From Last Week *Some Examples Of Monastic Leaders *Egyptians Monasticism And The Christian World

Egyptian Monasticism and the Christian World The Coptic Monasticism is the most profound spiritual revival that ever happened in all the history of the Church. It attracted people such as the Romans, Greeks, Cappadocians, Libyans, Syrians, Nubians, Ethiopians, etc. To practice angelic life in Egypt. The effect of the Coptic Monasticism on the Whole Christian World 1.Pope Athanasius introduced the monastic movement in Roman religious life and rote the book “Vita Antonii” (in A.D. 357) outlining the life of St. Anthony. 2.The Pachomian rules were translated into Greek (by Palladius)(Synaxarium) and Latin (by Jerome). St. Basil visited the Pachomian monasteries and was impressed.

Egyptian Monasticism and the Christian World 3. St. John Cassian,(360 – 399 AD) stayed 7 years in Egypt, wrote his famous books “the Institutes” and “the Conferences” 4. Evagrius Ponticus (346 – 399 AD) lived as a monk for two years in Nitria anthen fourteen years in the “Cells” 5. S. Jerome and St. Rufinus paid a visit to Egypt 6. Palladius, bishop of Helenopolis and historian of early monasticism, spend several yaers with monks of Egypt, where he was a disciple of Evagrius Ponticus, and composed his book “Lausaic History” 7. Mar Eugenius became a disciple of St. Pachomius and established a monastery in Nisibus Persia and translated the Pachomian Rules into Persian and Syrian.

Egyptian Monasticism and the Christian World 8. St. Hilarious of Palestine became a disciple of St. Anthony and returned to his own land to practice asceticism. 9. St. Epiphanius bishop of Salamis in Cyprus was instructed in monastic Coptic thought. 10. Etheria, a Spanish abbess or nun visited Egypt. 11. St. Melania the elder, a Roman lady, visited the desert of Egypt. 12. St. John Chrystostom stayed in one of the Pachomian monasteries in Upper Egypt.

Introduction * Aristopolous ( 4 B.C) tried to relate the five books of Moses to Philosophy. * Philo (20 B.C. – 55 A.D) explained logic and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. * The pagan philosophers studied the Bible in order to attack Christianity. Christians studies philosophy in order to answer the pagan philosophers. * The philosophers created other gospels and characters in imitation of The Bible and Christ. Division leads to Weakness Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. (Matthew 12:25)

Introduction * The philosophers attach Christianity with their dogma. (Pain from within the church weakened it) Persecution against the church. (Pain from outside it strengthened it ) Heresies arose from pagan philosophers who embraced Christianity but tried to preach other pagans and in the process fell into heresies of interpretation. (e.g. the Passover was on 16th of Nissan, crucifixion on 14th)

The School of Alexandria * Before Christianity was established in Alexandria this city was famous for its various schools. * The largest of these schools is called the “Museum”. It was founded by Ptolemy and it contained 200 to 500 thousand books and Manuscripts. *The Museum became the most famous school in the East. *Other schools were the Serapeum and Jewish schools. A Christian Institution was established in Alexandria to enable the church to face the battle of these other powerful schools. The Christian School of Alexandria is said to have been founded by St. Mark (as St. Jerome records).

The School of Alexandria * St. Mark was inspired by the Holy Spirit to establish this school in order to give Christianity a firm foundation. This school became the oldest centre for sacred sciences in the history of Christianity. The first system of Christian theology was formed and allegorical method of Biblical exegesis * The Main goal of the School of Alexandria was to discover everywhere the spiritual sense underlying the written word of the Scripture.

The Development of the School of Alexandria + The school began as a Catechetical School (i.e. oral instruction of those learning the principles of Christianity) admitting candidates to learn the Christian faith and some Biblical studies to qualify for baptism. + Admittance was open for all people regardless of their culture, age or background. + By the second century the school became very influential in the life of the church.

The Development of the School of Alexandria Characteristics 1.It quenched the thirst of Alexandrian Christians for religious knowledge and encouraged higher studies and created research work in a variety of fields. 2.It gave birth to many church leaders. 3.It won many souls to Christianity from Egypt and abroad through its missionary zeal 4.It attracted students from other nations who became leaders and bishops in their churches.

The Development of the School of Alexandria Characteristics 5.It established common awareness of the importance of education as a basic element the religious structure. Therefore every church in Egypt benefited from it in one way or another. 6.It contributed to the world the first systematic theological studies. 7. It used philosophy as a weapon for maneuvering pagan philosophers.

The Program of the School of Alexandria The school’s teaching was encyclopedic: presenting at first the whole series of profane sciences, then rising to moral and religious philosophy, and finally Christian theology. Three courses were available (as outlined by St. Clement in his three books) i)A special course to non-Christians which introduced them to the principles of Christianity ii)A course on Christian morals iii)And advanced course on Divine wisdom and sufficient knowledge for the spiritual Christian In this school worship went side by side with study. Teachers and students practiced praying, fasting and diverse ways of asceticism.

Why the Heresies? Simplicity in faith - Why dogma? The first church was nourished through dogma (The law of the faith of the Apostles) (Which is a shorter version of today’s Orthodox Creed) The early creed had to be memorized before baptism. (Rufitous (345 – 410) explained the creed)

Dogma 1 Cor Rom. 6:17 Acts 2:42 2 Tim 1-13 Jude 1:3 If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. Rom. 16:17-18 Gal Tit 3:10 Heb. 13:9 2 Pet 2:1 1 Jn. 4:1 3 Jn. 1:10