We read in Eusebius (Hist. Eccl., V, xxiii): “A question of no small importance arose at that time [i.e. the time of Pope Victor, about A.D. 190]. The dioceses of all Asia, as from an older tradition, held that the fourteenth day of the moon, on which day the Jews were commanded to sacrifice the lamb, should always be observed as the feast of the life-giving pasch [epi tes tou soteriou Pascha heortes], contending that the fast ought to end on that day, whatever day of the week it might happen to be.”

Irenaeus states that St. Polycarp, who like the other Asiatics, kept Easter on the fourteenth day of the moon, (14° day of Nisan)

whatever day of the week that might be, following therein the tradition which he claimed

to have derived from St. John the Apostle, came to Rome c. 150 about this very question,

but could not be persuaded by Pope Anicetus to relinquish his Quartodeciman observance.

Nevertheless he was not excommunicted from the Roman Church,

and St. Irenaeus, while condemning the Quartodeciman practice, nevertheless reproaches Pope Victor (c. 189-99) with having excommunicated the Asiatics too quickly without imitating the moderation of his predecessors.

THAT EASTER MUST BE CELEBRATED BY ALL THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ON THE SAME SUNDAY;

THAT THIS SUNDAY MUST FOLLOW THE FOURTEENTH DAY OF THE PASCHAL MOON;

THAT THAT MOON WAS TO BE ACCOUNTED THE PASCHAL MOON WHOSE FOURTEENTH DAY FOLLOWED THE SPRING EQUINOX;

THAT SOME PROVISION SHOULD BE MADE, PROBABLY BY THE CHURCH OF ALEXANDRIA AS BEST SKILLED IN ASTRONOMICAL CALCULATIONS, FOR DETERMINING THE PROPER DATE OF EASTER AND COMMUNICATING IT TO THE REST OF THE WORLD (SEE ST. LEO TO THE EMPEROR MARCIAN IN MIGNE, P.L., LIV, 1055).

Titus Flavius Clement was born around 150 AD We know nothing about his conversion He succeeded Panthenus in Alexandridria but

had to leave because of the persecution against Christians

Christocentric theology. The Logos is at the basis of his teachings

Baptism is considered as a regeneration and rebirth making us adopted children of God and brothers of Christ

Eucharist and penance ( references) The sacrament of marriage = an act of

collaboration with the Creator

Born in Alexandria, Egypt around 185 AD Christian parents His father martyred in 202 AD Frequented Clement’s school At the age of only 18 he was chosen to succeed

Clement as president of the Alexandrian school He journeyed to Caesarea, Rome, Africa and

Arabia He was imprisoned and tortured during the

Decian Persecution (251) Eusebius lists 2000 writings / Jerome mention 800

• Biblical works• Biblico-exegetical writings e.g.

homilies, commentaries• Apologetic works• Dogmatic works• Ascetic works and homilies• Letters• Misinterpreted, he was placed among

heretics in the 5th gen. Council of Constatinople.

Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus was born in Carthage in 160

Son of a centurion in the service of the proconsul of Africa

Received thorough education, studied law and became an advocate

193 AD he became a Christian, was ordained priest

202/205 he became a Montanist and attacked Catholicism violently

Founder of the Tertullianists, died after 220 AD

Apologetic writings, Dogmatico-Polemical works, Ascetical works – e.g. De Oratione, Ad Martyres etc...

he is the most prolific of the Latin writers

A distinguished member of the clergy up to 251 AD – known as a rigorist

In 251 he opposed Pope Cornelius and set himself up as the pope – he also had followers in the Empire

He demanded that the LAPSI of the Decian persecution be refused re-admission to the Church – St. Cyprian was also strict on re-admittance

He headed a schism that spread and lasted up to the 6th century. We know nothing of his death

Doctor of the Church Golden-mouthed (his name), born in

Antioch 381 ordained deacon - priest in 386 Famous preacher with no little problems

with the Roman authorities 397 AD Chrysostom was chosen Patriarch

of Constantinople as the successor of Nectarius

There he began a prominent reform of his church with no little opposition

Chrysostom was determined to keep a faithful and determined lead on the Gospel. He was rigorous with Empress Eudoxia who tried in all ways to get rid of him. Sent to exile on Pityus, on the Eastern extremity of the Black Sea, he died on the 14th September 407.

Works: Exegetical homilies, Discourses, Moral and Ascetic Treatises, Letters.

Not dying thus nobly only, but dying even with pleasure. For not as though about to be severed from life, but as called to a better and more spiritual life, so he beheld the wild beasts gladly.

Whence is this manifest? From the words which he uttered when about to die, for when he heard that this manner of punishment awaited him, “may I have joy,” said he, “of these wild beasts.”     Quoted from Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans,