The study of the Fathers Patrology The study of the Fathers

Where Patrology Fits In Our Orthodox Tradition: The Church believes that it has one source of revelation: the Tradition of the Church “Paradosis is the very life of the Holy Trinity as it has been revealed by Christ Himself and testified by the Holy Spirit” -G. Debis

What Is Patrology? Patrology is the science which deals with the life, acts, writings, sayings, doctrines and thoughts of the orthodox writers of the early church. + Life + Acts + Thoughts The word “Patrology” is derived from the Latin word “Pater” which means “Father.” In order to understand their writings and sayings, their lives and the environment in which they lived, must also be considered. Their acts: The writings, sermons, dialogues, letters… of the Fathers are inseparable from their own lives More importantly is the discovery of the thoughts of the Fathers, their dogma, doctrines and concepts concerning God, man, church, salvation, worship, creation, the body, the heavenly life

Why Should We Learn About The Fathers? St Athanasius in writing to Bishop Serapion in the early church states, “Let us look at that very tradition, teaching, and faith of the Catholic Church from the very beginning, which the Lord gave, the Apostles preached, and the Fathers preserved. Upon this the Church is founded.” The Letters of Saint Athanasius concerning the Holy Spirit. 1.28

What Do We Mean By “Father”? In the first century, teaching was a fatherly work. Not only presenting dogmas and doctrines, but a living experience “In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel” 1 Cor. 4:15 Through true Fatherhood, the bishops and priests, looked to “teaching” not merely as a fruit of theoretical dogmas, but of their fatherly love, through which they can repeat the words of St. Paul

What Do We Mean By “Father”? When a man learns from the mouth of another, it is said that he is the son of the person who teaches him, and the latter is called his father. –St Irenaeus I am a lover of the true teachings, pursuing the spiritual steps of my Fathers. -St. Cyril of Alexandria St Gregory of Naziazus: When I speak about St Athanasius… St Iraneus on St Polycarp I remember how he sat… Continuity***

What Makes A “Father”? Participates in Christian Literature Orthodoxy of Doctrine Holiness of Life Antiquity discourses, dialogues, letters, sermons, advises and (or) commentaries on some books of the Scripture. the “Father” examines the church life without deviation from orthodox doctrines Antiquity: Some scholars see that the Patristic epoch starts by the Apostolic Fathers down to the sixth century. Others take it further to the eighth century while others see that there is no specific era for the Fathers. They believe that it extends throughout all ages, for the Spirit of God is working in the Church of Christ, as in every age there are saintly teachers and “Fathers.” the Orthodox Church does not canonize the Fathers. She has no official list of Fathers, but suffices to proclaim the heretical writings and excommunicate the heretics until they return to the truth, denying their heresies. The Church has only a list of the saints who are referred to in the liturgy of the Eucharist and in the church hymns, asking for their prayers for the salvation of the world.

Orthodoxy of Doctrine Consensus Patrum: Consensus of the Fathers of the Church Example: Baptizing infants early Church, all the Fathers except Tertullian agreed

Holiness of Life Anyone who wishes to understand… must first cleanse his own life, and approach the saints by copying their deeds. Thus united to them in the fellowship of life, he will both understand the things revealed to them by God and, thenceforth escaping the peril that threatens sinners in the judgment, will receive that which is laid up for the saints in the kingdom of heaven. (On the Incarnation Ch. 57)

Groups of Fathers Apostolic Fathers Apologetic Fathers Schools: Alexandrian Fathers; allegorical Antiochian and Syrian Fathers; literal Cappodocian Fathers; mixture of both Apostolic Fathers – disciples of the Apostles; first and second centuries Leaders in the early Church; Lay Foundations for the early Christian communities The apologists aimed to defend the new Christian religion from the accusations and attacks of the surrounding society, including Jews, Judeo – Christians, Pagan philosophers, Roman Empire Trained in theology and philosophy; Wrote to define to faith Defend against the charge that Christianity was an enemy to the Roman State Expose the immorality of paganism Explain that Mosaic law only served a temporary purpose and that Christ is truth Demonstrate the excellence and truth of the Christian religion

