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145-703: Ascensiontide refers to the ten-day period between the Feast of the Ascension and the Feast of Pentecost. The Sunday within that period may be referred to as the Seventh Sunday of Easter or the Sunday in Ascensiontide. The observance of this feast is of great antiquity. Eusebius seems to hint at the celebration of it in the 4th century. At the beginning of the 5th century, Augustine of Hippo says that it

290-761: A bishop ) to organize a separate Methodist Society. Together with Coke, Wesley sent The Sunday Service of the Methodists , Methodism's first liturgical text and the Articles of Religion , which were received and adopted by the Baltimore Christmas Conference of 1784, officially establishing the Methodist Episcopal Church. The conference was held at the Lovely Lane Methodist Church , considered

435-531: A device to his soldiers' shields, but unlike Lactantius and subsequent Christian tradition, Eusebius does not date the events to October 312 and does not connect Constantine's vision and dream-vision with the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. Before he compiled his church history, Eusebius edited a collection of martyrdoms of the earlier period and a biography of Pamphilus. The martyrology has not survived as

580-724: A "circuit rider", taking the gospel to the furthest reaches of the new frontier as he had done as a preacher in England . The first official organization in the United States occurred in Baltimore, Maryland , in 1784, with the formation of the Methodist Episcopal Church at the Christmas Conference with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the leaders. Though John Wesley originally wanted

725-561: A Spirit-filled and Christ-like life aimed toward love. Wesley never claimed this state of perfection for himself but instead insisted the attainment of perfection was possible for all Christians. Here the English Reformer parted company with both Luther and Calvin, who denied that a man would ever reach a state in this life in which he could not fall into sin. Such a man can lose all inclination to evil and can gain perfection in this life. Wesleyan theology maintains that salvation

870-595: A building which had been erected in 1763 by a German Reformed congregation. At this time, Methodists had not yet broken away from the Anglican Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church was not founded until 1784. Richard Allen and Absalom Jones became the first African Americans ordained by the Methodist Church. They were licensed by Saint George's Church in 1784. Three years later, protesting racial segregation in worship services, Allen led most of

1015-463: A different sort had to be prepared. Lastly, Eusebius wrote eulogies in praise of Constantine. To all this activity must be added numerous writings of a miscellaneous nature, addresses, letters, and the like, and exegetical works that extended over the whole of his life and that include both commentaries and an important treatise on the location of biblical place names and the distances between these cities. Pamphilus and Eusebius occupied themselves with

1160-815: A feast day on February 29 according to the official calendar of Saints created by Corbishop Rajan Achen. Eusebius was long venerated in the Roman Catholic Church. Bishop J. B. Lightfoot writes in his entry for St. Eusebius in Henry Wace 's Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century AD, with an Account of Principal Sects and Heresies (1911) that "in the Martyrologium Romanum itself he held his place for centuries" and in "Gallican service-books

1305-829: A feast is made by each Conference of Catholic Bishops with prior approval of the Apostolic See . In some cases the Conference may delegate the determination for specific feasts to the bishops of an ecclesiastical province within the conference, i.e. an archbishop and the neighbouring bishops. The switch to Sunday was made in 1992 by the Conference of Catholic Bishops in Australia ; before 1996 in parts of Europe; in 1997 in Ireland ; before 1998 in Canada and parts of

1450-488: A great deal of which Origen knew of firsthand from his extensive travels, from the library and writings of Origen. On his deathbed, Origen had made a bequest of his private library to the Christian community in the city. Together with the books of his patron Ambrosius , Origen's library (including the original manuscripts of his works ) formed the core of the collection that Pamphilus established. Pamphilus also managed

1595-548: A living tree naturally and inevitably bears fruit. Wesleyan theology rejects the doctrine of eternal security , believing that salvation can be rejected . Wesley emphasized that believers must continue to grow in their relationship with Christ, through the process of Sanctification. A key outgrowth of this theology is the United Methodist dedication not only to the Evangelical Gospel of repentance and

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1740-660: A maxim among Methodists, who have always maintained a great diversity of opinion on many matters within the Church. The United Methodist Church allows for a wide range of theological and political beliefs. For example, former President George W. Bush ( R -TX), former First Lady Laura Bush and former Attorney General of the United States , Jeff Sessions , are United Methodists, as are Senator Elizabeth Warren ( D -MA), former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and former Senator Max Cleland (D-GA). The Pew Research Center 's 2014 US Religious Landscape Study concluded that

1885-674: A number of countries that do not observe the feast as a public holiday have obtained permission from the Vatican to move observance of the Feast of the Ascension from the traditional Thursday to the following Sunday, the Sunday before Pentecost. Similarly, the United Methodist Church allows the traditional celebration on Holy Thursday to be moved to Sunday. This is in keeping with a trend to move Holy Days of Obligation from weekdays to Sunday, to encourage more Christians to observe feasts considered important. The decision to move

2030-607: A part of the RCRC locally. At the same General Conference, delegates voted to delete a four-decade-old statement from the Book of Resolutions which affirmed the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision on the legality of abortion. A new resolution was re-adopted 56–2 in a resolutions subcommittee, decrying gender-selective abortion while also describing abortion as "violent" and opposing abortions done for "trivial reasons." The resolution passed in

2175-565: A personal relationship with God, but also to the Social Gospel and a commitment to social justice issues that have included abolition, women's suffrage, labor rights, civil rights, and ministry with the poor. Methodist theology stands at a unique crossroads between evangelical , holiness and sacramental, as well as between liturgical and charismatic , and between Anglo-Catholic and Reformed worship. It has been characterized as Wesleyan–Arminian theology with an emphasis on

2320-468: A phrase often rendered into Latin as " in hoc signo vinces ". In a dream that night "the Christ of God appeared to him with the sign which had appeared in the sky, and urged him to make himself a copy of the sign which had appeared in the sky, and to use this as a protection against the attacks of the enemy." Eusebius relates that this happened "on a campaign he [Constantine] was conducting somewhere". It

2465-468: A revelatory dream on the eve of battle. Eusebius's work of that time, his Church History , also makes no mention of the vision. The Arch of Constantine, constructed in AD 315, neither depicts a vision nor any Christian insignia in its depiction of the battle. In his posthumous biography of Constantine, Eusebius agrees with Lactantius that Constantine received instructions in a dream to apply a Christian symbol as

2610-405: A school that was similar to (or perhaps a re-establishment of ) that of Origen. He was compared to Demetrius of Phalerum —as well as to another (evidently, learnèd) scholar by the name of "Pisistratus" —for Pamphilus had gathered Bibles "from all parts of the world". Like his model Origen, Pamphilus maintained close contact with his students. Eusebius, in his history of the persecutions, alludes to

