This page provides links to nine Christian Holy sites, among which are included the Temple of the Holy Sepulchre (originally 4th century), the Temple Mount, the Church of St. Anne, believed to have been the site of the home of Jesus' maternal grandparents, the Temple of Solomon, and the Templum Domini/Dome of the Rock. Two brief discussions are also available on the historical background of Christianity in Jerusalem.

John T. Christian here provides discussions of three movements said to have arisen in reaction to the growing corruption in the Churches by the second century. These movements are Montanism, the Novatian Churches, and Donatism. Each of these practiced re-baptism when the validity of the first baptism was in doubt. In addition, both Montanists and Donatists rejected infant baptism.

This is a compendium of four books, the first three written in 397 and the fourth added in 426.

S. Joel Garver argues that the Protestant Reformers rather than rebelling against Church authority and tradition were actually attempting to recover an earlier Catholic tradition and a more Augustinian interpretation of the sacraments. Following the introduction the essay is divided into three main sections: (i) The Development of the Baptismal Rite to the End of the Middle Ages; (ii) The Reformation of the Baptismal Rite; and (iii) The Anabaptist Challenge and the Reformed Response. The conclusion then follows.

This site offers 'Passage Lookup' and 'Word Search' functions in many different languages using a choice of thirteen translations of the Bible. It is also possible to open more than one translation at once for the purposes of comparison. If, for example, one looks at John 17 in the New International, King James, and English Standard Versions, one may quickly see that in the NIV the first verse is extended to include part of the second as compared with the other two versions. One may also view a list of all the books of the Bible (Old & New Testaments) and select any chapter of a given book. This is particularly useful for one unfamiliar with the Bible and its composition and structure.

This article is divided into three main sections: (i) Life and Work of Origen; (ii) Origenism; and (iii) Origenist Controversies. See also The Fathers of the Church for links to various of Origen's works.

Christian.com is a Free Social Network dedicated to the Christian world. Here you can connect with fellow Christians around the globe, receive updates from your church, discover your Christian community and so much more.

This site is divided into six main sections plus external sites. The six sections are (i) 'The Scriptures'; (ii) 'Gnosticism'; (iii) 'Early Christian'; (iv) 'Eastern Churches'; (v) 'Renaissance and Reformation'; and (vi) 'Modern'.

This page includes many fine examples of Christian architecture from different countries, especially from France, Italy, and Great Britain. Chartres Cathedral in France is one famous example.

This page provides testimonies from various parties who were either in favour of icons (iconodules) or opposed to them (iconoclasts). The former includes the Qunisextum Council and ruling of Justinian II, John of Damascus (675-749), and Horos (Definition of Faith) at the Seventh Ecumenical Council, Nicaea, 787 A.D. The iconoclasts include Horos (Definition of Faith) at the Council of Hiera, 754 A.D., and Horos (Definition of Faith) at Iconoclastic Council of 815 A.D.

This fourth century movement, perpetrated by a conflict within the North African Church, held that only those living a blameless life were members of the Church, whilst the validity of the sacraments depended entirely upon the worthiness of the priest who administered them. They also practised re-baptism to the consternation of other sections of the Church.

This article discusses how and why Donatism arose in the fourth century CE, as well as its belief that the efficacy of the sacraments was dependent upon the purity of the one administering them. The practice of re-baptism under certain circumstances followed from this view.

When in 311 Caecilian was elected to succeed Mensurius as Bishop of Carthage, some in the Church objected. Their grounds were that a traitor, Felix of Aptunga, had performed the ordination. Felix was ultimately cleared of this charge, but from that time "…Donatism, as it was afterwards called, had a separate and schismatical existence."

This page offers links to brief discussions on the following themes: (i) Earliest Works; (ii) Mosaic and Manuscript Illumination; (iii) Sculpture; (iv) Architecture; and (v) Eastern Traditions. There is a further link to Iconography. Among these sections can be found links to further themes. Under 'Eastern Traditions', for example, one can find a link to 'Byzantine Art and Architecture'. Whilst the site does not provide images, the discussions provide a useful introduction to Christian art and architecture. These articles may also be found at Early Christian Art and Architecture, which offers several additional facilities.

This is an excellent site for primary and secondary source materials on Origen.

