Pantaenus
| Pantaenus of Alexandria | |
|---|---|
| Saint | |
| Born | unknown |
| Died | c. 200 |
| Canonized | pre-congregation |
| Feast | July 7 (Old Roman Calendar) June 22 (Coptic Tradition) |
| Attributes | lecturing from a pulpit |
Saint Pantaenus (d. ca. 200)[1] was a Christian theologian who founded the Catechetical School of Alexandria about AD 190. This school was the earliest catechetical school, and became influential in the development of Christian theology.
Pantaenus was a Stoic philosopher teaching in Alexandria. He converted to the Christian faith, and sought to reconcile his new faith with Greek philosophy. His most famous student, Clement, who was his successor as head of the Catechetical School, described Pantaenus as "the Sicilian bee"[2]. Although no writings by Pantaenus are extant,[3] his legacy is known by the influence of the Catechetical School on the development of Christian theology, in particular in the early debates on the interpretation of the Bible, the Trinity, and Christology. He was the main supporter of Serapion of Antioch for acting against the influence of Gnosticism.
In addition to his work as a teacher, Eusebius of Caesarea reports that Pantaenus was for a time a missionary, traveling as far as India where, according to Eusebius, he found Christian communities using the Gospel of Matthew written in "Hebrew letters", supposedly left them by the apostle Bartholemew. [4] This may indicate that Syrian Christians, using a Syriac version of the New Testament, had already evangelized parts of India by late second century; certainly the earliest Indian churches derive from Syrian missions, and used Syriac Bibles. However, some writers have suggested that having difficulty with the language of Saint Thomas Christians, Pantaenus misinterpreted their reference to Mar Thoma (Bishop Thomas), who is currently credited with evangelizing India by the Syrian churches in India, as Bar Tolmai (the Hebrew name of Bartholomew). Others say Eusebius may have confused India with Arabia or Ethiopia as was done by some other Greek writers.
Saint Jerome, apparently relying entirely on Eusebius' evidence from Historia Ecclesiastica, wrote that Pantaenus visited India, “to preach Christ to the Brahmans and philosophers there. ”[5] It is unlikely that Jerome has any information about Pantaenus' mission to India that is independent of Eusebius. On the other hand,his claim that "many" of Pantaenus' Biblical commentaries were still extant is probably based on Jerome's own knowledge.
His feast day is July 7 (June 22 in the Coptic tradition).
[edit] References
- ^ "As he was succeeded by Clement who left Alexandria about 203, the probable date of his death would be about 200. " (Catholic Encyclopedia)
- ^ Clement, Stromata, 1.1.
- ^ Although Lightfoot (Apost. Fathers, 488), and Batiffol (L'église naissante, 3rd ed., 213ff) attribute the concluding passages of the Epistle to Diognetius to Pantaeus; see "Pantaenus" in The Westminster Dictionary of Christian History, ed. Jerald Brauer.
- ^ Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica 5.10
- ^ De viris illustribus 36
[edit] External links
- "St. Pantænus, Father of the Church", Butler's Lives of the Saints
- Saint Bartholomew Mission in India- Mission of Pantaenus in India
- Catholic Encyclopedia, s.v. "Saint Pantaenus"
- Saint Pantaenus in For all the Saints