2755-514: A separate denomination. In March 2021, conservative leaders of the UMC unveiled the name Global Methodist Church for the new traditionalist denomination, along with a new website and logo. The next General Conference was set for 2024. At that time, delegates were expected to vote on the Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace through Separation. The conservative Transitional Leadership Council said

2900-587: A synoptical table so that it might be easier to find the pericopes that belong together. These canon tables or "Eusebian canons" remained in use throughout the Middle Ages, and illuminated manuscript versions are important for the study of early medieval art, as they are the most elaborately decorated pages of many Gospel books . Eusebius detailed in Epistula ad Carpianum how to use his canons. The Chronicle ( Παντοδαπὴ Ἱστορία ( Pantodape historia ))

3045-585: A time labored in behalf of the Arian heresy, coming to the council of Nicæa, inspired by the Holy Spirit, followed the decision of the Fathers, and thereafter up to the time of his death lived in a most holy manner in the orthodox faith. Lesson 2 . He was, moreover, very zealous in the study of the sacred Scriptures, and along with Pamphilus the martyr was a most diligent investigator of sacred literature. At

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3190-605: A universal calendar of events from the Creation to, again, Eusebius's own time. He completed the first editions of the Ecclesiastical History and Chronicle before 300. Eusebius succeeded Agapius as Bishop of Caesarea soon after 313 and was called on by Arius who had been excommunicated by his bishop Alexander of Alexandria . An episcopal council in Caesarea pronounced Arius blameless. Eusebius enjoyed

3335-415: A whole, but it has been preserved almost completely in parts. It contained: Of the life of Pamphilus, only a fragment survives. A work on the martyrs of Palestine in the time of Diocletian was composed after 311; numerous fragments are scattered in legendaries which have yet to be collected. The life of Constantine was compiled after the death of the emperor and the election of his sons as Augusti (337). It

3480-604: A work ' Quaestiones ad Stephanum et Marinum , On the Differences of the Gospels (including solutions). This was written for the purpose of harmonizing the contradictions in the reports of the different Evangelists. This work was recently (2011) translated into the English language by David J. Miller and Adam C. McCollum and was published under the name Eusebius of Caesarea: Gospel Problems and Solutions . The original work

3625-675: Is a worldwide mainline Protestant denomination based in the United States , and a major part of Methodism . In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church , was a leader in evangelicalism . The present denomination was founded in 1968 in Dallas, Texas , by union of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church . The UMC traces its roots back to

3770-461: Is at once "catholic, evangelical, and reformed." Today, the UMC is generally considered one of the more moderate and tolerant denominations with respect to race, gender , and ideology , though the denomination itself includes a wide spectrum of attitudes. Comparatively, the UMC stands to the right of liberal and progressive Protestant groups such as the United Church of Christ and

3915-724: Is called the General Conference and is the only organization which may speak officially for the UMC. The church is a member of the World Council of Churches , the World Methodist Council , and other religious associations. As of 2022, the UMC had 5,424,175 members and 29,746 churches in the United States. As of 2022, it had 9,984,925 members and 39,460 churches worldwide. In 2015, the Pew Research Center estimated that 3.6 percent of

4060-616: Is celebrated. The troparion of the day is sung, which says: O Christ God, You have ascended in Glory, Granting joy to Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Through the blessing they were assured That You are the Son of God, The Redeemer of the world! During the Polyeleos at Matins , the Epitaphios , which was placed on the altar on Holy Saturday (either at Matins or

4205-522: Is divided into two parts. The first part, the Chronography ( Χρονογραφία ( Chronographia )), gives an epitome of universal history from the sources, arranged according to nations. The second part, the Canons ( Χρονικοὶ Κανόνες ( Chronikoi kanones )), furnishes a synchronism of the historical material in parallel columns, the equivalent of a parallel timeline. The work as a whole has been lost in

4350-459: Is good which is according to nature. Every rational soul has naturally a good free-will, formed for the choice of what is good. But when a man acts wrongly, nature is not to be blamed; for what is wrong, takes place not according to nature, but contrary to nature, it being the work of choice, and not of nature. A letter Eusebius is supposed to have written to Constantine 's daughter Constantina , refusing to fulfill her request for images of Christ,

4495-493: Is home to archives and a museum on Methodism. In the more than 220 years since 1784, Methodism in the United States, like many other Protestant denominations, has seen a number of divisions and mergers. In 1830, the Methodist Protestant Church split from the Methodist Episcopal Church over the issue of laity having a voice and vote in the administration of the church, insisting that clergy should not be

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4640-701: Is incompatible with Christian teaching", and ending bans on same-sex weddings and gay clergy. On May 28, 2024, the UMC's branch in the Ivory Coast voted to leave the UMC in response to the General Conference decision to allow same-sex marriages and gay clergy. With 1.2 million members, the Ivory Coast was the UMC's largest single presence outside the United States. Christianity • Protestantism The United Methodist Church seeks to create disciples for Christ through outreach, evangelism, and through seeking holiness, also called sanctification , by

4785-627: Is largely considered the first United Methodist theologian. The officially established Doctrinal Standards of United Methodism are: These Doctrinal Standards are constitutionally protected and nearly impossible to change or remove. Other doctrines of the United Methodist Church are found in the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church . The basic beliefs of the United Methodist Church include: The key emphasis of Wesley's theology relates to how divine grace operates within

4930-588: Is more a rhetorical eulogy on the emperor than a history but is of great value on account of numerous documents incorporated into it. To the class of apologetic and dogmatic works belong: A number of writings, belonging in this category, have been entirely lost. All of the exegetical works of Eusebius have suffered damage in transmission. The majority of them are known to us only from long portions quoted in Byzantine catena-commentaries. However these portions are very extensive. Extant are: Eusebius also wrote

5075-589: Is of Apostolic origin, and he speaks of it in a way that shows it was the universal observance of the Catholic Church long before his time. Frequent mention of it is made in the writings of John Chrysostom , Gregory of Nyssa , and in the Constitution of the Apostles . The Pilgrimage of Aetheria speaks of the vigil of this feast and of the feast itself, as they were kept in the church built over

5220-643: Is that homoousios came straight from Constantine's Hermetic background. As can be clearly seen in the Poimandres , and even more clearly in an inscription mentioned exclusively in the Theosophia , in the theological language of Egyptian paganism the word homoousios meant that the Nous-Father and the Logos-Son, who are two distinct beings, share the same perfection of the divine nature. However,

