Church History & Patrology CourseChurch History & Patrology Course

• Course OverviewCourse Overview+ Church History by the century+ Church History by the century+ Meaning and importance of “Patrology”+ Meaning and importance of “Patrology”

• Course ReferencesCourse References+ Church historians+ Church historians+ Anti-/Post-Nicene and Nicene + Anti-/Post-Nicene and Nicene

FathersFathers

• Course Operation Course Operation

L1: The Church in the 1L1: The Church in the 1stst Century Century

1) The Coptic Church is an 1) The Coptic Church is an Apostolic ChurchApostolic Church

2) The Apostolic Churches of the 2) The Apostolic Churches of the 11stst century century

3) Famous Persons of the 3) Famous Persons of the Apostolic EraApostolic Era

1)1) The Coptic Church is ApostolicThe Coptic Church is Apostolic

+ The Apostolic Era and Church + The Apostolic Era and Church

+ The 1st Christian Church+ The 1st Christian Church

+ Who are the Copts?+ Who are the Copts?

+ Egypt before St Mark+ Egypt before St Mark

+ The See of St. Mark+ The See of St. Mark

The Apostolic Era and Church The Apostolic Era and Church

• The Apostolic EraThe Apostolic Era30 to 100 AD30 to 100 AD

• What is an Apostolic Church?What is an Apostolic Church?Unbroken historical connection to Unbroken historical connection to the first Church (founded by the the first Church (founded by the Holy Spirit on the Pentecost Day)Holy Spirit on the Pentecost Day)

The 1The 1stst Christian Church Christian Church

• BirthBirth: Pentecost; Acts 2:1-4, 14-36: Pentecost; Acts 2:1-4, 14-36

• ChallengesChallenges: Jews and Pagans: Jews and Pagans

• SpreadSpread: Europe, Asia and Africa: Europe, Asia and Africa

• SuccessSuccess: Holy Spirit, Acts 4:7-12, : Holy Spirit, Acts 4:7-12, 8:26-29, 39-40, 13:2, 9-11, 15:288:26-29, 39-40, 13:2, 9-11, 15:28

Who are the Copts?Who are the Copts?

• CoptsCopts: from Greek “Aigyptos”: from Greek “Aigyptos” • Sons of PharaohsSons of Pharaohs::

+ Religious beyond any other race+ Religious beyond any other race+ Scientific background was + Scientific background was subjected to religionsubjected to religion+ Religious dogmas (triads, one + Religious dogmas (triads, one supreme being, 2supreme being, 2ndnd life, cross) life, cross)

Egypt before St MarkEgypt before St Mark

• Egypt in the Holy BibleEgypt in the Holy Bible: : + Refuge: Abraham (Gen 12, + Refuge: Abraham (Gen 12, Moses (Exodus), Jer 41, 43Moses (Exodus), Jer 41, 43

+ Blessed: Hos 11:1, Isa 19:1+ Blessed: Hos 11:1, Isa 19:1

• The Holy Family in EgyptThe Holy Family in Egypt::+ Called by God to Joseph (Mt + Called by God to Joseph (Mt 2:13-15)2:13-15)+ Well documented in references + Well documented in references

The See of St. MarkThe See of St. Mark

• Christianity in EgyptChristianity in Egypt::+ Christian Jews before St. Mark, + Christian Jews before St. Mark, Acts 2:10, 18:24-28, Theopilus (Lk)Acts 2:10, 18:24-28, Theopilus (Lk)

• St. Mark the FounderSt. Mark the Founder: : + One of the 70 Apostles+ One of the 70 Apostles

+ Born at 3 AD, Gospel at 60 AD, + Born at 3 AD, Gospel at 60 AD, Egypt at 61 AD, martyred at 68ADEgypt at 61 AD, martyred at 68AD

2) The Apostolic Churches 2) The Apostolic Churches (of the 1(of the 1stst century) century)

• JerusalemJerusalem

• AntiochAntioch

• AlexandriaAlexandria

• RomeRome

The Church of JerusalemThe Church of Jerusalem(mother of all Christian Churches)(mother of all Christian Churches)

• St James is the 1St James is the 1stst bishop, then bishop, then his brother St Simon the son of his brother St Simon the son of Kolb after his martyrdom in 62 ADKolb after his martyrdom in 62 AD

• Martyrdom of St. Stephen => the Martyrdom of St. Stephen => the spread of Christianity to Judea and spread of Christianity to Judea and Samaria; Acts 8:1, 14&15, 11:22Samaria; Acts 8:1, 14&15, 11:22

The Church of Antioch (Syria)The Church of Antioch (Syria)(1(1stst Gentile Church) Gentile Church)

• Sts Paul & Barnabas ministered Sts Paul & Barnabas ministered in Antioch (Acts 11:22-26) before in Antioch (Acts 11:22-26) before St. Peter went to it (Gal 2:11). He St. Peter went to it (Gal 2:11). He is considered the 1is considered the 1stst bishop. bishop.

