in ensuring the continuation of theology from the apostolic teachings. They helped establish the early church hierarchy and stressed the importance of unity as the Church confronted heresies. One of the writings to come out of this era is the Didache which is the first known example of an order – a set of regulations for Christian life and worship.
Three main Apostolic Fathers were Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp of Smyrna. Clement of Rome also known as Pope Clement I was the first Apostolic Father. Ignatius of Antioch was a disciple of the apostle John, the third Bishop of Antioch and a martyr. Polycarp of Smyrna defended the Church against heresies and was martyred because he refused to curse Christ.
Clement of Rome
Saint Sophia's Cathedral, Kyiv
Heresies in Christianity are the formal, deliberate denial or distortion of core, established doctrine. For example, Arianism is the belief that Jesus was created and He is not God. Gnosticism is the belief that God is good and humans are bad. A more modern example, Prosperity Gospel, teaches that faith and positive actions can secure material and physical blessings.
Christian apologists emerged to defend the faith. Apologists defended against
persecution, cleared up misconceptions, combatted heresy and convinced non-Christians of the truth of the Gospel. Some major apologists were Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Origen and Augustine of Hippo.
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Early Christians faced significant challenges in staying on track with their faith life and avoiding heresies. Another threat they faced was persecution. For nearly three centuries until the time of Emperor Constantine, early Christians in the Roman Empire were persecuted for their beliefs.
Constantine was the first Roman emperor to embrace Christianity. He played a decisive role in shaping the early Church’s identity. During his reign, Christians went from persecuted sect to dominant religion. Constantine issued Edict of Milan in 313 AD which ended religious persecution, legalized Christianity and established religious tolerance across the Roman Empire. Emperor Constantine supported Christianity by funding major church-building projects, including the first St. Peter’s Basilica. As a result of the Edict of Milan, people were encouraged to become Christians.
Head of the Colossus of Constantine, Capitoline Museums
During the 3rd century, a major controversy arose on how to re-admit Christians who renounced the faith due to fear of persecution. In the 4th century, the sacrament of reconciliation began to take shape. At that time only three serious sins could separate an early Christian from the Church – murder, apostasy (renouncing one’s Christian faith) and adultery. To be restored into the Church, a process which commonly took years, the sinner had to do public penance that often included fasting and wearing ashes.
Several Church councils played a critical role in the 4th and 5th centuries (301 AD – 500 AD) in shaping the faith. The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) defined the divinity of Jesus through the Nicene Creed. This council was convened by Roman Emperor Constatine. The Council of Constantinople (381 AD) reaffirmed the Nicene Creed and emphasized the divinity of the Holy Spirit. The Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) reaffirmed the Nicene Creed and affirmed that Christ is one person in two natures – divine and human.
Learning about the Church century by century gives one a sense of how much it has developed, endured, and overcome, as well as insight into key figures and councils that shaped its growth. It is amazing to realize that doctrines and established practices that we now take for granted, such as the Church’s hierarchical structure and the sacrament of reconciliation, were formed many hundreds of years ago.
The First Council of Nicea (1591)
by Michael Damaskinos