Complex sentence: The Church father Tertullian (died ca.225) advised Christians not to participate in lamp-lighting on officially sanctioned days that had a religious character, but by the 5th century, ritualistic lamp-and candle-lighting had been adopted as Christian practices.
Split into simpler sentences: The Church father Tertullian (died ca.225) advised Christians not to participate in lamp-lighting on officially sanctioned days that had a religious character. By the 5th century, however, ritualistic lamp-and candle-lighting had been adopted as Christian practices.