5365-473: Is the act of God's grace entirely, from invitation, to pardon, to growth in holiness . Furthermore, God's prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace interact dynamically in the lives of Christians from birth to death. According to Wesleyan understanding, good works are the fruit of one's salvation, not the way in which that salvation was earned. Faith and good works go hand in hand in Methodist theology:

5510-450: Is the cause of all beings. But he is not merely a cause; in him everything good is included, from him all life originates, and he is the source of all virtue. God sent Christ into the world that it may partake of the blessings included in the essence of God. Eusebius expressly distinguishes the Son as distinct from Father as a ray is also distinct from its source the sun. Eusebius held that men were sinners by their own free choice and not by

5655-452: Is there any evidence of a normal, well-established Christian use of the term homoousios in its strictly Trinitarian meaning. Having once excluded any relationship of the Nicene homoousios with the Christian tradition, it becomes legitimate to propose a new explanation, based on an analysis of two pagan documents which have so far never been taken into account. The main thesis of this paper

5800-419: Is unclear from Eusebius's description whether the shields were marked with a Christian cross or with a chi-rho , a staurogram , or another similar symbol. The Latin text De mortibus persecutorum contains an early account of the 28 October 312 Battle of the Milvian Bridge written by Lactantius probably in 313, the year following the battle. Lactantius does not mention a vision in the sky but describes

5945-467: Is worst, deserving of blame and punishment, because he has by his own motion neglected the natural law, and becoming the origin and fountain of wickedness, and misusing himself, not from any extraneous necessity, but from free will and judgment. The fault is in him who chooses, not in God. For God has not made nature or the substance of the soul bad; for he who is good can make nothing but what is good. Everything

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6090-722: The Ascension Oratorio to be performed in church services on the feast day. He first performed Wer da gläubet und getauft wird, BWV 37 , on 18 May 1724, Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein, BWV 128 , on 10 May 1725, Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen, BWV 43 , on 30 May 1726 and the oratorio, Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen, BWV 11 , on 19 May 1735. Many Messianic psalms are used at the feast of Ascension including Psalm 24 , Psalm 47 and Psalm 68 . The dialogue "Lift up your heads, O ye gates" from Psalm 24 (verses 7–10) has inspired Handel's setting in Part II of his Messiah in

6235-739: The Anglican Communion , Ascension Day is a Principal Feast . The three days before Ascension Thursday are sometimes referred to as the Rogation days , and the previous Sunday—the Sixth Sunday of Easter (or the Fifth Sunday after Easter)—as Rogation Sunday . Ascension has a vigil and, since the 15th century, an octave , which is set apart for a novena of preparation for Pentecost. In traditional Methodist usage, The Book of Worship for Church and Home (1965) provides

6380-576: The Association of Independent Methodists . As of December 30, 2023, the number of UMC churches in the United States that were approved for disaffiliation stood at 7,660. This figure represented approximately one-quarter of the UMC churches in the United States. In May 2024, the United Methodist Church General Conference repealed bans on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage. The movement which would become

6525-630: The Congregational Methodist Church and Methodist Protestant Church , or became members of the Association of Independent Methodists . On May 10, 2022, the Judicial Council of the United Methodist Church ruled that annual UMC conferences in the United States cannot leave the church for the Global Methodist Church; only individual churches may do so. The Romania-Bulgaria Conference has left

6670-829: The Episcopal Church on certain issues (especially regarding sexuality), but to the left of historically conservative evangelical traditions such as the Southern Baptists and Pentecostalism , in regard to theological matters such as social justice and Biblical interpretation. The UMC is made up of a broad diversity of thought, and so there are many clergy and laity within the UMC that hold differing viewpoints on such theological matters. In appealing for tolerance of diversity of theological opinions, John Wesley said, "Though we may not think alike, may we not all love alike?" The phrase "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity" has also become

6815-456: The Global Methodist Church was formed in 2022. Prior to the establishment of the Global Methodist Church, some Methodist congregations had already left the UMC to join the Free Methodist Church , a traditionalist Methodist denomination aligned with the Wesleyan-Holiness movement . Other former United Methodist congregations joined various conservative Methodist denominations , such as the Congregational Methodist Church , or became members of

6960-414: The Gospel of Matthew ; and many of Origen's own writings. Marginal comments in extant manuscripts note that Pamphilus and his friends and pupils, including Eusebius, corrected and revised much of the biblical text in their library. Their efforts made the hexaplaric Septuagint text increasingly popular in Syria and Palestine. Soon after joining Pamphilus's school, Eusebius started helping his master expand

7105-539: The Midnight Office , depending on local custom) is taken from the altar and carried in procession around the church. It is then put in the place reserved for it. The Gospel is Mark 16:9–20 . The kontakion is sung, which announces: When You did fulfill the dispensation for our sake, And unite earth to Heaven: You did ascend in glory, O Christ our God, Not being parted from those who love You, But remaining with them and crying: I am with you and no one will be against you. The megalynarion and irmos from Ode IX of

7250-486: The New Birth . This experience can occur in different ways; it can be one transforming moment, such as an altar call experience, or it may involve a series of decisions across a period of time. Sanctifying Grace is that grace of God which sustains the believers in the journey toward Christian Perfection : a genuine love of God with heart, soul, mind, and strength, and a genuine love of our neighbors as ourselves. Sanctifying grace enables us to respond to God by leading

7395-403: The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter . When celebrated on Sunday, the earliest possible date is May 3, and the latest is June 6. In the Eastern Church this feast is known in Greek as Analepsis , the "taking up", and also as the Episozomene , the "salvation from on high", denoting that by ascending into his glory Christ completed the work of our redemption . Ascension is one of

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7540-422: The mother church of American Methodism. The new church grew rapidly in the young country as it employed circuit riders , many of whom were laymen , to travel the mostly rural nation by horseback to preach the Gospel and to establish churches until there was scarcely any village in the United States without a Methodist presence. With 4,000 circuit riders by 1844, the Methodist Episcopal Church rapidly became

7685-441: The revival movement of John and Charles Wesley in England, as well as the Great Awakening in the United States. As such, the church's theological orientation is decidedly Wesleyan . It embraces liturgical worship , holiness , and evangelical elements. The United Methodist Church has a connectional polity , a typical feature of a number of Methodist denominations. It is organized into conferences . The highest level

7830-421: The textual criticism of the Septuagint text of the Old Testament and especially of the New Testament . An edition of the Septuagint seems to have been already prepared by Origen , which, according to Jerome , was revised and circulated by Eusebius and Pamphilus. For an easier survey of the material of the four Evangelists, Eusebius divided his edition of the New Testament into paragraphs and provided it with

