Church History, Part 4

Servants Preparation Curriculum

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Church History, Part 4 – Popes, Monasticism, Persecution, and Heresy

Objectives:

1. To learn about the most famous Popes
2. To recognize the beginning of the monasticism
3. To understand the scope of Roman Persecution of Christians
4. To study the old heresies and their refutations them

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Satanic Attacks on The Church

• The 3^rd century is characterized with different methods of satanic attacks on church:

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1. Persecution
2. Heresies

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Popes

1. 1- Heraclas/Yaraklas (13)
1. The first Pope to be called PAPA
2. He was from non-Christian family and was baptized and ordained deacon, then a priest as the head of the Alexandrian school
3. He ordained 20 bishops
2. Dionysius (14)
• He was from non-Christian family non-Christian family
• He worshiped The Stars
• One time, a woman sold him part of St. Paul’s Epistle which he admired and the next day he bought another one. Finally, The woman told him to go to church where he can read all of St. Paul Epistles for free! He went and met the priest and then was baptized

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Popes Cont.

2. Dionysius (14) Cont.
• He was baptized, ordained a deacon, then a priest
• He was the Dean of The Alexandrian School
• He was persecuted, jailed, exiled, and then returned to his church

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Popes Cont.

2. Dionysius (14) Cont.

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Popes Cont.

3. Maximus (15)
• He lead The Antiochian Council and excommunicated Paul the Samosata

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• Theonas (16)
• He built the first Church to St. Mary in Alexandria
• Interesting story - A sterile priest’s wife told him that she had a vision that St. Paul and St. Peter appeared to her and told her that she will have a baby. One year later, she had the boy, went to Pope Theonas, who named him Peter. He later he became Pope Peter the First (Pope 17)

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Popes Cont.

Pope Peter 1^st The Seal of The Martyrs

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Church History, Part 4 – Popes, Monasticism, Persecution, and Heresy

Objectives:

1. To learn about the most famous Popes
2. To recognize the beginning of the monasticism
3. To understand the scope of Roman Persecution of Christians
4. To study the old heresies and their refutations them

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Monasticism

The Commencement of The Monastic Life

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• There are many great saints including:
• St. Paul The Hermit
• St. Anthony The Father of The Monks
• St. Makarius the Great/Honorable
• St. Maximus and St. Domadius
• St. Paphnutius The Confessor

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Monasticism Cont.

St. Paul St. Anthony

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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A Quote from St. Anthony

“When you lie down on your bed to sleep, remember with thanksgiving the blessings and the providence of God”

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“I saw the snares that the enemy spread out over the world and I said groaning, ‘What can get through such snares?’ Then, I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Humility’”

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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A Quote from St. Makarius The Great

“Judge yourself before others judge you”

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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St. Maximus and St. Domadius

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Church History, Part 4 – Popes, Monasticism, Persecution, and Heresy

Objectives:

1. To learn about the most famous Popes
2. To recognize the beginning of the monasticism
3. To understand the scope of Roman Persecution of Christians
4. To study the old heresies and their refutations them

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Roman Persecution

Causes

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1. Divide the Egyptian people based on religious differences and to rule the country
2. To satisfy their angry Gods because of Christianity
3. To blame the plagues (Diphtheria) on Christians
4. Conspiracy from the idol priests and Jewish people

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Persecution Cont.

Forms of persecutions:

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• Firing from jobs, looting/burning their homes, dragging them to courts and jail, flogging, thrown into boiling oil, killing, etc.
• Either offer a sacrifice to the idols or turn yourself into one
• Thousands fled their homes and cities - including Pope Dionysius
• Marked the decline in number of clergy and congregation, but “The gates of Hades will not prevail”

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Persecution Cont.

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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St. Paphnutius The Confessor

• He was a disciple of St. Anthony’s who was later ordained a Bishop and was persecuted. His right eye was plucked out and was he was honored by Emperor Constantine who used to bow down and kiss his injured eye!

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Church History, Part 4 – Popes, Monasticism, Persecution, and Heresy

Objectives:

1. To learn about the most famous Popes
2. To recognize the beginning of the monasticism
3. To understand the scope of Roman Persecution of Christians
4. To study the old heresies and their refutations them

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Heresies and False Doctrines

1. Tebos (1000 years kingdom)
• He was the Bishop of Fayoum (South Cairo)

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• Hersey
• He declared that Jesus will start his millennium (1000 years of governance on earth according to book of Revelation)
• Pope Dionysus confronted him and published a book explaining Revelations

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Heresies and False Doctrines Cont.

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Heresies and False Doctrines Cont.

2. Paul of Samosata (Pope & Governor – Dual Authorities)
• Pope of Antioch/Syria and he had approximately 100 servants around him

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• Hersey
• He declared that Jesus was born as a man and that The Holy Spirit came upon Him at baptism and this enabled Him to perform miracles – which then left Him before crucifixion

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Heresies and False Doctrines Cont.

• Response to The Hersey:

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• Pope Dionysius (14) and Pope Maximus (15) confronted him
• Two councils were held to correct this belief and finally he was excommunicated and replaced in the church

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“And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you”

• A Godly Name at His Birth!

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Heresies and False Doctrines Cont.

2. Paul of Samosata (Pope & Governor – Dual Authorities)

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Heresies and False Doctrines Cont.

3. Manny
• He was born in Iran and was a star worshipper
• He converted to Christianity and tried to merge the two religions - Astrology and Christianity
• He declared himself (Manny) as The Holy Ghost/Spirit who came to save the world
• He wrote his own Gospel
• He ordered that his people abstain from certain foods and marriage

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Heresies and False Doctrines Cont.

3. Manny
• He ordained 12 disciples and 72 apostles and send them to India and China
• He tried to heal the Persian King’s son, but failed – so he was jailed and escaped to Palestine and then to Saudi Arabia
• Finally, the Persian King captured him and killed him
• St. Paul prophesized about him in his epistle to Timothy (1 Timothy 4:1-4)

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Heresies and False Doctrines Cont.

• Why Heresies?
• A strong war from the devil against Christianity that attacks the religion from within
• A lack of clear understanding of the Christian Fundamentals/Basic Belief/Core Values
• Diverse religions and beliefs from the new converts who tried to merge their old religions in with Christianity
• The heretics exhibit great self pride, ego, and stubbornness

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Heresies and False Doctrines Cont.

• How to resist Heresies?
• Stick to the established explanation of The Bible, Dogma, and Theology
• Ask questions if you do not understand
• Do not make your own theories/rule
• Be humble and willing to learn

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Persecution vs Heresies

• Which one hurt the church more?

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Church History, Part 4 – Popes, Monasticism, Persecution, and Heresy

Objectives:

1. To learn about the most famous Popes
2. To recognize the beginning of the monasticism
3. To understand the scope of Roman Persecution of Christians
4. To study the old heresies and their refutations them

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Review Quiz

1. How did Pope Dionysius convert to Christianity
2. Who named Pope Peter the 1^st at his birth
3. Name 2 famous Roman monks
4. Which heretic claimed that Jesus will reign for 1000 years
5. Which heretic was a pope and a governor at the same time
6. Which heretic declared himself as The Holy Spirit
7. How do you refute new heresies

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Memorization Verses

1. “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown” (Revelation 3:11)

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• “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word” (Psalm 119:11)

Lecture 51, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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