
For over 1000 years there was only one Church on the planet. There were no denominations, and no divisions between East and West. All of the bishops, worked in communion with one another to preserve the faith and to assure that the testament of the
Apostles was kept pure in fact and practice.
Occasionally there would rise an individual or individuals who, acting independently of the unity and unanimous agreement of the church, decided they knew more or had a better understanding of the Apostles teachings. At other times there were matters of such great weight that the Bishops of the church had to seek the will of Holy Spirit together and decide a matter. It was during such times that the church
would meet in council. Bishops, Deacons, and laymen would travel miles, taking days, weeks and months to arrive at an agreed upon city. There is no doubt that what was decided upon in these Councils effected the church preserving for all time the faith we have today. What happened in these Councils? Who attended? Why did these men have the authority to decided anything pertaining to the church?

I have had the pleasure the past several months to attend a series of classes on the Early Church Councils. The class is taught by Deacon Michael Hyatt. Deacon Michael is a convert to Orthodoxy. Most notably he is the CEO of the largest and oldest Christian Publisher in North America, Thomas Nelson Publishers. He is a masterful speaker and communicator, down to earth, and full of humor. Deacon Michael has taken what could be a dull historic subject and made it interesting and
relevant to the hearer.
Thanks to Joel Smith of
The Orthodox Project every one of these classes has been recorded. You can take
part in these classes and thanks to a
roving microphone you will also hear the questions and
discussions of class members. Some of it gets pretty thick! The pod cast is FREE at
The Orthodox Project. You can also subscribe so you will be notified by e-mail when a new class is
available. Go there now and check it out. While you're there, pick up a copy of
The Wisdom of the Saints CD. Your inexpensive purchase will help fund
The Orthodox Project.
God Bless you and get ready to be challenged, because
"to be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant."