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In the early 4th century, the Emperor [[Constantine I]] claimed to have had a religious experience, although there was considerable scepticism about this among his contemporaries because he himself remained a catechumen until being received into the church on his deathbed. Nevertheless, he legalized Christianity, financed much church building in Rome under Pope Sylvester I, founded [[Istanbul|Constantinople]] as an explicitly Christian city and presided over the first Ecumenical Council, at Nicaea in 325.  Going to war with the co-Emperor of the east [[Lucinius]], Constantine won and became sole Emperor.  The age of persecution was over. In 380, Emperor [[Theodosius I]] accepted Christianity as the official religion of the [[Roman Empire]].  By the time of the fall of the Roman Empire in 476, the surrounding barbarian nations had been Christianized, although mostly they followed [[Arianism]].  Over the next few centuries, they embraced Catholicism.<ref>J. Herrin (1987) The Formation of Christendom. Fontana Press, London. </ref>

In the early 4th century, the Emperor [[Constantine I]] claimed to have had a religious experience, although there was considerable scepticism about this among his contemporaries because he himself remained a catechumen until being received into the church on his deathbed. Nevertheless, he legalized Christianity, financed much church building in Rome under Pope Sylvester I, founded [[Istanbul|Constantinople]] as an explicitly Christian city and presided over the first Ecumenical Council, at Nicaea in 325.  Going to war with the co-Emperor of the east [[Lucinius]], Constantine won and became sole Emperor.  The age of persecution was over. In 380, Emperor [[Theodosius I]] accepted Christianity as the official religion of the [[Roman Empire]].  By the time of the fall of the Roman Empire in 476, the surrounding barbarian nations had been Christianized, although mostly they followed [[Arianism]].  Over the next few centuries, they embraced Catholicism.<ref>J. Herrin (1987) The Formation of Christendom. Fontana Press, London. </ref>

During the [[Middle Ages]] the Church underwent a time of missionary activity and expansion. After numerous disputes between eastern and western churches that became more pronounced from the ninth century onwards, the Church underwent the [[Great Schism]] in 1054 that divided it into a Western (Latin) branch, which has been called the Catholic Church and an Eastern branch, which has become known as the [[Orthodox Church]]. Both traced their roots to the time of Jesus, but the Orthodox Church did not acknowledge the Pope as the one leader of the Church. Instead, it believed that the theology, law and rituals of the church should be agreed by the bishops meeting in Ecumenical Council, not dictated by a single individual. In effect, all patriarchs of national churches were regarded as equals.

During the [[Middle Ages]] the Church underwent a time of missionary activity and expansion. After numerous disputes between eastern and western churches that became more pronounced from the ninth century onwards, the Church underwent the [[Great Schism]] in 1054 that divided it into a Western (Latin) branch, which has been called the Catholic Church and an Eastern branch, which has become known as the [[Orthodox Church]]. Both traced their roots to the time of Jesus, but the Orthodox Church did not acknowledge the Pope as the one leader of the Church. Instead, it believed that the theology, law and rituals of the church should be agreed by the bishops meeting in Ecumenical Council, not dictated by a single individual.<ref>J. Herrin (1987) The Formation of Christendom. Fontana Press, London.</ref> In effect, all patriarchs of national churches were regarded as equals.

The second major schism was the [[Protestant Reformation]] in the 16th century. As a reaction to the increasing popularity of Protestantism the Roman Catholic Church began to undertake some reforms. Firstly from 1869–1870 during the [[First Vatican Council]]. It was during the [[Second Vatican Council]] (1962–1965) that the most comprehensive reforms were undertaken. The Roman Catholic Church stretched relations with other Christian communities and other religions. The Roman Catholic Church also issued directions for a revision of the liturgy.

The second major schism was the [[Protestant Reformation]] in the 16th century. As a reaction to the increasing popularity of Protestantism the Roman Catholic Church began to undertake some reforms. Firstly from 1869–1870 during the [[First Vatican Council]]. It was during the [[Second Vatican Council]] (1962–1965) that the most comprehensive reforms were undertaken. The Roman Catholic Church stretched relations with other Christian communities and other religions. The Roman Catholic Church also issued directions for a revision of the liturgy.