This page provides links to discussions on the pagan and Christian origins of the Easter celebration as well as an account of how it is celebrated today. The latter discussion is divided into three main sections: (i) The Christian Liturgical Calendar; (ii) How the Date of Easter is Determined; and (iii) Easter Traditions. References, including website addresses, are also provided.

This is a large site covering many themes. Some of the links included in the introduction are: 'What is the Greek Orthodox Church?'; 'A Dictionary of Orthodox Terminology'; 'The Fundamental Teachings of the Eastern Orthodox Church'; and 'The Orthodox Church: An Introduction.' Other sections include Art and Architecture; Biblical Studies; Church History; Ethical and Social Issues; and Worship, among others.

This page provides a large, resizable, image of Grunewald's famous Crucifixion scene, displaying the broken, distorted, body of Christ on the Cross. Jesus is surrounded by the traditional figures of his mother Mary, John the Evangelist, into whose care Jesus gave his mother, Mary Magdalene, and John the Baptist accompanied by the sacrificial lamb, also a symbol of Christ who gave his life for the world. A link to a discussion of this scene by E.H. Gombrich is also provided. (For further examples of Christian art also try The Artchive. Not all listings on this page are for Christian art, but 'Renaissance' and 'Symbolism' do include some vey good examples.)

This page displays the so-called first view of Grunewald's Altarpiece, his famous Crucifixion in the centre flanked by the figures of St. Sebastian and St. Anthony and Christ's entombment below. A smaller Crucifixion scene is also shown. It should be noted that Grunewald's representation of the Crucifixion, and not least its enthusiastic acceptance in his day, is very largely the direct product of centuries of intense theological controversy, dating from at least the fifth and sixth centuries. Of central importance in this controversy was the nature of Christ: fully God, fully man, or both? To western Christians prior to about the seventh century the Crucifixion image was anathema, whilst in the east Christ was portrayed in this image as triumphant, and though human, somehow invulnerable. The image of the 'broken Christ' evolved gradually. The sagging arms, closed eyes, the wearing of the loincloth, the dead Christ, components that we see integrated in Grunewald's image, reflect this long process.

This page provides a brief discussion of the iconoclastic controversy (726-843) and links to further discussions about various figures involved in some way with the debate. Included among the iconoclasts discussed are emperors Leo III, Constantine V, Leo IV, and Leo V. (It was Leo III who set off the controversy when, in 726, he ordered the destruction of all icons in the Byzantine empire). Of those in favour of icons those discussed include Empress Irene, who called the Second Council of Nicaea in 787 to refute iconoclasm, St. John of Damascus (a.k.a. John Damascene), and St. Nicephorus.

On this page will be found eleven icons representing periods from the sixth to seventeenth centuries. Clicking on these images opens larger versions of the same for which descriptions are also available. Also on this page is a discussion of icons in five sections. These sections are (i) Definition of Icons; (ii) Form and Function of Icons; (iii) Definition of Iconoclasm; (iv) Iconoclasm: The Source of the Debate; and (v) Icons After Iconoclasm. Several links to other pages within the site concerning icons are also given.

Dennis Kastens here states: "In the 1,500 years from the time of Christ to the Protestant Reformation, the only bonafide opponent to infant Baptism was Tertullian (160 - 215), bishop of Carthage, Africa." His reason for opposing infant baptism implied a denial of the doctrine of original sin. It is notable then that Montanism, to which Tertullian converted, similarly denied the total corruption and sinfulness of human nature.

This article is divided into seven sections: (i) Life; (ii) Writings; (iii) Philosophical views; (iv) Nature of God; (v) The Logos and Cosmology; (vi) Christology; and (vii) Eschatology.

This article focuses primarily upon the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built by Constantine in the fourth century over the presumed site of Jesus' grave, and upon the Nea Church (about 550 CE), also called the New Church of Holy Mary Mother of the Lord. Also mentioned, however, are pilgrim memorabilia and the Lion's Gate, through which an image shows Christian pilgims walking on the Sunday before Easter. See also Jerusalem in Early Christian Times for other articles. These include: Byzantine Jerusalem - An Historic Introduction; The Madaba Map (a sixth century schematic map of Jerusalem); The Cardo - A Street Through Time; and Life in Byzantine Jerusalem.

This page is an index to the orders of service for various Christian festivals, including Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter.

Maundy (Holy) Thursday commemorates the Eucharist or Last Supper, and is noted here to be the "…oldest of the observances peculiar to Holy Week."

