The aim of this course is to examine the institutionalization of Christianity from its birth and integration into the politics of the Eastern Roman Empire, its historical development, denominational divisions, christological debates and the political impact of the church on society in its historical context. Students will thus gain a basic knowledge of the development of Christianity from its early stages to the Reformation.

In this course, the historical development of the church institution since the emergence of Christianity will be discussed. Starting from the structure of early Christian communities, the period of the councils, relations with the Roman Empire, sectarian divisions (Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Protestantism), the Reformation and the transformation of the church institution in the modern era will be examined. At the same time, the theological, political, social and cultural impact of the church will be analyzed in historical context.