What was the Merovingian Dynasty?
The Merovingian Dynasty was a Frankish line of kings who ruled in Western Europe from AD 476 to 752. By the end of the 5th century, the Western Roman Empire and the influence of Greco-Roman culture were in decline. The Roman Empire had lost its hold on most of Western Europe. From the capital in…
Who was John of Damascus?
John of Damascus (AD 675–749) was a monk, priest, poet, philosopher, and theologian in the Greek Orthodox Church. He is considered a Father of the Greek Orthodox Church and a Doctor of the Church in the Catholic Church. He is also considered a saint in both churches. John was born to a Christian family in…
Who was Saint Brendan the Navigator?
Saint Brendan the Navigator (AD 484—577) was an Irish monk, abbot, and priest. He was born in Fenit near the seaside port of Tralee on the southwest coast of Ireland. Also known as “Brendan the Voyager” and “Brendan of Clonfert,” his heroic story of exploring the Atlantic Ocean and founding monasteries in Ireland and Scotland…
Who was Theodore of Mopsuestia?
From AD 394–428, Theodore, also known as Theodore the Interpreter and Theodore of Antioch, was the bishop of Mopsuestia, a city approximately 12 miles east of Antioch in what is now Turkey. At that time, he was known as Bishop Theodore II. He is best known for his commentaries on the Bible, even though only…
Who was William of Ockham?
The Franciscan friar William of Ockham was an influential philosopher, logistician, ethicist, and theologian who lived from about 1287 to 1347. Ockham (also spelled Occam) is a contraction of the name of the village William grew up in—Oak Hamlet. As a child, he was trained in logic and natural philosophy at London Greyfriars; later, he…
What was the significance of the Council of Chalcedon?
The Council of Chalcedon met in AD 451 in Chalcedon, a city in Asia Minor. The council’s ruling was an important step in further clarifying the nature of Christ and the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity. The council also laid the groundwork for one of the most significant events in ecclesiastical history—the Great Schism. In…
Who are the doctors of the church?
In Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, certain saints have been given the title of “doctor of the church” due to their widespread and lasting influence over the church as a whole. The word doctor (related to doctrine and stemming from the Latin word for “teach”) in this case means “teacher.” To be named a doctor…
What was the Holy Roman Empire?
The Holy Roman Empire was a loosely joined union of smaller kingdoms which held power in western and central Europe between A.D. 962 and 1806. It was ruled by a Holy Roman Emperor who oversaw local regions controlled by a variety of kings, dukes, and other officials. The Holy Roman Empire was an attempt to…
Who was Saint Eustace?
Saint Eustace, also called Saint Eustachius or Saint Eustathius, is a Christian martyr of the second century. His story was especially popular among believers of the Middle Ages. Though it is difficult to discern which portions of his tale are fact and which are legend, most versions of Saint Eustace’s story have a similar sequence…
What happened at the Council of Ephesus?
The Council of Ephesus, held in AD 431, was the third of the Ecumenical Councils, after Nicea in 325 and Constantinople in 381. The Council of Ephesus was primarily concerned with the doctrine of Nestorianism, though it also denounced Pelagianism and re-affirmed the Nicene Creed. The Council of Ephesus scrutinized the ideas of the Archbishop…