In the year A.D. 33 Jesus Christ was crucified under the Roman provincial governor Pontius Pilate. His followers believe that His death was sacrificial and atoning and that three days after His death He rose from the dead.
After Jesus ascended into heaven His Apostles preached His message all over the known world. Tradition says that St. James the brother of Jesus led the Church in Jerusalem, St. Peter founded the Church in Rome, St. Mark founded the Church in Alexandria, St. Andrew founded the Church in Byzantium, St. Thomas founded the Church in Musiris, St. Simon founded the Church in Canterbury, and both St. Peter and St. Paul co-founded the Church in Antioch.
These seven churches are known collectively as the Seven Patriarchates and the successors of these Apostles are known as Patriarchs.
Theology and Dogma[]
The Christian Religion can best be summed up in Sumbolo Pisteo or Symbol of Faith:
"We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen."