History of the Christian Church
In this profound lecture, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains the history of the Christian Church from its early beginnings, focusing on the Apostolic Churches and their role in shaping the faith, while clarifying how theological and political factors influenced the order of the Church Sees throughout history.
🔹 The First Churches and Their Importance:
The oldest Church in the world is the Church of Jerusalem, from which Christianity began and which is “the Mother of all Churches.” Then come the Churches of Alexandria and Antioch as the oldest Apostolic Sees after Jerusalem, both distinguished by their Orthodox faith from the beginning.
🔹 The Council of Nicaea and the Ecumenical Councils:
His Holiness discusses the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325 AD), which recognized four major Sees: Alexandria, Rome, Antioch, and Jerusalem. He explains that Jerusalem was oldest in time but not strongest in influence, while the Alexandrian See was the leading theological authority.
🔹 The School of Alexandria and Its Role:
His Holiness highlights that the Theological School of Alexandria was the oldest theological school in the world, from which came great theologians such as Origen, Athanasius, and Cyril the Great. Even simple patriarchs like Demetrius the Vinedresser showed deep wisdom, judging Origen’s heresy and establishing the Easter calculation system used by all churches.
🔹 Theological Leadership of the Alexandrian See:
The Coptic Church led the Ecumenical Councils through faith and knowledge, as Deacon Athanasius led the Council of Nicaea and Pope Cyril the Great presided over the Council of Ephesus. Thus, the Alexandrian See became the theological light of the Universal Church.
🔹 Political Influence and Schisms:
The Pope explains how politics affected the Church, especially at the Second Ecumenical Council of Constantinople (381 AD), when Rome and Constantinople were elevated for purely political reasons. Later came the great schism at the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD), where Pope Dioscorus was unjustly condemned for defending the doctrine of the One Nature of Christ.
🔹 Church History under Foreign Rule:
His Holiness clarifies that Al-Muqawqas was never the leader of the Copts but a Roman governor. Pope Benjamin I (the 38th Patriarch) was exiled for 13 years until Amr Ibn Al-As restored him to his See and returned the churches taken by the Romans.
🔹 Refutation of the Roman Primacy Claim:
He refutes the claim that Peter founded the Church of Rome, showing from Scripture that Paul was its founder and missionary. He raises a logical question: if Peter was Bishop of Rome and was martyred in 67 AD, who succeeded him? How could the Bishop of Rome have authority over St. John the Beloved, who lived 30 years longer and was one of the Twelve? He concludes that the early Church knew no universal head; the Apostles were equal, and the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem was the supreme authority.
🔹 Spiritual and Educational Dimension:
The lecture emphasizes that the greatness of the Church lies not in politics or power, but in faith, teaching, and the work of the Holy Spirit. The Coptic Church remains a model of steadfast Orthodox faith and theological leadership that defended sound doctrine against heresy and political influence.
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