Church, History, Structure and Doctrine
Church, History, Structure and Doctrine
MODULE 5:The Barbarian Invasions
CKC-CAS | REL-ED | December 30, 1899
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 3 - CHURCH: HISTORY, STRUCTURE AND DOCTRINE
Church, History, Structure and Doctrine
Module 5: The Barbarian Invasions
Introduction:
Hello dear learners! Welcome to this module 5 on Rel. Ed 3 Church, History, structure and
Doctrine. This module helps you to understand that being the members of the Church one
should deepen the understanding of the characteristics of the church and their faith and
act according to Gods will. To deepen the understanding that the Church is the people of
God and its mission is to become the salt of the earth and light of the world.
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the module, the student is expected to:
1. Explain the significance of the barbarian invasion in our Church today.
2. Be the living witnesses as the people of God.
3. Compose a prayer for the people of god.
Learners General Instructions:
To be guided in achieving the objective of this module, do the following:
Read and follow instruction carefully.
Take note and record points for clarification
Do the activities and fully understand each lesson.
Answer the learners task after you have gone over all the lesson
Submit your works in our Google Classroom.
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 3 - CHURCH: HISTORY, STRUCTURE AND DOCTRINE
Church, History, Structure and Doctrine
The Barbarian Invasions (378 – 481 A.D.)
The Barbarians were north European populations.
Around the year 400, they began to migrate southward looking for new settlements,
exercising an ever increasing pressure on the Roman Empire, and eventually
brought it to complete ruin.
They were called the Barbarians because of their rude behavior and uncivilized
culture.
A. Visigoths
The Visigoths were the first Barbarians to
defeat the Roman Army. After breaking
through the northern borders, they sacked
Rome and left it in ruins (410 A.D.).
However, showing great respect for
the Church, they spared the lives of
those who took refuge inside the
basilicas of St. Peter and Paul.
B. VANDALS
The Vandals made wars throughout France
and Spain, inflicting destruction and
massacres. Eventually they extended
their cruel dominion over northern Africa.
St. Augustine died while the Vandals were
laying siege to the city of Hippo (429 A.D.).
C. HUNS
The Huns were the most terrible barbarians who
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 3 - CHURCH: HISTORY, STRUCTURE AND DOCTRINE
Church, History, Structure and Doctrine
invaded and plunder the empire.
Attila (The Scourge of God)- was at a point of
attacking Rome, Pope Leo the Great challenge
him with a cross and persuaded him to
return to his country.
D. Longobards
The Longobards made bloody raids throughout
Italy, bringing along famine and deadly
pestilence (568 A.D.).
During a penitential procession which he
organized to beg mercy from the Lord,
the people saw on the top of Castel,
St. Angelo a shining angel sheating his
sword, signifying that the pestilence was
about to finish.
The Role of the Church
During these troublesome years, the Church
devoted herself to protect the people and to
evangelize the Barbarians. Eventually, they were converted to Jesus Christ and
purified their culture from brutality and cruelty.
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 3 - CHURCH: HISTORY, STRUCTURE AND DOCTRINE
Church, History, Structure and Doctrine WEEK 7
THE MUSLIMS
The Muslims
The religion of Islam, whose members are
called Muslims, was founded in Arabia by
Mohammed (622).
Mohammed
A merchant of Mecca, he was married to a
rich widow, who bore him seven children.
At the age of 40 he said he received from Allah,
through the medium of the Archangel Gabriel,
the prophetic call, which he wrote down in the
book Koran.
Mohammed
His preaching was met with indifference and opposition in his
hometown. So he migrated to Medina, where he succeeded to
firmly establishing Islam (622 A.D.)
Mohammed based Islam on five pillars:
1. Profession of faith in Allah and in Mohammed as his
prophet
2. Five daily prayers facing towards Mecca and public prayer
in the mosque on Fridays
3. Fasting during the month of Ramadan from daybreak to
sunset
4. Almsgiving
5. Pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime to
kiss the black stone in the Kabal
The spiritual center of Islam is the Great
Mosque in Mecca. In its court there is the
Kaaba, the cubic structure which contains
the Black Stone.
Mohammed started preaching the
necessity o the holy war (Jihad) against
unbelievers. The people he met along the
way had but one choice: to become
Muslims or to be exterminated.
The Muslims conquered Arabia, Middle
East, North Africa, and Spain (712).
They prepared a great attack on Rome. In 846 more than
seventy ships loaded with the ferocious Muslim Saracens. For
what they thought was the final blow to the Church. In that
moment, the people joined the Christian soldiers against the
invaders, the Muslims were badly defeated and fled.
Church, History, Structure and Doctrine
Charlemagne
Pepin III – King of Franks
After the ruins of the Roman Empire (476 A.D.),
the Church was hard pressed by many
invaders, specially the Longobards.
Pope Stephen II appealed for help to Pepin III,
the king of Franks.
Pepin III accepted this noble mission and came
to the rescue of Rome.
At the conclusion of a successful campaign
against the Longobards, the king with the
famous “Treaty of Quierzy” , (754 A.D.)
donated to the Pope a portion of Central Italy, known as “The
States of the Church.”
Charlemagne
After the death of Pepin III, the Longobards
tried again to take possession of Rome.
This time they had to face the new king of
Franks - Charlemagne. As a powerful
warrior and skillful politician, Charlemagne
wiped away the Longobard Kingdom,
halted the Viking sea raids in Northern
Europe and defeated the Muslims in Spain.
Charlemagne not only restore peace and
independence to the Church, but also
promoted missions, arts, and schools.
His first concern was to create an educated
clergy with the proper understanding
of the Bible and of the Christian faith.
Pope Leo III, on Christmas Day of the
year 800, crowned him in St. Peter’s
Basilica as emperor of the newly founded
Holy Roman Empire.
Charlemagne was indeed a great hero, blessed with
extraordinary faith and energy, which he put at the service of
the Church and of all men. He attended the Mass daily, prayed
frequently, and protected the poor. He will be forever
remembered as an upright emperor, a faithful friend, and a
holy Christian.
The Orthodox Church
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Church, History, Structure and Doctrine
The religious schism between Rome and Constantinople took
place in the year 1054. the Papal Nuncio marched into the
cathedral of St. Sophia in Constantinople and place on the altar
the bull of excommunication against the Patriarch Michael
Cerularius who, in return, excommunicated Pope Leo XI.
The Orthodox rejected the primacy of the Pope and allow their
priest to marry. They call themselves Orthodox, which means
right teaching, insisting on their fidelity to the true faith of the
first seven ecumenical councils.
Learning Task:
Activity 1: Answer the Quiz-Chapters
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Church, History, Structure and Doctrine
Activity 2: Guide Question
1. How did the Church survive during the barbarian’s invasions?
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2. What are the similarities and differences between Muslim and
Christian?
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3. What is the reason of the separation between the Roman
Catholic Church and Orthodox church?
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4. Discuss the significance of Charlemagne in Roman Catholic
Church?
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5. To be alone with God is something extraordinary. How do you
envision yourself alone with God?
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Church, History, Structure and Doctrine
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Activity 3: Pray to Jesus
If you have a chance to visit Jesus in the blessed Sacrament and pray
to Him alone.
Write your personal prayer in the space provided.
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