• The 1The 1stst Church to call the Church to call the believers Christians and was the believers Christians and was the base of St Paul’s tripsbase of St Paul’s trips

The Church of Alexandria (Egypt)The Church of Alexandria (Egypt)(1(1stst Theologian School) Theologian School)

• St Mark is regarded as the first St Mark is regarded as the first of unbroken 117 patriarchs and the of unbroken 117 patriarchs and the 11stst of a stream of Egyptian martyrs of a stream of Egyptian martyrs

• He founded the 1He founded the 1stst Christian Christian theologian school to replace the theologian school to replace the pagan schoolpagan school

The Church of Rome (Italy)The Church of Rome (Italy)

• Founded by St Paul (Acts 23:11, Founded by St Paul (Acts 23:11, Rom 1:7/13, 15:20, Gal 2:7-9)Rom 1:7/13, 15:20, Gal 2:7-9)

• The Catholic Church regards St. The Catholic Church regards St. Peter as the 1Peter as the 1stst patriarch of 265 patriarch of 265 patriarchspatriarchs

3) Famous Persons 3) Famous Persons of the Apostolic Eraof the Apostolic Era

a)a)The Twelve DisciplesThe Twelve Disciples

b)b)The Seventy ApostlesThe Seventy Apostles

c)c)The Church FatherThe Church Father

The Twelve DisciplesThe Twelve Disciples

• The original disciples (Mt 10:2-4)The original disciples (Mt 10:2-4)

• St Matthias was one of the 70 St Matthias was one of the 70 Apostles and was chosen to Apostles and was chosen to replace Judas the Iscariot (Acts replace Judas the Iscariot (Acts 1:15-26) 1:15-26)

The Seventy ApostlesThe Seventy Apostles

• The calling and sending of the The calling and sending of the 70 Apostles (Luke 10:1-16) 70 Apostles (Luke 10:1-16)

• Famous among the 70 Apostles Famous among the 70 Apostles are Sts Barnabas, Luke, Markare Sts Barnabas, Luke, Mark

• St Paul was chosen by God St Paul was chosen by God after His Ascension (Acts9:1-22)after His Ascension (Acts9:1-22)

Famous Church FathersFamous Church Fathers(of the 1(of the 1stst Century) Century)

• Clement of RomeClement of Rome

• Ignatius Bishop of AntiochIgnatius Bishop of Antioch

• Polycarp bishop of SmyrnaPolycarp bishop of Smyrna

• Ref=> http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/Ref=> http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/

Saint Clement of RomeSaint Clement of Rome

++ 33rdrd bishop of Rome; 93-101AD bishop of Rome; 93-101AD

++ St Paul mentions him in Phil 4:3St Paul mentions him in Phil 4:3

++ Among his writings, the epistle Among his writings, the epistle to the Church of Corinth is the to the Church of Corinth is the oldest authentic Christian doc oldest authentic Christian doc outside the N.T.outside the N.T.

Saint IgnatiusSaint Ignatius(Theophorus = God Bearer)(Theophorus = God Bearer)

++ 33rdrd bishop of Antioch; 98-117AD bishop of Antioch; 98-117AD

++ He was a disciple to St. JohnHe was a disciple to St. John

++ En route to martyrdom, he wrote En route to martyrdom, he wrote epistles that preserved the early epistles that preserved the early Christian theology Christian theology

Saint PolycarpSaint Polycarp

++ 11stst bishop of Smyrna; 69-155AD bishop of Smyrna; 69-155AD

++ He was a disciple to St. John He was a disciple to St. John and was the angel praised by and was the angel praised by Christ in Rev 2:8-11Christ in Rev 2:8-11

++ Among his famous writings is Among his famous writings is the epistle to the Philippiansthe epistle to the Philippians