Early Church Councils, Art, and Community Structure

Councils Against Heresies

The Church Faithful to the Apostolic Tradition

Heresies are misinterpretations of Christian doctrine. There were many in the early centuries, such as:

• The Council of Nicea: Condemned the doctrine of Arius, stating that Jesus Christ was not equal to the Father but less than Him; therefore, Christ was not God.
• Council of Ephesus: Declared that Nestorius's view of Christ was incorrect, as it denied the divine nature in Christ.
• The Council of Chalcedon: Further defined the nature of Christ.

Early Christian and Byzantine Art

Basilica

With the Edicts of Milan and Thessaloniki, Christians could publicly practice their religion. With the possibility of building spaces for worship, Roman public buildings were taken as a model. Basilicas consisted of three or five aisles separated by columns, and the walls had open windows to illuminate the interior. The header has an apse that houses the altar. A fountain was in the center, which leads to the narthex or transept from which the catechumens followed the liturgy.

Mosaics

Mosaics are art pieces made of different materials or different colors embedded or attached to a surface in a pattern. The mosaics of the 4th and 5th centuries were used to decorate walls. Byzantine mosaics were intended to exalt the power and greatness of the Emperor and the Church through sumptuous and costly ornaments.

A Community of Brothers

Hierarchical Structure

The Church has specific functions to maintain the unity of all Christians worldwide, such as appointing bishops and convening councils. It also urges and supports the bishops in their tasks by teaching and ensuring the Church perseveres in the faith received from the apostles.

Functions of the Bishops:

• To teach and spread the Gospel message.
• To preside over liturgical celebrations, especially the Eucharist.
• To govern the community and respond to their problems.

The priest acts as a delegate of the bishop and develops the same functions within the context of the Christian community, representing the bishop in every diocese. Deacons assist priests in their functions but can only preside over the sacraments of Baptism and Marriage.

Different Levels of Communion

Among all Christians, there is a communion (common-union) because all are united to Jesus Christ. In the Church, people live at different levels:

• Universal Church: The follower of Jesus belongs to all Christians around the world, above political, racial, or cultural differences. The Pope, the successor of Peter, is at the head of the Church.
• Diocesan Church: The Universal Church is organized into particular churches or dioceses, headed by a bishop.
• Christian Communities: Dioceses are formed by small communities. The most important are the parishes, headed by a priest called a pastor, appointed by the bishop.