c hurch – a specific Christian community, or building.

2. church– a specific Christian community, or building. Church – the body of Christians, as a whole.

3. saint– a person recognized as holy, virtuous, and having a likeness or closeness to God martyr– a person killed for their religious beliefs missionary– a Christian sent to evangelize in another culture mendicant– a member of a religious order completely dedicated to poverty, living as a beggar

4. The Council of Nicaea (325 CE) • Called by Constantine, the first Christian emperor of the Roman empire. • Attended by 318 of the 1,800 bishops in the empire. • Lasted 2 months. • Decisions needed to be unanimous.

5. Arius (256-336 CE)

6. Athanasius (296-373 CE)

7. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. - The Nicene Creed.

8. Schism – a split or division between two groups, caused by differences in opinion or belief. Reformation – the act of making changes to an institution in order to improve it.

9. The Great Schism (1054 CE)

10. The Great Schism (1054 CE) • “The East-West Schism,” the break in communion between what are now the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. • Some disagreements: • the bishop of Rome’s claim of primacy • the source of the Holy Spirit • the use of unleavened bread for the Eucharist. • In 1054, the patriarchs of Rome and Constantinople excommunicated each other from the Church.

11. St. Francis of Assisi (1181 - 1226 CE) • Born in Assisi, Italy. • One of the most honored, revered saints in Christian history. • Patron saint of animals and ecology. • a Mendicant – a member of a religious order dedicated to poverty, claiming no possessions.

12. The Evangelical Counsels Three vows made by members of Catholic religious orders: • Poverty • Live in material simplicity; focus on vocation. • Chastity • No sex or marriage; dedication to God. • Obedience • Follow the directions of a superior.

13. The Protestant Reformation

14. The Protestant Reformation • A period of revolution and reform within the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century. • Initiated by Martin Luther’s “95 Theses” in 1517, which protested the Church’s selling of indulgences. • Led to the creation of many new Christian movements and Churches. For examples: Lutherans, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Quakers, Anglicans, etc.

15. St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle (1651 – 1719 CE) • Born in Reims, France. • Patron saint of educators. • Started free schools for poor children. • Founder of the Institute for the Brothers of the Christian Schools (aka the “Christian Brothers”).

16. Roman Catholic – term used after the Great Schism to refer to members of the “Western” Catholic Church, centered in Rome. - 1.2 billion followers Orthodox – “right opinion” – term used after the Great Schism to refer to members of the “Eastern” Catholic Church. - 200 million followers Protestant – members of the Christian movement that separated from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century (includes Lutherans, Baptists, Methodists, etc). - 900 million followers, 20,000 denominations