Saturday, 21 August 2021

Church Church Christian community BY The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica View Edit History Communion of the Apostles Communion Of The Apostles See all media Key People: Hugh Paulin Cressy Claude Fleury Related Topics: Canonization Apostolic succession Catholic Congregation Communion of saints FULL ARTICLE Church, in Christian doctrine, the Christian religious community as a whole, or a body or organization of Christian believers. The Greek word ekklēsia, which came to mean church, was originally applied in the Classical period to an official assembly of citizens. In the Septuagint (Greek) translation of the Old Testament (3rd–2nd century BCE), the term ekklēsia is used for the general assembly of the Jewish people, especially when gathered for a religious purpose such as hearing the Law (e.g., Deuteronomy 9:10, 18:16). In the New Testament it is used of the entire body of believing Christians throughout the world (e.g., Matthew 16:18), of the believers in a particular area (e.g., Acts 5:11), and also of the congregation meeting in a particular house—the “house-church” (e.g., Romans 16:5). mosaic; Christianity READ MORE ON THIS TOPIC Christianity: The church The Christian view of the church was influenced by the Old Testament concept of the qahal, the elected people of God of the end-time,... After the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, his followers went forth according to his mandate to preach the Gospel and developed facilities for those who were converted. Rebuffed by the Jewish authorities, the Christians established their own communities, modeled on the Jewish synagogue. Gradually, the church worked out a governmental system based on the office of the bishop (episcopacy). 00:01 03:45 Various controversies threatened the unity of the church from its earliest history, but, except for small sects that did not ultimately survive, it maintained unity for several centuries. Since the East-West Schism that split the Eastern and Western churches in 1054 and the disruption of the Western church during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation, however, the church has been split into various bodies, most of which consider themselves either the one true church or at least a part of the true church. Schism of 1054 Schism of 1054 Map of the Schism of 1054. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc./Kenny Chmielewski Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now A traditional means of discussing the nature of the church has been to consider the four marks, or characteristics, by which it is distinguished in the Nicene Creed: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. The first, that of oneness or unity, appears to be contradicted by the divisions in the church. It has been held, however, that since baptism is the rite of entry into the church, the church must consist of all baptized people, who form a single body irrespective of denomination. The holiness of the church does not mean that all its members are holy but derives from its creation by the Holy Spirit. The term catholic originally meant the universal church as distinct from local congregations, but it came to imply the church of Rome. Finally, apostolic implies that, in both its church and ministry, the church is historically continuous with the Apostles and thus with the earthly life of Jesus. The fact that many Christians hold nominal beliefs and do not act like followers of Christ has been noted since the 4th century, when the church ceased to be persecuted. To account for this, St. Augustine proposed that the real church is an invisible entity known only to God. Martin Luther used this theory to excuse the divisions of the church at the Reformation, holding that the true church has its members scattered among the various Christian bodies but that it is independent of any organization known on earth. Many Christians, however, believing that Jesus intended to found one visible church here on earth, have worked to restore the unity of the church in the ecumenical movement. Evangelical Christians believe that for church unity to come to pass, fidelity to apostolic doctrine and practice must be restored. In 1948 the ecumenical World Council of Churches (WCC) was founded as “a fellowship of Churches which accept Jesus Christ our Lord as God and Saviour” in order to foster the unity and renewal of the Christian denominations. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Kara Rogers, Senior Editor. Learn More in these related Britannica articles: mosaic; Christianity Christianity: The church The Christian view of the church was influenced by the Old Testament concept of the qahal, the elected people of God of the end-time, and by the expectation of the coming of the messiah in Judaism. The Greek secular word ekklēsia, the term used… St. Peter's Basilica Roman Catholicism: Structure of the church In 1965 the Roman Catholic theologian Marie-Joseph Le Guillou defined the church in these terms:… Jesus Christ: mosaic Eastern Orthodoxy: The structure of the church The basic structure for the Orthodox church is defined by the New Testament writings; the canons (regulations and decrees) of the first seven ecumenical councils; the canons of several local or provincial councils, whose authority was recognized by the whole church; the… newsletter icon HISTORY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Sign up here to see what happened On This Day, every day in your inbox! Email address Email address By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice. CHURCH OF SAN VITALE ARTICLE Introduction & Quick Facts MEDIA ADDITIONAL INFO Home Philosophy & Religion Religious Places Church of San Vitale church, Ravenna, Italy BY The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica View Edit History FULL ARTICLE Church of San Vitale, also called Basilica of San Vitale, church in Ravenna, Italy, that was built in the 6th century and is considered a masterpiece of Byzantine achitecture. It is especially noted for the colourful mosaics of Christian iconography that decorate the interior walls and ceilings. San Vitale, Church of San Vitale, Church of Interior of the Church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy. © Maurizio Rovati/Fotolia The church was begun by Bishop Ecclesius in 526 under the Ostrogothic queen Amalasuntha (died 535) and was consecrated in 547. It was dedicated to the martyr Vitalis, the patron saint of Ravenna. At the time, the city was the capital of the Western Roman Empire. The octagonal structure is made of marble and capped by a lofty terra-cotta dome. The celebrated mosaics were strongly influenced by similar work at Constantinople (Istanbul). They depict Old and New Testament figures as well as contemporary Byzantine rulers and Catholic ecclesiastics. Of particular note are the mosaics on the presbytery’s ceiling, which depict the Lamb of God amid plants and animals. In addition, the emperor Justinian (reigned 527–565) and his consort, Theodora, are featured in panels near the apse. Justinian I Justinian I Justinian I, detail of a 6th-century mosaic at the church of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy. © A De Gregorio—DeA Picture Library/age fotostock Theodora Theodora Empress Theodora, detail of a wall mosaic, 6th century; in the church of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy. © seraficus/iStock.com The Church of San Vitale and other Christian monuments in Ravenna were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996. This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn, Managing Editor, Reference Content. Learn More in these related Britannica articles: bird mosaic mosaic: Early Byzantine mosaics …in the choir of the church of San Vitale at Ravenna, dating from c. 526–548 ce. A profusion of decorative elements is spread like tapestry over the walls and vault, the panels of the emperor Justinian and his consort Theodora near the apse embodying the new spirit in their colour-laden… Mausoleum of Theuderic, c. 520, at Ravenna, Italy. Ravenna The Church of San Vitale, the masterpiece of Byzantine art in Ravenna, was completed during the reign of the emperor Justinian. The church was begun by Bishop Ecclesius under the Ostrogothic queen Amalasuntha (d. 535) and was consecrated in 547. This octagonal church, built of marble and capped… Medieval cathedral arranged on a cruciform plan church Church, in architecture, a building designed for Christian worship. The earliest churches were based on the plan of the pagan Roman basilica (q.v.), or hall of justice. The plan generally included a nave (q.v.), or hall, with a flat timber roof, in which the crowd gathered; one or two side aisles… newsletter icon HISTORY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Sign up here to see what happened On This Day, every day in your inbox! Email address Email address By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice.