Apostolic Fathers St. Clement of Rome c. 30 – c. 100 St. Ignatius of Antioch c. 30 – c. 115 St. Polycarp of Smyrna c. 70 – c. 156 St Clement: Disciple of St. Peter, bishop of Rome, key writing were the Epistles of Clement – stresses the importance of apostolic succession St Ignatius: Disciple of St. Peter, bishop of Antioch, believed to be the child Christ carried on His lap (Matt 18), 7 letters of St Ignatius, Epistle to Polycarp St Polycarp: Disciple of St. John, bishop of Smyrna, contemporary of St Ignatius, burned at the stake for refusing to worship Caesar and deny Christ, Letter to the Philippians St Polycarp’s Story: Quadratus: “Swear and I shall release thee: revile Christ!” Polycarp: “For six and eighty years I have been serving Him and He has done no wrong to me; how then dare I blaspheme my King who has saved me!”

St. Ignatius of Antioch Key themes in his writings: -The true faith: “Christ is fully God and fully man: -The Lord’s Supper: “the medicine of immortality” -The role of the Bishop: “…we must regard the bishop as the Lord Himself”

St. Ignatius of Antioch Pray for me that I may have strength both inward and outward. That I may not merely speak but I have also the will. That I may not only be called a Christian but may be found to be one. I write to the Churches and impress on them all, that I shall willingly die for God, unless you hinder me. I beseech of you not to show an unreasonable goodwill towards me. Suffer me to become food for the wild beasts, through whose instrumentality it will be granted me to attain to God. I am the wheat of God, and let me be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of Christ. Rather entice wild beasts that they may become my tomb, and may leave nothing of my body; so that when I have fallen asleep, I may not be a trouble to anyone. Then I should truly be a disciple of Christ, when the world shall not see so much as my body. Entreat Christ for me that by instruments I may be found a sacrifice.

Apologetic Fathers St. Justin Martyr c. 100 St. Irenaeus c. 140 – c. 202 Tertullian c. 160 - 225 St Justin: considered by many to be the most eminent apologist of the 2nd century; Trained Philosopher; disciple of Socrates and Plato; Came to Christianity the “True Philosophy” in his 30s “But straightaway a flame was kindled in my soul; and a love of the prophets, and of those men who are friends of Christ, possessed me… and I could wish that all men were of the same mind as myself, not to turn from the doctrines of the Savior.” (Dial. 8) St Irenaeus: Studied under St. Papias and St. Polycarp; Considered by many to be the first great theologian; 5 books, “Against Heresies”; refutes gnosticism Tertuillian, father, but scholar not saint.. Explain why and the distinction Defends Christianity against paganism, Gnosticism and other heresies, especially Marcionism Unfortunately, He became a Montanist around 207 AD and attacked Christianity violently

Alexandrian Fathers St Athanasius 297 – 373 AD St Cyril 375 – 444 AD Origen 184-253 AD A Common Father for the Universal Church and His Cyrillian formula ‘ ‘One incarnate nature of God the Word’ is the cornerstone in all ecumenical dialogues on Christology – ***technically last of the Fathers we accept, as Copts, because of the council of Chalcedon.. This does not mean that we don’t accept anything that holy men after them said, etc Conferred with the titles of honor such as: “The Daring Lion” “The Burnished Lamp” “The Great” “ The Pillar of Faith” “Seal of the Fathers” Described by some as: ‘The Prince of Bible Interpreters’ ‘The Prince of Christian Philosophy’ ‘The Teacher of Bishops’ Born to a righteous Christian family. His father, Leonides was a scholarly and saintly man who was martyred. Origen wrote to his father, while he was in prison, exhorting him to martyrdom Rented libraries overnight and was known to read while eating, walking, resting, etc. Appointed Dean of the School of Alexandria by Pope Demetrius (12th) at the age of 18 Became a teacher to many bishops and priests including Pope Heraclas, St. Gregory Nazianzen, St. Didymus the Blind, and St. Basil the Great Devoted himself to study the Bible allegorically Excommunicated by Pope Demetrius for: His Theological Mistakes Accepting priestly ordination in Palestine though not being entitled to priesthood due to his intentional castration Established the theological school of Ceasarea where he spent the rest of his life

