Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire where it was made the state religion in the 4th century AD. Later, the Church split into two broad groups - the Western Church under the Pope in Rome and the Eastern Churches under the Patriarchies of Antioch, Alexandria and Constantinople. Still later, further disruptions took place. The Roman Catholic Church was broken up by Protestantism, while in the Eastern Churches, many communities like

The New Testament of the Bible originally was written in Greek language. The English word Church is translated from the original Greek word 'EKKLESIA', which means 'CALLED OUT ONES' - from EK (out), and KLESIA (called). Churches referred to the household (or family) of God (Eph. 2:19-21), and spiritual building that grows into the holy temple, to which Church shall come at his return to this earth as King of kings, ruling all nations of the earth. The Church was founded, not as an institution of Authority to force the name and teaching of Christ upon the world, but only as a witness-bearing institution to Christ, to hold Him before the people.

As Christianity rose to a royal religion, the ministers were received high status and luxurious life in the society. The minister in Rome received royal pomp and splendor. After this incident, there came doctrinal disagreements among the Church leaders. Therefore, the Council of the Church Fathers was called many a times. Three main Councils of the Church Fathers were called on to bring about a unified code of doctrines. In AD 325 at Nicaea and in AD 381 at Constantinople and in AD 431 at Ephesus, the Councils were held. It was in these Councils that the general Creeds and Canons were formulated. In AD 431 Arius, a scholar, denied the deity of Jesus Christ. Then Athanasius, the Church Father and other leaders stood against the heresy and established the deity of Jesus Christ.

¨ In those days, it was a practice among the Pagans to venerate the emperors. It was a practice to keep the subjects loyal and favorable to the rulers. But the Christians insisted to worship God only, so they were considered to be traitors.

At the close of the apostolic age, Churches were independent one of another, each being shepherded by a board of Pastors. The main leader came to be called Bishop. The others, later, were called Presbyters. Gradually the jurisdiction of Bishop came to include neighboring towns.

6. From AD 200 to AD 211, during the reign of the Roman emperor, Septimius Severus. Thousands of Christians in Egypt and North Africa suffered the most. In Alexandria many martyrs were daily burned, crucified or beheaded. In Carthage, Perpetua, a noble lady, and her faithful slave, Felicitas, were torn to pieces by wild beasts.

The Jewish leaders began to destroy the Church of God. Yet, God established the Church with wonders and miracles and made it grow worldwide. The opposition often served for further expansion of the Church. Saul who was opponent of the cross changed to a staunch and faithful propagator of the gospel. The Holy Spirit gave strength to the disciples to face the opposition boldly (Acts 5:31, 7:53). All believers worked hard for the extension of the Church considering their own life to be of no value. They stood firm in the faith even at the time of passing through the fiery furnace of sufferings. No power could separate them from the love of Christ. Their love with one another amazed the world. As a result, all the civilized world countries were reached with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

the Armenians, Ethiopians, Russians and Italians set up their own Patriarchies.

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