7975-430: The Book of Discipline, that prohibited same-sex unions and the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals. Many progressive UMC leaders and churches, especially in the United States, are supportive of gay marriage and ignored the injunctions in the Book of Discipline. Many conservative members of the UMC did not like the trend of the UMC trending towards endorsing gay marriage and, hence, have initiated movements to split-off from

8120-455: The Canon (also sung at liturgy) is: Magnify, O my soul, Christ the Giver of Life, Who has ascended from earth to heaven! We magnify you, the Mother of God, Who beyond reason and understanding gave birth in time to the Timeless One. At the Divine Liturgy , special antiphons are sung in place of Psalms 102 and 145 and the Beatitudes. The Epistle is Acts 1:1–12 , and the Gospel is Luke 24:36–53 . Ascension Thursday also commemorates

8265-544: The Church of England. Though not always emphasized or appreciated in the Anglican churches of their day, their teaching emphasized salvation by God's grace, acquired through faith in Christ. Three teachings they saw as the foundation of Christian faith were: These clergymen quickly became popular, attracting large congregations. The nickname students had used against the Wesleys was revived; they and their followers subsequently became known as Methodists . The English preacher Francis Asbury arrived in America in 1771. He became

8410-513: The General Conference to occur, some conservative United Methodist congregations left the United Methodist Church to become a part of the Free Methodist Church , a traditionalist Methodist denomination aligned with the holiness movement . After the launch of the Global Methodist Church on May 1, 2022, a number of traditionalist United Methodist churches entered into the Global Methodist Church . Other former United Methodist churches that disaffiliated joined various Methodist denominations , such as

8555-406: The Global Methodist Church would be officially started, with individual churches or conferences able to join, when the General Conference adopted legislation implementing the Protocol, although the Council intended to "consider bringing the new church into existence without delay" "if it becomes apparent" that leaders "who covenanted to support the Protocol no longer do so." Not wanting to wait for

8700-416: The Gospel , Preparations for the Gospel and On Discrepancies between the Gospels , studies of the biblical text. His work Onomasticon is an early geographical lexicon of places in the Holy Land mentioned in the Bible. As "Father of Church History " (not to be confused with the title of Church Father ), he produced the Ecclesiastical History , On the Life of Pamphilus , the Chronicle and On

8845-413: The Holy Georgian Martyrs of Persia (17th–18th centuries). Ascension has an Afterfeast of eight days. The Sunday after Ascension is the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea . This council formulated the Nicene Creed up to the words, "He (Jesus) ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and

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8990-402: The Louisiana Annual Conference left the United Methodist Church, with seven congregations being from Baton Rouge and six from New Orleans. The disaffiliations from the conference were scheduled to take effect after December 31, 2022. St. Timothy, one of the largest Methodist churches in Louisiana, voted for disaffiliation on November 1, 2022. To prevent certain congregations from disaffiliating,

9135-454: The Martyrs . He also produced a biographical work on Constantine the Great , the first Christian Roman emperor , who was Augustus between AD 306 and AD 337. Little is known about the life of Eusebius. His successor at the See of Caesarea, Acacius , wrote a Life of Eusebius , a work that has since been lost. Eusebius's own surviving works probably only represent a small portion of his total output. Beyond notices in his extant writings,

9280-410: The Methodists to stay within the Church of England, the American Revolution decisively separated the Methodists in the American colonies from the life and sacraments of the English Church. In 1784, after unsuccessful attempts to have the Church of England send a bishop to start a new church in the colonies, Wesley decisively appointed fellow priest Thomas Coke as Superintendent (the equivalent of

9425-577: The Romans , John came to the understanding that his good works could not save him and he could rest in God's grace for salvation. For the first time in his life, he felt peace and the assurance of salvation. In less than two years, the "Holy Club" disbanded. John Wesley met with a group of clergy, and afterwards said "they appeared to be of one heart, as well as of one judgment, resolved to be Bible-Christians at all events; and, wherever they were, to preach with all their might plain, old, Bible Christianity." The ministers nonetheless retained their membership in

9570-502: The Twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox liturgical year . The feast is always observed with an All-night vigil . The day before is the Apodosis (leave-taking) of Easter (i.e., the last day of the Feast of Easter). Before the Vigil, the Paschal Hours are said for the last time and the Paschal greeting is exchanged. The Paroemia ( Old Testament readings) at Vespers on the eve of the Feast are Isaiah 2:2–3 ; Isaiah 62:10–63:3 , 63:7–9 ; and Zechariah 14:1–4 , 14:8–11 . A Lity

9715-401: The U.S. population, or nine million adult adherents, identified with the United Methodist Church, revealing a much larger number of adherents than registered members. On January 3, 2020, a group of Methodist leaders proposed a plan to split the United Methodist Church over issues of sexual orientation (particularly same-sex marriage ) and create a new traditionalist Methodist denomination ;

9860-442: The UMC churches in the United States. The 2024 General Conference, the first since the delayed 2020 conference ran from April 23 to May 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina . With no debate since many of the more conservative congregations had left, proposals approved included having separate regions outside the United States in order to allow each region to have its own policies, removing language stating "the practice of homosexuality

10005-453: The UMC due to progressive tendencies in the American leadership of the UMC. Over 100 churches in Florida and North Carolina had filed or were considering lawsuits. Some of the largest churches in Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas were planning to leave. As of 2022, any church that disaffiliated would be responsible for paying two years of apportionments and unfunded pension liabilities. Fifty-eight churches belonging to

10150-474: The UMC ordered that certain churches be closed before disaffiliation votes could occur. Several annual conferences designated certain remaining congregations as "lighthouse congregations", which offer support to UMC parishioners who objected to their former congregations' disaffiliation. As of December 30, 2023, the number of UMC churches in the United States that were approved for disaffiliation stood at 7,660. This figure represented approximately one-quarter of

10295-523: The UMC. On January 3, 2020, the denomination's leadership released a proposal to split the Church over what it described as "fundamental differences" over homosexuality , particularly same-sex marriage (see § Homosexuality below). The United Methodist Church would hold a special session to repeal the ban on same-sex marriage. The proposal would need to be approved by the General Conference in order to take effect. The 2020 General Conference , originally scheduled to be held in Minneapolis , Minnesota ,

10440-557: The UMC. As of May 2022, the South Georgia and Northwest Texas conferences were making preparations to leave the UMC; however, these proposed transitions would require UMC General conference legislation. Early in 2022, according to the United Methodist News Service, the United Methodist Church approved 300 requests by individual churches to leave the denomination. The Wesleyan Covenant Association, which