This is the day in Holy Week on which Christians celebrate the institution of the Lord's Supper or Eucharist. As explained here Jesus' command to do so is embodied in the term Maundy from the French word 'mande' meaning command or mandate. This celebration also re-enacts the washing of the Apostles' feet by Jesus.

This site offers some exquisite images, both external and internal, of churches, cathedrals, and abbeys in Britain and France. (Five other countries are expected to be included in due course). It is also often possible to navigate around a building so as to gain a close-up view of a part of it. One good example is found by selecting the link 'Moissac'. The page this leads to shows the link 'cloister' in the text, which in turn opens a page that offers three different ways of negotiating the entire Romanesque cloister. The themes of the sculptures in this particular cloister include Biblical events (e.g. parable of the good samaritan), the lives of saints (e.g. the martyrdoms of St. Peter and St. Paul), animals, and foliage. There is also available a very useful discussion of Winchester Cathedral in Britain.

This is a letter of Origen to his former pupil Gregory, later to be Bishop of Caesarea and called Thaumaturgus (from ho Thaumatourgos, 'the miracle-worker'). Origen here exhorts Gregory to "…study first of all the divine Scriptures." He states: "The children of the philosophers speak of geometry and music and grammar and rhetoric and astronomy as being ancillary to philosophy; and in the same way we might speak of philosophy itself as being ancillary to Christianity."

A second century apocalyptic movement arising in Phrygia with Montanus and two female prophets, Prisca and Maximillia. Notably, they contended that a fallen Christian could not be redeemed. The movement was finally condemned by Catholic leaders and had almost died out by the beginning of the third century.

This article consists in three main sections: (i) A Brief History of Montanism; (ii) The 'New Prophecy'; and (iii) Heresy or Healthly Revival? Montanism is viewed as a reaction to the alleged growing moral laxity and formalism in the Church. The movement, which considered Christ's Second Coming to be imminent, spread from Asia Minor to Rome and to Africa, where it won its most famous convert Tertullian. The movement is said to have been obliterated in the fifth century.

The founder of this movement, Montanus, lived in Asia Minor toward the end of the second century CE. He is said here to have claimed that the Holy Spirit was revealing new revelations to the Church, and he proclaimed himself and two women to be prophets. Tertullian was perhaps the most famous convert to the movement.

This very detailed discussion is divided into three main sections: (i) Chronology; (ii) Montanism in Asia Minor; and (iii) Montanism in the West. Montanism is said to have strongly recommended virginity, second marriages were disapproved of, and martyrdom was so highly valued that flight from persecution was frowned upon. These views were not, however, doctrinally controversial. By contrast, the manner of prophesying was widely regarded as contrary to custom and tradition; that is unlike that of the Old and New Testament prophets. As such it was condemned. Tertullian is noted to be the most famous of Montanists, breaking away from the Catholic Church in about 207 CE. Jerome's account (384) of Montanism in his own time is also discussed.

This site offers several of Grunewald's works including his famous Isenheim Altarpiece in its entirety. A brief biography of Grunewald is also available. Clicking on a given image opens a larger version of that image. Also, works by many other artists on the theme of Christ's Passion may be accessed from here. This is done by clicking on the word 'more' in the text opposite those images concerned with that theme. Using this same procedure for the image of St. Sebastian leads to a biography of that saint and a list of works by other artists who have depicted him. A link to other Christian saints is also found on the latter page.

This site outlines Origen's life and provides translations of some of his works and letters. (A list of other theologians is also provided.)

On this page will be found links to 'An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible' (commonly the 'Old Testament') and to 'An Introduction to the New Testament.' The former names the books of the Hebrew Bible and explains their arrangement, briefly discusses its authorship and canonization, and provides the geographical and cultural contexts out of which it grew. The New or Greek Testament discussion considers the portrayal of Jesus in the Synoptic gospels and that of John (who identifies Jesus with the Divine), discusses Divine forgiveness in Jesus' thinking, the reason for and significance of Jesus' death, and asks "who is the 'real' Jesus?" The use of myth or even midrash by the gospel writers is also discussed, as is the teaching of Paul, and finally a brief comment upon the influence of the Greek Testament. (See Midrash for a discussion of this subject.)

Sophronius wrote a collection of poems called Anacreontica, two of which evidently express his love of and longing for the Holy City. An interactive map is provided of all the places mentioned in the poems.

