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First Council Of Constantinople

FIRST COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE Summoned by Emperor Theodosius I and convened at Constantinople in May and June 381, and recognized as the second ecumenical council. About 150 bishops from the eastern provinces of the empire attended, to which may be added thirty-six “Macedonian” bishops, mainly from western Asia Minor, whom the emperor and the council …

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Republic Plato 588a-589b (NHC VI, 5)

Books / By Armia FAYEZ

REPUBLIC PLATO 588A-589B (NHC VI, 5) A fractured and Gnosticizing Coptic translation of Socrates’ parable on the human soul in Book 9 of Plato’s Republic, a text quite popular in philosophical and religious circles. The translation was evidently produced in a Gnostic setting, probably in early fourth-century Egypt. GAWDAT GABRA Tags: Books

Archdeacon

System / By Arsanious Adel

ARCHDEACON The rank of archdeacon dates back to the apostolic age. Having appointed seven deacons, “men of good repute, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom,” the apostles selected one of them, Stephen, to be their chief (Acts 6:1-6). However, no mention is made to this particular rank in the letter written by Cornelius, …

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Rufinus (C. 345-410)

Eminent / By Armia FAYEZ

RUFINUS (c. 345-410) Rufinus Tyrannius was born at Concordia in North Italy about 345 and in 371 was baptized at Aquileia, where he lived until he began his travels in the Middle East. He lived in Egypt for six years before going to Jerusalem for two years, after which he returned to Egypt for two …

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Theophilus

Eminent / By Armia FAYEZ

THEOPHILUS The twenty-third patriarch of the See of Saint Mark (385-412). A complex and controversial patriarch, Theophilus was much admired for his many writings, his destruction of pagan temples and subsequent church-building program, as well as his important role as a mediator of schisms at Antioch, Bostra, and Jerusalem during the early part of his …

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John Of Nikiou

Eminent / By Armia FAYEZ

JOHN OF NIKIOU A seventh-century bishop of Nikiou in the Prosopite nome, in the southwest Delta—a place already known in the third century B.C. All that we know of his life is contained in the HISTORY OF THE PATRIARCHS. In the History he is present at the death of the patriarch JOHN III of Samannud …

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Saint Judas Cyriacus

Eminent / By Armia FAYEZ

SAINT JUDAS CYRIACUS A second-century bishop of Jerusalem associated in legend with the discovery of the cross. In connection with Judas Cyriacus we must distinguish history from legend. EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA is the earliest witness that Judas was the fifteenth bishop of Jerusalem, after James, the brother of the Lord. But Eusebius himself was astonished …

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Libanius (C. 314-395)

Eminent / By Armia FAYEZ

LIBANIUS (c. 314-395) An Antiochene sophist and rhetorician, and a champion of pagan classical literature. He was an admirer and supporter of the apostate emperor JULIAN, but he also numbered among his friends and students the Christians JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, BASIL THE GREAT, and THEODORUS OF MOPSUESTIA. As a young man Libanius spurned the teachers in …

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Liturgical Vestments

Liturgy / By Armia FAYEZ

LITURGICAL VESTMENTS The concept of devoting special apparel for use at worship services has its origin in the Old Testament where God commanded Moses to prepare sacred garments that would impart dignity and grandeur to his brother, Aaron, and his sons (Ex. 6:3; Nm. 3:2). Vestments for the high priest included a breast piece, an …

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Saint Theognosta

Eminent / By Armia FAYEZ

SAINT THEOGNOSTA A fifth-century virgin who introduced Christianity to Georgia (feast day: 17 Tut). (Caucasian Georgia). The legend of the conversion of Georgia to Christianity has in Coptic one of its most complex and impressive witnesses. But as often happens in Coptic sources, the legend, unrecognizable in the scattered Sahidic fragments, is not told in …

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