Emperors
Cruel, paranoid emperor who was advised by Seneca, murdered his mother, and killed Christians in unusually cruel ways while declaring Christiani non sint.
Who is Nero?
The Bishop of Antioch and first person to use the term “Catholic Church,” he was martyred in Rome in ca. AD 107.
Who is St. Ignatius?
They believe the Divine Being is the agent of goodness, and the Demiurge, the author of the material world propagates evil in the world. comes from the Greek word meaning “knowledge”.
What is Gnosticism?
A cantankerous and passionate writer with passions for the ascetical life and scholarship, he is best known for translating the Bible from its original sources into the “Vulgate” or Latin common language.
Who is St. Jerome?
The Statement of Faith said every Sunday created to counter Arianism
the Nicene Creed
Issued by Constantine and Licinius in AD 313, this granted Christians the freedom to practice their religion and legitimized Christianity in the eyes of the empire.
What is the Edict of Milan?
Was asked to curse Christ in public so that his life could be spared. But refused and was burned at the stake.
Who is St. Polycarp?
continued the age-old cosmology involving the conflict between darkness and light. The goal was to share the secret knowledge which liberates this light so it could return to its original source.
What is Manichaeism?
A fearless and persistent opponent of Arianism despite at least five forced exiles, this saint’s life work was the Nicene Creed, and he wrote many books in its defense and against Arianism.
Who is St. Athanasius?
Convened in 325, this very first council addressed Arianism and gave us a creed that is recited as the Profession of Faith on most Sundays at Mass.
What is the First Council of Nicaea?
The philosopher-king and Stoic who wrote the Meditations.
Who is Marcus Aurelius?
his "First Apology" provides important descriptions of the rituals for the celebration of Baptism and Eucharist.
Who is St. Justin Martyr?
This heresy was started by a priest from Alexandria who taught that Christ was not God but was merely an exceptional creature; its rejection of Christ’s divinity
What is Arianism?
A specific title granted by the Pope to those whose development of theology and personal sanctity are exemplary
Doctor of the Church
Coming from the Greek word oikoumene, meaning “the whole inhabited world,” this word refers to a council convened by the pope and calling together all bishops to discuss central issues to the Church. Pronouncements made by this type of council are held to be infallible.
What is ecumenical?
After rising through the ranks of the army, he became emperor and issued four edicts that led to the very worst of all the persecutions the Christians faced at the hands of the Romans.
Who is Diocletian?
A disciple of St. Polycarp and the bishop of Lyon, He emphasized key elements of the Church: the episcopacy, Sacred Scripture and Tradition.
Who is St. Irenaeus?
This heresy rejected the validity of sacraments celebrated by priests and bishops who had previously rejected their faith. St. Augustine opposed this heresy and responded to it by developing the Catholic doctrine that separates a sacrament’s validity from the worthiness of its celebrant.
What is Donatism?
A saint whose papacy gave moral authority and prestige to the office of pope, he consolidated papal power and secured a rescript from Emperor Valentinian III acknowledging papal jurisdiction. His strong positions against heresies and barbarians earned him the title “the Great.”
Who is Pope St. Leo the Great?
The orthodox position that states that Jesus Christ is one Person with two natures, human and divine; it was described by St. Cyril of Alexandria and formally accepted at the council of Chalcedon.
What is the Hypostatic Union?
AD 112 decreed that if Christians renounced their faith and offered sacrifice to the Roman gods, they would be allowed to live.
What is Trajan’s Rescript
The deacon who was arrested while celebrating Mass with Pope St. Sixtus II and famously said, “I am roasted enough on this side; turn me around” while being martyred on a gridiron.
Who is St. Lawrence?
Started by an English monk, this heresy denied the existence of Original Sin and said that grace is unnecessary for redemption. It was condemned at the Council of Ephesus but these same issues reappeared during the Reformation.
What is Pelagianism?
Perhaps the greatest Church Father and dominant figure in Catholic thought until the thirteenth century, he grew up in North Africa and taught rhetoric in Rome and Milan before having a famous conversion experience and becoming a priest and then bishop of Hippo. He authored many works including Confessions and City of God.
Who is St. Augustine?
the Council of Ephesus, which was called for by Emperor Theodosius II in 431; it addressed the false teachings of Nestorius and declared Mary as what?
Mother of God, or Theotokos.