CHURCH HISTORY: 3RD CENTURY - CENTURY OF PERSECUTIONS AND THE FOUNDING OF EASTERN MONASTICISM

Fragment of the Greek New Testament. The Manuscripts studied in the School of Alexandria. Inset, the icon of Sts. Perpetual and Felicity, martyrs of the faith.

1. FIFTH PERSECUTION

The third century scarcely dawned when the Roman State, by the will of Septimus Severus, once more drew the sword of persecution, and the Church was bathed for the fifth time in the blood of her loyal sons and daughters. The great St. Ireneus, mentioned before, the noble Perpetua and her slave Felicitas, all suffered martyrdom during this fifth persecution, 202-211.

In the beginning of this trial, in 203, Origen, one of the foremost of the apologists, became the head of the Cathedral School at Alexandria in Egypt. This school was one of the greatest if not one of the earliest educational institutions of the Church. Here, Origen with his great learning kept the torch of Christian knowledge brightly burning by teaching the Greek sciences as well as the Scriptures. He earned for himself the surname Adamantus, “the man of steel,” because of his untiring industry. Not all of his writings were free from error, however, and the Fifth General Council in the sixth century was forced to condemn them.

2. MONTANISM AND MANICHAEISM

Tertullian, the brilliant, was still writing in the early days of this century but unorthodox influences were eating away at his faith. In 212, he openly broke with the Church, embracing the Montanist sect which, under the leadership on Montanus, had been growing since 173. These heretics were characterized by over-strictness; they refused to admit that the Church has the power to forgive certain mortal sins.

Tertullian lived to an advanced age, but it does not appear that he returned to the Church. Strange and sorry end for one who, as a great champion of the Faith, fought so many battles against the heretics. Truly, faith is a gift which, once despised, is not easily regained.

The Montanists were not the only enemies the Church had to battle with during this period. A Persian by the name of Manes began to teach Manichaeism, which held that there were two eternal beings, Light and Darkness, constantly warring with each other for supremacy. Furthermore, he claimed that Christ had a body only in appearance. You may recall from your freshman year that Manichaeism was a form of Gnosticism.

3. THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH PERSECUTIONS

The cruel Maximinus the Thracian opened the sixth period of persecution (235-238), setting the precedent of state initiative in acting against the Christians which was avidly followed by the Emperor Decius in the terrible seventh persecution which followed leven years later (249-251). Many names were added to the glorious rolls of the martyrs. St. Agatha was put to death in this persecution. Origen died, after its close, from the effectof torments and imprisonment. Decius, determined to exterminate the Christians, employed every means of torture and torment in order to shake their constancy. Such was his fury that many renounced the Faith. These are known as the lapsi, that is, the “fallen.”

St. Catherine Monastery in Mount Sinai, one of the oldest in Christian History

4. MONASTICISM IN THE EAST

Many others of the faithful, in order to avoid the horrible ordeals and so to safeguard their Faith, fled to the dessert places, principally in Egypt. But when peace once more returned, a number of these, having tasted of silence and prayer in the solitude far from the turmoil of the pagan world, refused to return. Soon they were joined by others; some built groups of cells close together; others dwelt by themselves in caves or huts as hermits. All lived very simply as to food, apparel, and shelter, in imitation of Christ. They devoted their time to prayer and works of penance.

Monasticism may therefore be said to have begun about 250. However, before this many widows and deaconesses, as they were called, consecrated their lives to God; while there were still others living in virginity, devoting their time to prayer and good works in the midst of their families. Among these we may remember Sts. Agnes, Cecilia, and Agatha.

The outstanding personalities playing a leading role in the establishment of Monasticism were: St. Paul, the first hermit and Father of anchorites (242-342); St. Anthony, first abbot and founder of monastic life in common (251-358); and St. Pachomius, founder of monasteries of men and women governed by a Father Abbot (d. 348). These are the nucleus of the great religious congregations to come – those powerful auxiliaries of the Church, which are close to the heart of the Mystical Body of Christ.

Monasticism, in the order of God’s Providence, was destined to spread form the desserts of Egypt into all parts of the world. St. Hilarion introduced it into the East in the fourth century; and Sts. Ambrose, Augustine, and Jerome founded monasteries in the West in the fifth century. But it was to be St. Basil who would complete the basic perfection of the religious congregation by causing vows to be taken with the sanction of the Bishop.

5. PERSECUTION ENDS

Valerian (253-60) inaugurated the eight persecution and Aurelian was responsible for the ninth (270-5), again opening the flood-gates of suffering on the Christians. Unnumbered martyrs were added to the throngs of the Triumphant Church above.