This is the earliest description left by a Christian traveler in the Holy Land. This page provides an interactive map of the pilgrim's entire journey to and from Jerusalem. Clicking on a town or city on the map provides the pilgrim's own description of his journey from that city to the next. As one might expect the pilgrim offers a much more detailed account of Jerusalem than elswhere, and an interactive map of the city as described by our traveler is given. The sites include, for example, the Tomb of the Lord, Golgotha, the Tombs of Isaiah and Hezekiah, David's Palace, and Caiaphas's House.

A history of the Catholic Church from 30 AD to the present according to the Knights of Columbus. The article also includes a discussion of the Protestants Martin Luther and John Calvin, as well as the emergence of Anglicanism in England under Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Further history articles and resources within this site may be found at Church History.

William Johnston briefly discusses the development of this concept from St. Paul to the present. In the process he touches upon St. Augustine, Semi-Pelagianism, Martin Luther and John Calvin.

This article discusses the issues faced by the first four Ecumenical Councils from 325-451. The First Council, Nicea, saw the first defeat of Arianism. The issues here were the doctrines of Co-eternity & Consubstantiality concerning the first (Father) and second (Son) persons of the Trinity. The Second Council, Constantinople (381), saw the defeat of the semi-Arians and the second defeat of the Arians. The semi-Arians had proposed a compromise on the Consubstantiality of the Son with the Father. The Third Council, Ephesos (431), witnesses the defeat of the Nestorians over the issue of whether or not Mary, the mother of Jesus should continue to be called the "Mother of God" (Theotokos). Finally, the Fourth Council, Chalcedon (451), lead to the defeat of Monophysitism. The issue here was whether or not there were two natures in Christ (human and divine) or only one (divine); the latter contention being that of Monophysitism. (Acrobat will be required to read this document.)

The main sections of this page discuss the purpose, matter and form of Orthodox Iconography, and the iconoclastic controversy. (For further discussions on the Orthodox Faith go to Orthodox Faith and Tradition.)

In discussing this theme, which is divided into nineteen sections, Richard Carrier considers, among other things, the necessity to 'canonize' or to compile into a single body of work various Christian writings, the formation of the Old Testament Canon, and the Church Fathers such as Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Origen, and Tertullian. Also discussed is Eusebius' History of the Church (final draft 327 AD), written prior to the existence of an offical Bible, and concluding with the Eastern and Western Canons.

The King James Version of the Bible is available here along with an English translation of the Hebrew Bible (Tanach) by the Jewish Publication Society in 1917. The Apocrypha, a collection of books excluded from the final form of the Bible, is also offered in English translation. Other versions include the Vulgate, or Latin Bible, and Hebrew and Greek transliterations of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament respectively.

Theodorus and Theophanes were brothers who, in about 812, entered a monastery in Constantinople. For their enthusiastic defence of the veneration of images (icons) they were exiled, first under Emperor Leo V and later under Emperor Theophilos. In 836, however, Theophilos recalled the brothers to the capital where they were tortured before once again being sent into exile. Today, both the Greek and Roman churches keep feast days in their memory. The treatment of Theodorus and Theophanes by the said Emperors, as well as the brothers' evident willingness to suffer for their faith, serves to suggest the intensity of the iconoclastic controversy.

This site carries a wealth of material on the doctrinal positions of the Lutheran Church. The subjects include, for example, God, Creation, Man and sin, Justification, Church and State, Faith in Christ, and Redemption. Also, in pdf format (requiring an Acrobat Reader) are twenty-nine pamphlets that discuss such subjects as the Apostles' Creed, Holy Baptism, the Ten Commandments, Lutheran worship, abortion, and homosexuality. Among the historical documents are The Three Ecumenical Creeds (Apostles' Creed, the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds), The Augsburg Confession (including the 'Chief Articles of Faith'), and Martin Luther's Large and Small Catechisms.

The Donatists are described as a schismatic sect flourishing in North Africa from the fourth to seventh centuries. In their view, any Christian who succumbed to persecution rendered themselves unfit to be a church leader or to administer the sacraments. They also celebrated the anniversaries of the death of martyrs (called "birthdays"), which became the earliest known church calendars. The article suggests that social tensions in the North African Church between, on the one hand, the Carthaginian, urban clergy, and on the other, the provincial Church, contributed to the rise of Donatism.