Church History: Ante-Nicene Age

Ante here means before the Nicene Creed, ante is different from anti-. The words in bold are people and events that you should know.


Main article: Ante-Nicene Period

• 110-160? Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, Letter to the Philippians, (Apostolic Fathers)
  
• 130-250? "Christian Apologists" writings against Roman religion: Justin Martyr,
  Athenagoras, Apology of Aristides, Theophilus of Antioch, Tatian, Quadratus, Melito of Sardis, Apollinaris Claudius, Marcus Minucius Felix, Arnobius, Epistle to Diognetus
  
• 132-135 Bar Kokhba's revolt: final Jewish revolt, Judea and Jerusalem erased from maps, region renamed Syria Palæstina (the term Palestine was originally coined by Herodotus), Jerusalem renamed Aelia Capitolina
  
• 150? Valentinius, most famous Christian Gnostic, according to Tertullian narrowly lost election for Bishop of Rome
  
• 150(+/-10)? Shepherd of Hermas, written in Rome (Apostolic Fathers)
  
• 160? Martyrdom of Polycarp (Apostolic Fathers)
  
• 180-202? Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon, combated heresies, cited "Western" Gospel text-type (Ante-Nicene Fathers); second "Primate of the Gauls"
  
• 223? Tertullian, sometimes called "father of the Latin Church" because he coined trinitas, tres Personae, una Substantia, Vetus Testamentum, Novum Testamentum, convert to Montanism, cited "Western" Gospel text-type (Ante-Nicene Fathers)
  
• 270? Anthony begins monastic movement
  
• 303-312 Diocletian's Massacre of Christians, included burning of scriptures (EH 8.2)
  
• 314 Arsacid Armenia first to adopt Christianity as state religion (mainstream date; traditionally 301)
  
• 321 Constantine decreed Sunday as state "day of rest" (CJ3.12.2), see also Sol Invictus
  

Pasted [edited] from ;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Christianity#Ante-Nicene_Period