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church

noun

English Language Learners Definition of church

: a building that is used for Christian religious services

: religious services held in a church

: a particular Christian group

See the full definition for church in the English Language Learners Dictionary

Church

Christian community

BY The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica View Edit History

Communion Of The Apostles

See all media

Key People:: Hugh Paulin Cressy Claude Fleury

Related Topics:: Canonization Apostolic succession Catholic Congregation Communion of saints

FULL ARTICLE

Church, in Christian doctrine, the Christian religious community as a whole, or a body or organization of Christian believers.

The Greek word ekklēsia, which came to mean church, was originally applied in the Classical period to an official assembly of citizens. In the Septuagint (Greek) translation of the Old Testament (3rd–2nd century BCE), the term ekklēsia is used for the general assembly of the Jewish people, especially when gathered for a religious purpose such as hearing the Law (e.g., Deuteronomy 9:10, 18:16). In the New Testament it is used of the entire body of believing Christians throughout the world (e.g., Matthew 16:18), of the believers in a particular area (e.g., Acts 5:11), and also of the congregation meeting in a particular house—the “house-church” (e.g., Romans 16:5).

Learn More in these related Britannica articles:

CHURCH OF SAN VITALE

ARTICLE

Introduction & Quick Facts

MEDIA

ADDITIONAL INFO

Church of San Vitale

church, Ravenna, Italy

BY The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica View Edit History

FULL ARTICLE

Church of San Vitale, also called Basilica of San Vitale, church in Ravenna, Italy, that was built in the 6th century and is considered a masterpiece of Byzantine achitecture. It is especially noted for the colourful mosaics of Christian iconography that decorate the interior walls and ceilings.

San Vitale, Church of
Interior of the Church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy.
© Maurizio Rovati/Fotolia

The church was begun by Bishop Ecclesius in 526 under the Ostrogothic queen Amalasuntha (died 535) and was consecrated in 547. It was dedicated to the martyr Vitalis, the patron saint of Ravenna. At the time, the city was the capital of the Western Roman Empire. The octagonal structure is made of marble and capped by a lofty terra-cotta dome. The celebrated mosaics were strongly influenced by similar work at Constantinople (Istanbul). They depict Old and New Testament figures as well as contemporary Byzantine rulers and Catholic ecclesiastics. Of particular note are the mosaics on the presbytery’s ceiling, which depict the Lamb of God amid plants and animals. In addition, the emperor Justinian (reigned 527–565) and his consort, Theodora, are featured in panels near the apse.