10585-546: The United Methodist Church began in the mid-18th century within the Church of England . A small group of students, including John Wesley, Charles Wesley, and George Whitefield , met at Oxford University . They focused on Bible study, methodical study of scripture, and living a holy life. Other students mocked them, saying they were the " Holy Club " and "the Methodists", being methodical and exceptionally detailed in their Bible study , opinions, and disciplined lifestyle. Eventually,

10730-795: The United Methodist Church is a branch of the Church visible , to which all believers must be connected as it is the only institution wherein the Word of God is preached and the Sacraments are administered. Some argue that the United Methodist Church can lay a claim to apostolic succession , as understood in the traditional sense. As a result of the American Revolution, John Wesley was compelled in 1784 to break with standard practice and ordain two of his lay preachers as presbyters , Thomas Vasey and Richard Whatcoat. Thomas Coke , already an Anglican priest , assisted Wesley in this action. Coke

10875-483: The believer of sin . It is in justifying grace we are received by God, in spite of our sin. In this reception, we are forgiven through the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The justifying grace cancels our guilt and empowers us to resist the power of sin and to fully love God and neighbor. Today, justifying grace is also known as conversion , "accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior," or being " born again ." John Wesley originally called this experience

11020-517: The birth of Eusebius to some point between AD 260 and 265. He was most likely born in or around Caesarea Maritima . Nothing is known about his parents. He was baptized and instructed in the city, and lived in Syria Palaestina in 296, when Diocletian 's army passed through the region (in the Life of Constantine , Eusebius recalls seeing Constantine traveling with the army). Eusebius

11165-700: The black members out of St. George's; eventually they founded the Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Church . Absalom Jones became an Episcopal priest. In 1836, the church's basement was excavated to make room for a Sunday school. In the 1920s, a court case saved the church from being demolished to make way for the Benjamin Franklin Bridge . The case resulted in the bridge being relocated. Historic Saint George's welcomes visitors and

11310-607: The constituting General Conference in Dallas , Texas . With the words, "Lord of the Church, we are united in Thee, in Thy Church and now in The United Methodist Church" the new denomination was given birth by both churches which had distinguished histories and influential ministries in various parts of the world. Prior to the United Methodist Church's May 2024 General Conference, the UMC had rules, found in

11455-461: The contention. Through the activities of the theologian Origen (185/6–254) and the school of his follower Pamphilus (later 3rd century – 309), Caesarea became a center of Christian learning. Origen was largely responsible for the collection of usage information, or which churches were using which gospels, regarding the texts which became the New Testament . The information used to create

11600-456: The council evidently did not force the insertion of the word and instead adopted a text related to the confession of Jerusalem. The role of Constantine remained uncertain during the council. Alternate views have suggested that Gibbon's dismissal of Eusebius is inappropriate: While many have shared Burckhardt's assessment, particularly with reference to the Life of Constantine , others, while not pretending to extol his merits, have acknowledged

11745-537: The daily consent agenda with no debate. As an official organization, however, "the General Board of Church and Society continues to be an advocate for a full range of safe and legal reproductive health care – including, in certain cases, the option to safely and legally end a pregnancy." Nevertheless, the United Methodist Church holds that "while we understand the need for women to have access to safe, legal abortions, we also 'mourn and are committed to promoting

11890-403: The days of the prophets of old, would take place at the coming of the Christ, which I will presently shew to have been fulfilled as never before in accordance with the predictions" ( Demonstratio Evangelica VIII). From a dogmatic point of view, Eusebius is related in his views to Origen . Like Origen, he started from the fundamental thought of the absolute sovereignty ( monarchia ) of God. God

12035-656: The dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end." The Afterfeast ends on the following Friday, the Friday before Pentecost. The next day is appropriately a Saturday of the Dead (general commemoration of all faithful departed). The Eastern Orthodox Church uses a different method of calculating the date of Easter , so the Eastern Orthodox commemoration of Ascension will usually be after the western observance (either one week, or four weeks, or five weeks later; but occasionally on

12180-522: The diminishment of high abortion rates'." and they "are equally bound to respect the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother, for whom devastating damage may result from an unacceptable pregnancy. In continuity with past Christian teaching, we recognize tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion, (in the eyes of God) and in such cases we support the legal option of abortion under proper medical procedures." The Church cautions that "Governmental laws and regulations do not provide all

12325-503: The early church due to Eusebius's access to materials now lost. Eusebius's Life of Constantine ( Vita Constantini ) is a eulogy or panegyric , and therefore its style and selection of facts are affected by its purpose, rendering it inadequate as a continuation of the Church History. As the historian Socrates Scholasticus said, at the opening of his history which was designed as a continuation of Eusebius, "Also in writing

12470-507: The emperor himself had recounted to him that some time between the death of his father – the augustus Constantius – and his final battle against his rival Maxentius as augustus in the West, Constantine experienced a vision in which he and his soldiers beheld a Christian symbol, "a cross-shaped trophy formed from light", above the sun at midday. Attached to the symbol was the phrase "by this conquer" ( ἐν τούτῳ νίκα , en toútōi níka ),

12615-467: The fact that many of the Caesarean martyrs lived together, presumably under Pamphilus. Soon after Pamphilus settled in Caesarea ( c. 280s), he began teaching Eusebius, who was then somewhere between twenty and twenty-five. Because of his close relationship with his schoolmaster, Eusebius was sometimes called Eusebius Pamphili : "Eusebius, son of Pamphilus". The name may also indicate that Eusebius

12760-578: The faith of the German Moravians on board, and when he returned to England he spent time with Peter Böhler, a German Moravian who was passing through England and who believed that a person is saved solely through the grace of God and not by works. John had many conversations with Böhler about this topic. On May 25, 1738, after listening to a reading of Martin Luther 's preface to the Epistle to

12905-722: The favor of the Emperor Constantine . Because of this he was called upon to present the creed of his own church to the 318 attendees of the Council of Nicaea in 325. However, the anti-Arian creed from Palestine prevailed, becoming the basis for the Nicene Creed . The theological views of Arius, that taught the subordination of the Son to the Father , continued to be controversial. Eustathius of Antioch strongly opposed

13050-524: The fiftieth day, implies that the proper usage of the time was to commemorate the Ascension along with Pentecost. Representations of the mystery are found in diptychs and frescoes dating as early as the 5th century. Hymns for this feast are found in the Georgian Chantbook of Jerusalem, which contains material composed during the 5th century. The Latin terms used for the feast, ascensio and, occasionally, ascensa , signify that Christ

13195-580: The first part of Eusebius's Chronicle , of which only a few fragments exist in Greek, has been preserved entirely in Armenian , though with lacunae. The Chronicle as preserved extends to the year 325. In his Church History or Ecclesiastical History , Eusebius wrote the first surviving history of the Christian Church as a chronologically ordered account, based on earlier sources, complete from

