|
|
 |
Otto visits St. Nilus
The History of Orthodox Christianity. There are between 180 to 215 million Orthodox Christians world-wide. They are a majority in ten countries and territories. This three-part series is an introduction to the Orthodox Church--its life, teachings and traditions.
|
|
hristianity continues to spread among the peoples of eastern Europe
during this century.
• To the east, Hungarians and Poles begin to convert to Christianity,
and Christianity reaches Iceland and Greenland to the west.
• Ecclesiastical leaders were increasingly becoming embroiled in
the political struggles of the European continent.
• Benedictine monastery established 909 at Cluny; becomes the center
of a reform movement for the church to rid itself of the increasing secularization
of its institutions and practices.
• Bohemian people embrace Christianity, but their "Good King
[Duke] Wenceslaus" is soon murdered c. 929 by opposing pagan rivals.
• 988--Vladimir, sole ruler of Kievan Rus is baptized. There people
were baptized at Pentecost. That same year Vladimir married Princess Anna,
sister of Basil II, Emperor of Byzantium.
• Otto the Great (emperor 936-973) revives Charlemagne's dream of
a Holy Roman Empire among the German people. In some form Otto's empire
continues until the time of Napoleon.
• 993--Saints begin to be officially canonized by the Roman church.
• Private confession develops from public confession in both Eastern
and Western Churches. The Roman Church begins the concept of indulgences.
(No sure evidence of this before the 11th century.)
• Papacy reaches a low point in morality.
• As the year 1000 approaches, many fear the end of the world and
the Last Judgment.
AD 1000 (THIRTY-TWO GENERATIONS AFTER CHRIST)
|
| Percent Christian: 18.7% |
| Breakdown: 39% nonwhite, 61% white |
| Evangelization: 25% of world |
| Scriptures: 17 languages |
| Total martyrs since AD 33: 4,200,000 (0.4% of all Christians
ever; recent rate 3,200 per year) |
| Source: David Barrett. |
|
|
