According to Christian tradition, St. James the Just, also known as St. James of Alpheus or St. James the Less, is considered to be the first bishop of Jerusalem. He is distinguished from another apostle, St. James the Greater, who was one of the Twelve Apostles and the brother of St. John the Apostle.
The city of Antioch is known as the first place where the followers of Jesus Christ were first referred to as "Christians."
Theodosius I is also known for issuing the Edict of Thessalonica in 380 AD, which proclaimed Nicene Christianity as the official state religion of the Roman Empire, further solidifying the position of Christianity within the empire. His reign marked a significant turning point in the history of Christianity, as he played a major role in shaping the development of the Christian Church and its relationship with the state.
The Roman Emperor Diocletian (reigned from 284 to 305 AD) was responsible for one of the harshest persecutions of Christians in the history of the early Christian Church. His reign marked a significant period of persecution known as the Diocletianic Persecution, which lasted from 303 to 311 AD. Diocletian issued a series of edicts aimed at suppressing Christianity and eradicating its influence within the Roman Empire. He believed that the Christian refusal to worship the traditional Roman gods and the exclusive worship of one God posed a threat to the unity and stability of the Roman state.
St. Paul, also known as the Apostle Paul or Saul of Tarsus, was a prominent figure in early Christianity and a significant missionary and theologian. Before his conversion to Christianity, he was known for persecuting early Christians, including Catholics (although the term "Catholic" was not used in the same way during his time).
According to Christian tradition, St. Peter is regarded as the first Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. He is considered one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and is often referred to as Simon Peter or simply Peter. In the New Testament of the Bible, he is a prominent figure and played a significant role in the early Christian community.
St. Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, is believed to have served as the first bishop of Antioch. Antioch was an important early center for the Christian community, and St. Peter's association with this city is significant in Christian history.
The Roman emperor who is historically associated with the destruction of Rome and blaming Christians for it is Emperor Nero. However, it is important to clarify that Nero did not destroy Rome intentionally. The great fire of Rome occurred in AD 64 during Nero's reign.
Arianism was a significant heresy that emerged in the early Christian Church and denied the divinity of Jesus Christ. It was named after Arius, a presbyter (priest) from Alexandria, Egypt, who was the main proponent of this belief.
The Jerusalem Council, also known as the Apostolic Council or the Council of Jerusalem, took place around 49 or 50 AD. It is recorded in the Book of Acts, specifically in Acts 15:1-35.
The Jerusalem Council, as recorded in the Book of Acts (Acts 15:1-35), reached a specific verdict regarding the requirements for Gentile (non-Jewish) believers who were becoming followers of Jesus Christ. The Jerusalem Council's verdicts were instrumental in shaping the early Christian Church's inclusivity and its expansion beyond Jewish communities to encompass people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.
The Book of Acts, also known as the Acts of the Apostles, was written by St. Luke. It is the fifth book of the New Testament in the Christian Bible. Acts provides an account of the early history of the Christian Church, documenting the actions of the apostles, especially the ministry of the Apostle Peter and the Apostle Paul, as well as the spread of Christianity from Jerusalem to various regions of the Roman Empire.
Constantine I, also known as Constantine the Great, was the Roman Emperor who approved and favored Christianity. He played a crucial role in the history of Christianity and its eventual recognition within the Roman Empire.
St. John the Apostle. In the New Testament of the Bible, in the Gospel of Mark (Mark 10:13-16), there is a story in which people were bringing children to Jesus for Him to bless them. The disciples rebuked those who were bringing the children, but Jesus responded by saying, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
St. Jerome was a Christian scholar, theologian, and priest who lived in the 4th and 5th centuries AD. He is best known for his work on translating the Bible from its original languages (Hebrew and Greek) into Latin. His translation of the Bible into Latin was a monumental and influential task that became the standard Latin version of the Bible for the Western Christian Church for centuries.
St. Stephen is recognized as the first Christian martyr who died for his faith and became a significant figure in Christian history. The story of his martyrdom is recorded in the New Testament of the Bible, in the Acts of the Apostles, specifically in Acts 7.
