Missions and Councils (300 CE – 600 CE)
Discover the popes who led the Church from persecution to prominence. This era saw the great ecumenical councils, the defence of orthodoxy against heresy, and the emergence of the papacy as a major force in both Church and empire.
Popes: 300-600 CE
From the Catacombs tothe Imperial Court
The three centuries from Constantine to Gregory the Great transformed the papacy from the leadership of a persecuted minority into one of the most powerful institutions in the Mediterranean world. The bishops of Rome presided over ecumenical councils, corresponded with emperors, and defended orthodox doctrine against a succession of heresies.
Great popes shaped this era: St Sylvester I reigned during the Council of Nicaea; St Damasus I commissioned the Vulgate translation of Scripture; St Leo the Great confronted Attila the Hun and articulated the doctrine of Christ's two natures at Chalcedon; and St Gregory the Great sent missionaries to England and reformed the liturgy that still bears his name.
As the Western Roman Empire crumbled, the popes increasingly took on civic responsibilities - feeding the hungry, ransoming captives, and negotiating with barbarian kings. By 600 CE, the papacy had become the anchor of stability in a turbulent world.
At a Glance
The Great Councils
Popes convened and confirmed the ecumenical councils that defined Christian doctrine for all time.
Defenders of Orthodoxy
From Arianism to Monophysitism, popes stood firm against heresies that threatened the apostolic faith.
Shepherds of the West
As empire collapsed, popes became the protectors and providers for the people of Rome and beyond.
“Peter has spoken through Leo.”
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Acclamation of the Council Fathers
Council of Chalcedon, 451 CE
The Petrine Ministry
These popes established patterns of papal authority that shaped the Church for centuries. Their writings, decisions, and courageous witness continue to guide Catholic understanding of the papal office.