St Athanasius In praising Athanasius, I shall be praising virtue. To speak of him and to praise virtue are identical, because he had, or, to speak more truly, has embraced virtue in its entirety. -St Gregory Nazianzus; Oration 21 On The Great Athanasius Deacon at the age of 15, and a priest at the age of 21 Served St. Anthony for 3 years Attended the Council of Nicaea, as a Deacon and the Pope’s secretary Formulated the Nicene Creed, approved by the council, to affirm the Divinity of Christ Canonized Bible Became the 20th Pope in 326 AD at the age of 28 In gratitude for his unique contribution the Universal Church conferred on him the titles: “Defender of the Upright Faith” “Champion of Orthodoxy” “The Apostolic”

Antiochian and Syrian Fathers St. Severus of Antioch 465 - 538 St. Jacob of Sarug 451 - 521 St Severus: One of the Major Church Figures along with St. Athanasius and St. Basil Staunch Defender of the Faith of St. Cyril and St. Dioscorous Mentioned in the Coptic Commemoration of Saints, directly after St. Mark and before the Patriarchs of the See of St. Mark St Jacob: “ Flute of the Holy Spirit and harp of the Orthodox Church” On the Mother of God It is easier to depict the sun with its light and heat than to tell the story of Mary and its splendor. - St. Jacob of Sarug

Cappodocian Fathers St Basil the Great c. 330 - 370 St Gregory Nazianzus c. 329 - 390 St Gregory Nyssa c. 330 - 395 St John Chrysostom c. 347 - 407 In the 4th Century, two Cappadocian families produced a trio of saints and scholars, (St Basil, his brother St. Gregory of Nyssa and their friend St. Gregory of Nazianzus) who may be said to have formed a local school of theological thought Stated to have used new forms to make the faith of St. Athanasius intelligible to contemporary thought “A good counselor, a skillful helper, and expounder of the Scriptures, an interpreter of his duties, the staff of his old age, the prop of his faith, more trustworthy than all his cleric, more experienced than any layman” - St. Gregory Nazianzus on St. Basil St Gregory the Theologian: Five Theological Orations - Five sermons delivered before the Church on his interpretation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Gregory of Nyssa: Brother to St. Basil the Great, St. Peter of Sebaste and St. Macrina the Younger Educated by his oldest sister Macrina St John Chrysostom – The Golden Mouth Tricked his friend St. Basil into accepting ordination while escaping from it himself; later wrote On the Priesthood Ordained Deacon in 381, Priest in 386 Ordained Patriarch of Constantinople in 398, against his will Wrongfully exiled but Pope Theophilus and the Empress Eudoxia on three separate occasions Spent three years in exile; Died in exile in the year 407 Was fully restored to the church, 31 years after his death in 438 The most extensive literary legacy of any Eastern Father

St John Chrysostom “I desire to ask one favor of you all, before I touch on the words of the Gospel; do not you refuse my request, for I ask nothing heavy or burdensome, nor if granted, will it be useful only to me who receive, but also to you who grant it, and perhaps far more so to you. What then is it that I require of you? That each of you take in hand that section of the Gospels which is to be read among you on the first day of the week, or even on the Sabbath, and before the day arrive, that he sit down at home and read it through, and often carefully consider its contents and examine all its parts well, what is clear, what obscure, what seems to make for the adversaries, but does not really so; and when you have tried, in a word every point, so go to hear it read. For from zeal like this will be no small gain both to you and to us. We shall not need much labor to render clear the meaning of what is said, because your minds will be already made familiar with the sense of the words, and you will become keener and more clear sighted not for hearing only, nor for learning, but also for teaching of others.” – St. John Chrysostom, Homily XI. John i.14 Theology is not Theoretical, but Practical and Pastoral Just like learning about the Fathers should no be history but rather an acquiring of the mind of Christ: Patrology is the door through which we can enter into the church and attain her spirit, which affects our inner life, conduct and behavior. Through Patrology, the acts of the Fathers are transferred into living thoughts and concepts which are based on a sound foundation, without ignoring the world around us.