13340-691: The first year of Abraham up to the year 300 AD, which the divine Hieronymus has continued. Finally this Eusebius, after the conversion of Constantine the Great, was united to him by strong friendship as long as he lived. A bone fragment relic of Eusebius within its original reliquary is on display at the Shrine of All Saints located within St. Martha's Catholic Church in Morton Grove, Illinois. United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church ( UMC )

13485-412: The following Collect for Ascension Day, commonly called Holy Thursday: Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens, that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that according to his promise he abideth with his Church on earth, even unto the end of the world; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Catholic parishes in

13630-514: The following year, he was again summoned before a synod in Tyre at which Eusebius of Caesarea presided. Athanasius, foreseeing the result, went to Constantinople to bring his cause before the Emperor. Constantine called the bishops to his court, among them Eusebius. Athanasius was condemned and exiled at the end of 335. Eusebius remained in the Emperor's favour throughout this time and more than once

13775-596: The former category he includes evidence of Eusebius in several martyrologies and being entitled "Blessed" dating back to Victorius of Aquitaine . Valois includes both Usuardus and Notker , who list his feast as June 21 in the Roman Martyrology, and a Gallican breviary is included for June 21 that reads as follows: Of the holy Eusebius, bishop and confessor. Lesson 1 . Eusebius, bishop of Cæsarea in Palestine, on account of his friendship with Pamphilus

13920-553: The grotto in Bethlehem in which Christ is traditionally regarded as having been born. It may be that prior to the 5th century the event narrated in the Gospels was commemorated in conjunction with the feast of Easter or Pentecost. Some believe that the much-disputed forty-third decree of the Synod of Elvira ( c.  300 ) condemning the practice of observing a feast on the fortieth day after Easter and neglecting to keep Pentecost on

14065-456: The growing influence of Origen 's theology as the root of Arianism . Eusebius, an admirer of Origen, was reproached by Eustathius for deviating from the Nicene faith. Eusebius prevailed and Eustathius was deposed at a synod in Antioch . However, Athanasius of Alexandria became a more powerful opponent and in 334 he was summoned before a synod in Caesarea (which he refused to attend). In

14210-438: The guidance required by the informed Christian conscience." The Church emphasizes the need of a supportive ministry to women who have experienced abortions: "We further encourage local churches to make available contact information for counseling agencies that offer programs to address post-abortion stress for all seeking help." Members of the United Methodist Church who identify with the anti-abortion position come mostly from

14355-445: The historian is commemorated as a saint." However, Lightfoot notes that in "the revision of this Martyrology under Gregory XIII his name was struck out, and Eusebius of Samosata was substituted, under the mistaken idea that Caesarea had been substituted for Samosata by a mistake." The Roman Catholic author Henri Valois includes in his translations on Eusebius's writings testimonies of ancient authors in favor and against Eusebius; in

14500-533: The historic ecumenical creeds , the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed ; which are used frequently in services of worship . The Book of Discipline also recognizes the importance of the Chalcedonian Creed of the Council of Chalcedon . It upholds the concept of the "visible and invisible Church," meaning that all who are truly believers in every age belong to the holy Church invisible , while

14645-499: The individual. Wesley defined the Way of Salvation as the operation of grace in at least three parts: Prevenient Grace , Justifying Grace , and Sanctifying Grace . Prevenient grace , or the grace that "goes before" us, is given to all people. It is that power which enables us to love and motivates us to seek a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This grace is the present work of God to turn us from our sin-corrupted human will to

14790-445: The irreplaceable value of his works which may principally reside in the copious quotations that they contain from other sources, often lost. The earliest recorded feast day of Eusebius is found in the earliest known Syrian Martyrology dating to the year 411 translated by William Wright . The Martyrology lists his feast day as May 30. Eusebius continues to be venerated as a Saint by the modern-day Syrian Orthodox Church as well, with

14935-458: The largest Protestant denomination in the country. St. George's United Methodist Church , located at the corner of 4th and New Streets, in the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia , is the oldest Methodist church in continuous use in the United States, beginning in 1769. The congregation was founded in 1767, meeting initially in a sail loft on Dock Street, and in 1769 it purchased the shell of

15080-482: The late-fourth-century Easter Letter , which declared accepted Christian writings, was probably based on the Ecclesiastical History [HE] of Eusebius of Caesarea, wherein he uses the information passed on to him by Origen to create both his list at HE 3:25 and Origen's list at HE 6:25. Eusebius got his information about what texts were accepted by the third-century churches throughout the known world,

15225-502: The library's collections and broaden access to its resources. At about this time Eusebius compiled a Collection of Ancient Martyrdoms , presumably for use as a general reference tool. In the 290s, Eusebius began work on his most important work, the Ecclesiastical History , a narrative history of the Church and Christian community from the Apostolic Age to Eusebius's own time. At about the same time, he worked on his Chronicle ,

15370-461: The life of Constantine, this same author has but slightly treated of matters regarding Arius , being more intent on the rhetorical finish of his composition and the praises of the emperor than on an accurate statement of facts." The work was unfinished at Eusebius's death. Some scholars have questioned the Eusebian authorship of this work. Writing after Constantine had died, Eusebius claimed that

15515-484: The loving will of the Father. In this work, God desires that we might sense both our sinfulness before God and God's offer of salvation. Prevenient grace allows those tainted by sin to nevertheless make a truly free choice to accept or reject God's salvation in Christ. Justifying Grace or Accepting Grace is that grace, offered by God to all people, that we receive by faith and trust in Christ, through which God pardons

15660-411: The major sources are the 5th-century ecclesiastical historians Socrates , Sozomen , and Theodoret , and the 4th-century Christian author Jerome . There are assorted notices of his activities in the writings of his contemporaries Athanasius , Arius , Eusebius of Nicomedia , and Alexander of Alexandria . Eusebius's pupil, Eusebius of Emesa , provides some incidental information. Most scholars date

15805-406: The martyr, took from him the surname of Pamphili; inasmuch as along with this same Pamphilus he was a most diligent investigator of sacred literature. The man indeed is very worthy of being remembered in these times, both for his skill in many things, and for his wonderful genius, and by both Gentiles and Christians he was held distinguished and most noble among philosophers. This man, after having for

15950-454: The martyrs of his own time and the past, and this led him to the history of the whole Church and finally to the history of the world, which, to him, was only a preparation for ecclesiastical history. Then followed the time of the Arian controversies, and dogmatic questions came into the foreground. Christianity at last found recognition by the State; and this brought new problems – apologies of

