Start on a journey through Church history, spanning more than two thousand years. It all started in the 1st century with Jesus Christ’s teachings and the formation of early Christian groups. Moving into the 4th and 5th centuries, important gatherings, like Councils, shaped lasting ideas still important in Church history today. Around the world, Christianity spread, and in medieval Europe, the church became more crucial despite a split in 1054, creating two parts.
As we move through time, the Renaissance becomes an influential period. In the 16th century, leaders like Martin Luther and John Calvin made significant changes, leading to different Protestant groups. Fast-forward to the 20th century, marked by events and meetings trying to bring Christian groups together, and echoes of church history still impact our lives.
Follow the historical journey to discover how Church history shapes faith, culture, and life. Find connections from the past to the present, learning valuable lessons from Christianity. Reflecting on this history encourages acceptance of our differences, builds unity, and creates a better future for all Christian communities. Thus, keeping our mutual venture creates a strong bond of compassion, humility, and enduring love.
As we confront challenges today, let the wisdom of Church history guide us to better understanding, cooperation, and harmonious living in our global community. And, embrace the lessons of the past for a brighter future. As we travel together through our shared history, let’s work towards a future where everyone in the entire Christian community feels welcomed and cared for. By appreciating our past, we can build bridges of unity and kindness, fostering a more compassionate world for all.
The IHS Christogram, derived from the Greek name of Jesus, symbolizes faith and devotion. Its use dates back to early Christianity but gained prominence in the Middle Ages. Popularized by Saint Bernardine of Siena, it became an emblem of the Jesuits, signifying their mission to spread the light of Christ.
The Agnus Dei, translating to “Lamb of God,” represents Jesus Christ’s sacrificial offering for humanity’s sins, embodying innocence and purity. Rooted in scripture, this symbol reflects Christ’s triumph over death and sin, inspiring believers to live by principles of love and forgiveness.
The banner of victory symbolizes Christ’s triumph over sin, featuring a Latin cross on a white banner with a red cross. Combined with the Agnus Dei, representing His sacrifice, it deepens religious significance. This fusion embodies Christ’s dual role as sacrificial lamb and victorious king, inspiring believers with themes of courage and hope against adversity.
The Latin cross (also known as the Cross of the Passion) is the most commonly used. It is believed that this is the style of the cross in which Jesus was crucified. In older times, it was used indiscriminately with the Greek cross (more on that later!) but when the Eastern and Western churches split the Western Orthodox primarily used the Latin cross and the Eastern Orthodox used the Greek cross.
Edward Riojas has been creating artwork professionally for 40 years. Riojas now works exclusively in the sacred realm, while drawing on his origins in the fine arts. Edward’s beautiful artwork is the foundation of the liturgical designs for many of the church vestment collections found on our Ecclesiastical Sewing website.
The church symbol of the pelican was first used in the British 12th century as the bird was believed to be a perfect example of the great sacrifice that our Lord made for us. It awakens the spirit of charity towards others and reminds us of the generosity of our Lord, the great redeemer. Therefore, the image of the pelican is a strong reminder that ties us to our faith and a universal symbol that joins the Christian community together.
Looking for something that will be enjoyed by your special father every day? Please consider selecting the perfect gift of a Giclée print. Giclée prints are the archival standard used by museums and galleries to reproduce fine art. The images are printed on Hahnemuehle fine art paper and are ready for framing to suit your decor.
Matthias Church has a rich history. It was originally built in the 11th century by Saint Steven, King of Hungary. Matthias Church is a gem that demonstrates the triumph of Christianity over Islam.
You might find the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, located in Missouri, The seat of the Diocese of St. Louis, this magnificent cathedral is dedicated to St. Louis, King of France. Louis IX is the only French king to be canonized, and the reign of Louis IX was known for having a close association between Church teaching and civil society.
Ecclesiastical Sewing uploaded new machine embroidery designs online in the hopes that these might provide peace and a sense of usefulness to someone as they create something beautiful for their house of worship.
Saint Thomas Aquinas is most well-known as a theologian with two specific masterpieces, the Summa Contra Gentiles and the Summa Theologiae. He was also well known as a poet, penning several eucharistic hymns. Considered the greatest of the Scholastic philosophers, Thomas’ writings provided a comprehensive synthesis of Christian theology and Aristotelian philosophy.
Epiphany is a feast day in the Western church, white vestments and paraments are used. Sometimes gold is substituted. There aren’t any specific Epiphany symbols, but there are often representations of the Three Kings elsewhere in churches.
Christmas rose, also known as the Glastonbury Rose. This is a little white flower that grows in northern Europe during the winter. Legend has it that the Christmas rose is of miraculous origin. As the Christmas rose represents purity, it has often been carved into confessionals as a five-petal flower: the penitent walks in a guilty sinner, and out with their purity restored. It also appears in plenty of medieval heraldry, among other uses.
The word “antiphon” is probably not in the vocabulary for those of us who aren’t all that familiar with liturgical chants but traditionally they were short chants of the Psalms often sung with a refrain. The meaning of antiphon actually has its roots in Greek origin as it literally means “before the sound.” The most famous song or hymn to come forth from the O Antiphons is the Christmas hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
Katharina is believed to have been born in 1499, the daughter of a poor German nobleman and his wife. Like so many men, her father was left to raise his daughter when her mother died young. To better care for her, Mr. Von Bora took his daughter Katharina to a convent in 1504, where she would be educated.
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