Saint Athenagoras and His Writings

 

By Vladimir Lovyagin 

In the inscription to the Apology, which scholars believe belongs to Athenagoras himself, he identifies himself as an Athenian and a Christian philosopher. Unfortunately, history has preserved no further details about the life of this apologist. Only two writers mention Athenagoras: Saint Methodios of Olympus (+ 311) and Philip of Side (+ 431). The former cites a passage from Athenagoras' Apology;* the latter said only a few words, which are highly questionable; Eusebius and Jerome remain silent about this writer.** Philip of Side remarks: "The head of the Alexandrian school was Athenagoras. He lived during the times of Hadrian and Antoninus, and presented his Apology in defense of Christians. He professed the Christian faith even at a time when he still donned the philosopher's toga and was a leader in the academy."

Intending to write against Christianity, in order to more surely achieve his goal, he commenced reading the holy books, and, captivated by the grace of the Holy Spirit, became a preacher of the very doctrine against which he had risen. His pupil was Clement of Alexandria, from whom Pantaenus learned. (See Dodvel. Dissertation on Irenaeus, at the end.) However, this is almost the only evidence, and much of it is contested, because in its private testimonies, it directly contradicts the account of the Church historian Eusebius, who lived before Philip and whose historical writings far surpass the meager compilation of Philip, which is poorly regarded according to the opinions of Socrates (Ecclesiastical History, Book 17, Chapter 27) and Patriarch Photios (Codex XXXV), and is grandly titled the History of Christianity. For instance, Philip incorrectly asserts that Athenagoras was the head of the Alexandrian school; for in that case, it is incomprehensible how the works of such a renowned figure could remain unknown even to Eusebius. Furthermore, Clement of Alexandria was not a teacher, but a student of Pantaenus, as clearly indicated by Eusebius (Ecclesiastical History, Book 5, Chapter 10) and Photios (Codex CIX).

The Epistle of Ignatius of Antioch to the Trallians

IGNATIUS, who is also Theophorus, unto her that is beloved by God the Father of Jesus Christ; to the holy Church which is in Tralles of Asia, elect and worthy of God, having peace in flesh and spirit through the passion of Jesus Christ, who is our hope through our resurrection unto Him; which church also I salute in the Divine plenitude after the apostolic fashion, and I wish her abundant greeting.

1. I have learned that ye have a mind unblameable and steadfast in patience, not from habit, but by nature, according as Polybius your bishop informed me, who by the will of God and of Jesus Christ visited me in Smyrna; and so greatly did he rejoice with me in my bonds in Christ Jesus, that in him I beheld the whole multitude of you. Having therefore received your godly benevolence at his hands, I gave glory, forasmuch as I had found you to be imitators of God, even as I had earned.

2. For when ye are obedient to the bishop as to Jesus Christ, it is evident to me that ye are living not after men but after Jesus Christ, who died for us, that believing on His death ye might escape death. It is therefore necessary, even as your wont is, that ye should do nothing without the bishop; but be ye obedient also to the presbytery, as to the Apostles of Jesus Christ our hope; for if we live in Him, we shall also be found in Him. And those likewise who are deacons of the mysteries of Jesus Christ must please all men in all ways. For they are not deacons of meats and drinks but servants of the Church of God. It is right therefore that they should beware of blame as of fire.

Saint Clement of Rome: the Great Apostolic Father

By Lambros Skontzos

 

One category of Fathers of our Church are called the "Apostolic Fathers". These are the disciples and successors of the Holy Apostles, who received our holy faith from them. One of them was Saint Clement, the Hieromartyr and third Bishop of Rome.

He came from Rome and lived at the end of the 1st century AD and was active during the reigns of the emperors Dometian (81-96), Nero (96-98) and Trajan (98-117). According to tradition, he was of royal descent.

His parents were called Faustus and Matthidia. Thanks to his noble origin and the financial comfort of his family, he had a brilliant education.

Encyclical for Pentecost and the Arrival of the Relic of Saint Polycarp in Nafpaktos

Beloved children in the Lord,

Today we celebrate the great day of Pentecost, on which the Holy Spirit came to the holy Apostles and made them glorious members of His Body, which is why the Church is the Body of Christ, while the Apostles became members of the Body of Christ.

This is indeed a great day, during which we celebrate the mystery of the Triune God, as Christ revealed to us. The Triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - have one essence, one energy, one nature, but they are Three Persons. In the Divine Liturgy we sing that we worship "Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Trinity, one in essence and inseparable."

The holy Apostles blessed the Christians, baptized them, imparted to them the Body and Blood of Christ for their sanctification. However, because the first Christians were multiplying, therefore the holy Apostles ordained other Bishops, who are their successors, so that the Christians would be blessed and sanctified.

On the Illustrious Saint Polycarp (St. Jerome)

 By St. Jerome

(On Illustrious Men, 17)

Polycarp, a disciple of the apostle John and by him ordained bishop of Smyrna, was the leader of all Asia, where he saw and had as teachers some of the apostles and of those who had seen the Lord.

He, on account of certain questions concerning the day of the Passover, went to Rome in the time of the emperor Antoninus Pius, while Anicetus was bishop of the Church in that city. There he led back to the faith many of the believers who had been deceived through the persuasion of Marcion and Valentinus, and when Marcion met him by chance and said "Do you know us" he replied, "I know the firstborn of the devil."