When he devised his table , Julian calendar years were identified by naming the consuls who held office that year -- he himself stated that the `` present year '' was `` the consulship of Probus Junior '' , which was 525 years `` since the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ '' .
When he devised his table , Julian calendar years were identified by naming the consuls who held office that year -- he himself stated that the `` present year '' was `` the consulship of Probus Junior [ Flavius Probus ] '' , which he also stated was 525 years `` since the incarnation [ conception ] of our Lord Jesus Christ '' .