16095-569: The nation famous, firstly the kingship, secondly that of prophet, and lastly the high priesthood. The prophecies said that the abolition and complete destruction of all these three together would be the sign of the presence of the Christ. And that the proofs that the times had come, would lie in the ceasing of the Mosaic worship, the desolation of Jerusalem and its Temple, and the subjection of the whole Jewish race to its enemies. ...The holy oracles foretold that all these changes, which had not been made in

16240-485: The necessity of their natures. Eusebius said: The Creator of all things has impressed a natural law upon the soul of every man, as an assistant and ally in his conduct, pointing out to him the right way by this law; but, by the free liberty with which he is endowed, making the choice of what is best worthy of praise and acceptance, he has acted rightly, not by force, but from his own free-will, when he had it in his power to act otherwise, As, again, making him who chooses what

16385-581: The northern and southern Methodist Episcopal Churches and the majority of the Methodist Protestant Church merged to create The Methodist Church . The uniting conference took place at First Methodist Church (now First United Methodist Church) of Marion, Indiana . On April 23, 1968, the United Methodist Church was created when the Evangelical United Brethren Church (represented by Bishop Reuben H. Mueller) and The Methodist Church (represented by Bishop Lloyd Christ Wicke ) joined hands at

16530-539: The occasion include William Matthias 's Lift up your heads . " Im Himmel hoch verherrlicht ist " (Highly gloryfied in Heaven) is a 1973 hymn in German for the occasion. The RSCM has produced an extensive list of music (including hymns, anthems and organ music) suitable for Ascension. Eusebius Eusebius of Caesarea ( c.  AD 260/265  – 30 May AD 339), also known as Eusebius Pamphilius ,

16675-413: The only ones to have any determination in how the church was to be operated. In 1844, the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church split into two conferences because of tensions over slavery and the power of bishops in the denomination. The two general conferences, Methodist Episcopal Church (the northern faction) and Methodist Episcopal Church, South remained separate until 1939. That year,

16820-470: The original Greek, but it may be reconstructed from later chronographists of the Byzantine school who made excerpts from the work, especially George Syncellus . The tables of the second part have been completely preserved in a Latin translation by Jerome, and both parts are still extant in an Armenian translation. The loss of the Greek originals has given the Armenian translation a special importance; thus,

16965-521: The painstaking labor of original research. Hence, much has been preserved, quoted by Eusebius, which otherwise would have been lost. The literary productions of Eusebius reflect on the whole the course of his life. At first, he occupied himself with works on biblical criticism under the influence of Pamphilus and probably of Dorotheus of Tyre of the School of Antioch . Afterward, the persecutions under Diocletian and Galerius directed his attention to

17110-515: The period of the Apostles to his own epoch. The time scheme correlated the history with the reigns of the Roman Emperors, and the scope was broad. Included were the bishops and other teachers of the Church, Christian relations with the Jews and those deemed heretical, and the Christian martyrs through 324. Although its accuracy and biases have been questioned, it remains an important source on

17255-556: The political preferences of US adult members of the United Methodist Church was 54 percent Republican / lean Republican, 35 percent Democrat / lean Democrat, and 11 percent independent / no lean / other. The topic of abortion is complex for the United Methodist Church. The United Methodist Church affirms these two sentences in The Social Principles: "Our belief in the sanctity of unborn human life makes us reluctant to approve abortion. But we are equally bound to respect

17400-561: The power of the Holy Spirit . The flame in the church logo represents the work of the Holy Spirit in the world, and the two parts of the flame also represent the predecessor denominations, the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren, united at the base symbolizing the 1968 merger. The United Methodist Church understands itself to be part of the holy catholic (or universal) church and it recognizes

17545-625: The reign of Constantine (336). Most of Eusebius's letters are lost. His letters to Carpianus and Flacillus exist complete. Fragments of a letter to the empress Constantia also exists. Eusebius is fairly unusual in his preterist , or fulfilled, eschatological view. Saying "the Holy Scriptures foretell that there will be unmistakable signs of the Coming of Christ. Now there were among the Hebrews three outstanding offices of dignity, which made

17690-709: The sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother and the unborn child." (Book of Discipline ¶161.J). The denomination is committed to "assist[ing] the ministry of crisis pregnancy centers and pregnancy resource centers that compassionately help women find feasible alternatives to abortion." In 2016, the United Methodist General Conference voted to withdraw from the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC), an organization in which it formerly held membership. Annual Conferences could still choose whether to remain

17835-746: The same day). The earliest possible date for the feast is May 13 (of the Western calendar), and the latest possible date is June 16. Some of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, however, observe Ascension on the same date as the Western Churches. The feast has been associated with specific hymns and other church music. The oldest hymn in German related to the feast is the Leise " Christ fuhr gen Himmel ", first published in 1480. Johann Sebastian Bach composed several cantatas and

17980-720: The same time he has written many things, but especially the following books: The Præparatio Evangelica, the Ecclesiastical History, Against Porphyry, a very bitter enemy of the Christians; he has also composed Six Apologies in Behalf of Origen, a Life of Pamphilus the Martyr, from whom on account of friendship he took his surname, in three books; likewise very learned Commentaries on the hundred and fifty Psalms. Lesson 3 . Moreover, as we read, after having ascertained

18125-468: The scene " Ascension ", and Christoph Bernhard Verspoell 's 1810 hymn in German, " Öffnet eure Tore ". Phillip Moore 's anthem The Ascension sets words based on the same verses. Olivier Messiaen wrote an orchestral suite, later partly transcribed for organ, called L'Ascension in the 1930s. Settings of "God is gone up" have been composed by William Croft , Arthur Hutchings and Gerald Finzi (words by Edward Taylor). Other settings suitable for

18270-754: The so-called Methodists started individual societies or classes for members of the Church of England who wanted to live a more religious life. In 1735, John and Charles Wesley went to America, hoping to teach the gospel to the Native Americans in the colony of Georgia . Instead, John became vicar of Christ Church in Savannah . His preaching was legalistic and full of harsh rules, and the congregation rejected him. After two years in America, he returned to England dejected and confused. While sailing on his original journey to America, he had been impressed with

18415-573: The succession of bishops in the Church of Alexandria was preserved through ordination by presbyters alone and was considered valid by the Early Church . Methodists today who would argue for apostolic succession would do so on these grounds. While many United Methodist congregations operate in the evangelical tradition, others reflect the mainline Protestant traditions. Although United Methodist practices and interpretation of beliefs have evolved over time, these practices and beliefs can be traced to

