Changes

Greece was instrumental in the spread and subsequent growth of [[Christianity]]. The first town of (today's) [[Europe]] Paul set foot in was [[Philipi]] in Northern Greece and the [[Athens]] hill on which he preached is one of the most important  

Greece was instrumental in the spread and subsequent growth of [[Christianity]]. The first town of (today's) [[Europe]] Paul set foot in was [[Philipi]] in Northern Greece and the [[Athens]] hill on which he preached is one of the most important  

landmarks of the town. It is generally accepted that the Greek-speaking part of the [[Roman Empire]] was the first one to abandon paganism <ref>Renaissance and Reformation: The Intellectual Genesis, by A. Levi Yale University Press (2004) </ref> and certainly, [[Constantine|Constantine the Great]], the first Christian Roman Emperor, moved his capital to [[Constantinople]] in the Greek East. Most of the great Church Fathers were either Greek or primarily active in the Greek-speaking areas of the Empire <ref>The Teachings of the Church Fathers, by John Randolph Willis, Ignatius Press (2002)</ref>

landmarks of the town. It is generally accepted that the Greek-speaking part of the [[Roman Empire]] was the first one to abandon paganism <ref>Renaissance and Reformation: The Intellectual Genesis, by A. Levi Yale University Press (2004) </ref> and certainly, [[Constantine|Constantine the Great]], the first Christian Roman Emperor, moved his capital to [[Constantinople]] in the Greek East. Most of the great Church Fathers were either Greek or primarily active in the Greek-speaking areas of the Empire <ref>The Teachings of the Church Fathers, by John Randolph Willis, Ignatius Press (2002)</ref> (See: [[Greek influence on Western Culture]])

The [[Byzantine Empire]], as it was late called, was a continuation of the (Eastern) Roman Empire, but it was gradually identified with the Greek national conscience and the [[Greek-Orthodox]] Church. <ref>History of the Byzantine State, by G. Ostrogorski, Rutgers University Press (1986)</ref> The Byzantine State was dissolved after the conquest of [[Constantinople]] by the [[Ottoman Turks]] in 1453. The Greeks, along with the other Orthodox subjects of the Ottoman Empire, were represented by the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] of [[Constantinople]] and the Greek-Orthodox Patriarch was responsible for the obedience of the Orthodox subjects to the Sultan.

The [[Byzantine Empire]], as it was late called, was a continuation of the (Eastern) Roman Empire, but it was gradually identified with the Greek national conscience and the [[Greek-Orthodox]] Church. <ref>History of the Byzantine State, by G. Ostrogorski, Rutgers University Press (1986)</ref> The Byzantine State was dissolved after the conquest of [[Constantinople]] by the [[Ottoman Turks]] in 1453. The Greeks, along with the other Orthodox subjects of the Ottoman Empire, were represented by the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] of [[Constantinople]] and the Greek-Orthodox Patriarch was responsible for the obedience of the Orthodox subjects to the Sultan.