Church Leaders

Great Cappadocians Land near modern day Turkey Paternal grandparents spent 7 years hiding in a forest under Decian’s reign Marcina’s (daughter) future husband died so she vowed to life of celibacy and contemplation Basil studied at Caesarea, Antioch, Constantinople, and Athens.

Great Cappadocians Basil was arrogant over his knowledge Marcina confronted him but to no avail Their brother Naucratius died though and this pushed Basil to search for answers Marcina then began teach him about Christianity

Basil Studied the monastic life Father of Greek monastic life Ordained as a presbyter and had conflicts with bishop of Caesarea When Valens became emperor (Pro-Arianism) the bishop worked out his differences with Basil

Basil Caesarea was in bad shape and rich were hoarding resources so Basil set up a “New City” outside of town Basil was elected bishop of Caesarea and Valens wanted to visit Valens ordered his men to subdue Basil through threats Threatened him with torture, confiscation, and even death

Basil Basil-All you can confiscate from me is the rags I am wearing and a few books. Nor can you exile me because God will be with me wherever I go. As to torture, I am already dead in Christ and death would be a great boon to me. Emperor-No on has ever spoken to me that way. Basil-Perhaps that is because you have never met a true Bishop

Council of Constantinople 381 Led by works Cappadocian Fathers Defined the difference in “ousia” meaning essence and “hypostasis” meaning substance The east and west came together to agree in one substance in three persons

Ambrose of Milan In 373 the bishop of Milan died who was Arian Controversy as to who would replace him Ambrose was the governor so he went to help hold down riots. When he spoke somoene yelled Ambrose Bishop He could not refuse because the emperor asked him to serve now

Ambrose He was a new convert but not baptized so they sped the process up He poured himself into his studies and became a great theologian Goths invaded his region which produced many refugees He melted gold from the church to feed them and of course people were upset

Ambrose Gratian and Valentinian (child) ruled western portion of empire Maximus usurped Graitan. Justina (Valentinian’s mother) asked Ambrose to meet with Maximus Ambrose and Justina clashed though over Arianism

Ambrose He had conflicts with Theodosius. Each was right in one instance and wrong in the other. Radical Christians burned down a synagogue. Emperor said they should be punished but Ambrose objected. Riot at Thessalonica where commander was killed by riots. He trapped those he had pardoned and slaughtered them. Ambrose refused to let him in church the next time

John Chrysotom A monk Returned to Antioch was ordained as deacon and then presbyter Became bishop in 398 of Constantinople He sought to reform the clergy Some who had taken vow of celibacy had “spiritual sisters”

John Church finances was in shambles although bishops were rich. Changed worship times to accommodate working people and ordered bishops to give back money Stood up to the palace chamberlain when he sent troops to exile them Emperor’s wife also disliked John because of his preaching against pomp and wealth

John He was exiled because of false charges brought up by emperor’s wife and some bishops helped her. Riots threatened and the earth quaked that night He was asked to return Exiled again and riots broke out. Fire started and his supporters were tortured. Pushed hard by soldiers and health failed.

Jerome Known as proud and perhaps even bitter at times Born in 348 and he was an admirer of classical learning Obsessed with sex and after his conversion tried to remove the thoughts but struggled Tried to learn Hebrew to pacify his mind but couldn’t

Jerome Gave up monastic lifestyle and became a presbyter Not tactful and made enemies among leaders of Roman church Left Rome and went to Jerusalem Founded a monastery in Bethlehem

Jerome Devoted most of his time to translating the Bible into Latin Direct translation fro Hebrew and know as the Vulgate Took heat from some because some texts had to be naturally altered Augustine criticized him for not using the Septuagint as his guide

Augustine of Hippo Born in 354 in Tagaste, North Africa Father was Roman official who was pagan but mother was a Christian who prayed for her husband’s conversion and he eventually did Sent to Carthage to study and soon had a concubine who bore him a son He wanted to speak and write properly and wasn’t concerned with truth

Augustine But, reading Cicero convinced him of the need for truth Led him to Manichaeism-Persian-We have 2 principles-light and darkness-light is spiritual and darkness is matter-Salvation existed in separating the 2 Like Gnosticism it was based on astronomical observation

Augustine He had 2 problems with Christianity-the writing was not elegant and the question of the origin of evil. Could God allow evil? Spent 9 years as a hearer of Manichaeism but didn’t go deep He then became a Neoplatonist-sought to reach the source of all being. Everything revolved around the One. Like a pebble hitting the water

Augustine He went to hear Ambrose as a professional but eventually as a seeker once he heard him preach His intellectual difficulties with Christianity had been solved But, couldn’t be a lukewarm Christian. Must give him his career and passions God give me chastity but not too soon

Augustine Take and read Put on Jesus and make no provision for the flesh Returned to Tagaste, sold most of his possessions and lived a monastic lifestyle devoted to prayer and writing

Augustine Against his wishes, he became a bishop in Hippo even though he was a co-bishop which was against rules. He was made bishop because of another rule against leaving your church. He became the champion of free will Will is created by God but capable of making evil decisions

Augustine Also had to fight Donatists (lapsed) Just War Theory-War must be just, must be waged by properly instituted authority, the motive of love must be central. Pelagius said sins could be overcome and salvation attained Augustine-Only freedom we have is to sin but redemption allows us freedom for both

5th Century When Augustine died, the Vandals were laying siege to Hippo In 410, Rome had been taken by Goths This was the fall in the west and political unity and peace was gone for a while Many invaders came to Christian faith but it took 1,000 years and is know as the middle ages