Worship is vibrant, involving music, prayer, and spiritual gifts. Key practices include baptism, communion, and active missionary work. With a strong presence worldwide, especially in Africa and Europe, the church is distinct in its focus on apostolic authority and structured governance based on early church principles.

1. Nero's Persecution (64 AD): After the Great Fire of Rome, Emperor Nero blamed Christians, leading to brutal tortures and executions. Many were crucified, burned alive, or fed to wild animals. This was the first organized attempt to eliminate Christianity in Rome.

2. Domitian's Persecution (81-96 AD): Emperor Domitian targeted Christians who refused to worship him as a deity. While not as widespread as later persecutions, it marked a period of intense oppression, especially among Christians in Rome and Asia Minor.

• Edicts Against Christians: Diocletian issued several edicts mandating the destruction of churches, burning of scriptures, and loss of legal rights for Christians. Sacrifices to Roman gods were required, and refusal led to imprisonment or execution.

• Widespread Violence: Christians were tortured, forced to renounce their faith, or killed in brutal ways. It affected all levels of society, with church leaders particularly targeted.

The persecution finally ended in 311 AD, when Emperor Galerius issued the Edict of Toleration, allowing Christians to practice their faith. This persecution strengthened the resolve of the Christian community and ultimately led to Christianity’s legalization under Emperor Constantine in 313 AD with the Edict of Milan.

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1. Council of Nicaea (325 AD): Convened by Constantine, this council rejected Arianism (which denied Christ’s divinity) and established the Nicene Creed, affirming Jesus as "true God from true God."

2. Council of Constantinople (381 AD): This council expanded the Nicene Creed to affirm the divinity of the Holy Spirit, further defining the doctrine of the Trinity.

3. Council of Chalcedon (451 AD): Addressed debates on Christ’s nature, affirming that Jesus was both fully divine and fully human in one person.

These councils helped define orthodox Christian beliefs, unifying doctrine and guiding the church’s teachings across the growing Christian empire.

1. Gnosticism: This belief system claimed special, secret knowledge of salvation and viewed the material world as evil, conflicting with Christian teachings on creation and the incarnation of Christ.

2. Arianism: Founded by Arius, this heresy argued that Jesus was a created being and not fully divine. This view was rejected at the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) but persisted in parts of the empire, causing significant division.

3. Nestorianism: Taught that Christ’s divine and human natures were separate, essentially dividing Jesus into two persons. The Council of Ephesus (431 AD) condemned this, affirming that Jesus is one person with both natures.

4. Monophysitism: Claimed that Christ had only one nature (either divine or a mixture of divine and human). This view was rejected at the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD), which affirmed the dual nature of Christ.

These and other heresies prompted early councils to define orthodox Christian beliefs more clearly, helping to preserve core doctrines and unify the church.