18560-482: The sufferings of many holy martyrs in all the provinces, and the lives of confessors and virgins, he has written concerning these saints twenty books; while on account of these books therefore, and especially on account of his Præparatio Evangelica, he was held most distinguished among the Gentiles, because of his love of truth he contemned the ancestral worship of the gods. He has written also a Chronicle, extending from

18705-600: The term "Holy Thursday" to mean Ascension Day is rare, and the term is more generally applied by most Christian denominations to Maundy Thursday in Holy Week . In Western Christianity , the earliest possible date is April 30 (as in 1818 and 2285), the latest possible date is June 3 (as in 1943 and 2038). In the Catholic Church , the Ascension of the Lord is ranked as a Solemnity and is a Holy Day of Obligation . In

18850-573: The western United States; in many other parts in the United States from 1999; and in England and Wales from 2007 to 2017, but in 2018 reinstated to Thursday . In the U.S., the determination of whether to move Ascension was delegated to the provinces by the USCCB , and the ecclesiastical provinces which retain Thursday observance in 2022 are Boston , Hartford , New York , Omaha , Philadelphia , and

18995-489: The word homoousios ( consubstantial ) "was inserted in the Nicene Creed solely by the personal order of Constantine." According to Eusebius of Caesarea, the word homoousios was inserted in the Nicene Creed solely by the personal order of Constantine. But this statement is highly problematic. It is very difficult to explain the seeming paradoxical fact that this word, along with the explanation given by Constantine,

19140-481: The work of the Holy Spirit to bring holiness into the life of the participating believer. The United Methodist Church believes in prima scriptura , seeing the Bible as the primary authority in the Church and using sacred tradition , reason , and experience to interpret it, with the aid of the Holy Spirit (see Wesleyan Quadrilateral ). Therefore, according to The Book of Discipline , United Methodist theology

19285-407: The works of Plato and to an extensive range of later philosophic works, largely from Middle Platonists from Philo to the late 2nd century. Whatever its secular contents, the primary aim of Origen and Pamphilus's school was to promote sacred learning. The library's biblical and theological contents were more impressive: Origen's Hexapla and Tetrapla ; a copy of the original Aramaic version of

19430-475: The writings of the church's founders, especially John Wesley and Charles Wesley (Anglicans), but also Philip William Otterbein and Martin Boehm (United Brethren), and Jacob Albright (Evangelical Association). With the formation of the United Methodist Church in 1968, theologian Albert C. Outler led the team which systematized denominational doctrine. Outler's work proved pivotal in the work of union, and he

19575-515: Was a Greek Syro-Palestinian historian of Christianity , exegete , and Christian polemicist . In about AD 314 he became the bishop of Caesarea Maritima in the Roman province of Syria Palaestina . Together with Pamphilus , Eusebius was a scholar of the biblical canon and is regarded as one of the most learned Christians during late antiquity . He wrote the Demonstrations of

19720-401: Was accepted by the "Arian" Eusebius, whereas it has left no traces at all in the works of his opponents, the leaders of the anti-Arian party such as Alexander of Alexandria , Ossius of Cordova , Marcellus of Ancyra , and Eustathius of Antioch , who are usually considered Constantine's theological advisers and the strongest supporters of the council. Neither before nor during Constantine's time

19865-474: Was also translated into Syriac , and lengthy quotations exist in a catena in that language, and also in Arabic catenas. Eusebius also wrote treatises on the biblical past; these three treatises have been lost. They were: The addresses and sermons of Eusebius are mostly lost, but some have been preserved, e.g., a sermon on the consecration of the church in Tyre and an address on the thirtieth anniversary of

20010-671: Was exonerated with the explicit approval of the Emperor Constantine. After the Emperor's death ( c.  337 ), Eusebius wrote the Life of Constantine , an important historical work because of eyewitness accounts and the use of primary sources. Of the extensive literary activity of Eusebius, a relatively large portion has been preserved. Although posterity suspected him of Arianism , Eusebius had made himself indispensable by his method of authorship; his comprehensive and careful excerpts from original sources saved his successors

20155-468: Was helping congregations join the Global Methodist Church, said that 1,000 more churches were expected to hold votes on proposed departures from the UMC later in the year and that 300 of 800 Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference churches were considering leaving. Methodist churches and congregations in Slovakia , Bulgaria , Croatia or Romania also expressed dissent and intentions to disaffiliate from

20300-528: Was made presbyter by Agapius of Caesarea . Some, like theologian and ecclesiastical historian John Henry Newman , understand Eusebius's statement that he had heard Dorotheus of Tyre "expound the Scriptures wisely in the Church" to indicate that Eusebius was Dorotheus's pupil while the priest was resident in Antioch; others, like the scholar D. S. Wallace-Hadrill, deem the phrase too ambiguous to support

20445-449: Was made Pamphilus' heir. Pamphilus gave Eusebius a strong admiration for the thought of Origen. Neither Pamphilus nor Eusebius knew Origen personally; Pamphilus probably picked up Origenist ideas during his studies under Pierius (nicknamed "Origen Junior" ) in Alexandria. Eusebius's Preparation for the Gospel bears witness to the literary tastes of Origen: Eusebius quotes no comedy, tragedy, or lyric poetry, but makes reference to all

20590-405: Was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic . In November 2020, a small group of the progressive wing announced their intention to create a new denomination, the Liberation Methodist Connexion . It was launched on the First Sunday in Advent through an online service. However, organizers of the Liberation Methodist Connexion announced on 18 December 2021 that no progress has been made to set up

20735-428: Was quoted in the decrees (now lost) of the Iconoclast Council of Hieria in 754, and later quoted in part in the rebuttal of the Hieria decrees in the Second Council of Nicaea of 787, now the only source from which some of the text is known. The authenticity or authorship of the letter remains uncertain. In the June 2002 issue of the Church History journal, Pier Franco Beatrice reports that Eusebius testified that

20880-429: Was raised up by his own powers, and it is from these terms that the holy day gets its name. In the Book of Common Prayer of the Anglican Communion , "Holy Thursday" is listed as another name for Ascension Day. William Blake 's poem " Holy Thursday " refers to Ascension Day; Thomas Pruen used the term to refer to Ascension Day in his Illustration of the Liturgy of the Church of England , published in 1820; however use of

21025-435: Was then "set apart" as a Superintendent (bishop) by Wesley and dispatched with Vasey and Whatcoat to America to take charge of Methodist activities there. In defense of his action to ordain, Wesley himself cited an ancient opinion from the Church of Alexandria , which held that bishops and presbyters constituted one order and therefore, bishops are to be elected from and by the presbyterate . He knew that for two centuries

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