Africa's Contributions to Early Christianity

1. Part 1 An Examination of Africa’s Contributions to the Early Christian Movement

2. An Examination of Africa’s Contributions to the Early Christian Movement Prof. Angela DavisDARCDecember 31, 2018

3. Opening Question • Take five minutes to write your answers to the following questions: • What do you know about the history of Christianity? • What do you know about Christianity and Africa? • Take five minutes to share out your thoughts

4. A collection of translated texts found in 1945 near a town called Nag Hammadi • Nag Hammadi is located in Upper Egypt • James Robinson, the editor of the book, suggested the texts may belong to a nearby Pachomian monastery and were buried after Athanasius, archbishop of the Church of Alexandria, condemned all non-canonical books in 367 CE

6. Monastery of St. Anthony • Named in honor of Anthony (251-356 CE) • Located in the eastern desert • Southeast of the city of Cairo • This is the oldest monastery in the world • It was built between 298-300 CE

7. Here we see elements of Egyptian religion in the Roman period (30 BCE-395 CE). • The deceased person is flanked by two Egyptian gods dressed in Roman fashion • In the foreground: • Wosir (Osiris) on the left • Inpu (Anubis) on the right • In the Background: • Inpu standing over a deceased person performing the burial ritual

8. Faiyum Mummy Portraits

9. Faiyum Mummy Portraits • Faiyum was known to ancient Egyptians as Atef-pehu “northern sycamore” • The Greeks called it Crocodilopolis • The portraits date to the Roman period • About 900 mummy portraits are presently known • They were found in 1615 by explorer Pietro della Valle • The portraits covered the faces of the bodies that were mummified for burial • Burial practices of this period followed ancient traditions. Members of upper classes were mummified, had decorated coffins and a mummy mask to cover the head • These portraits are on display at the British Museum, the Louvre in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Royal Museum of Scotland

10. According to Eusebius, 263-339 CE • In the first quarter of the 4th century St. Mark came to Egypt in the first or third year of the reign of Emperor Claudius (41-54CE), where he preached the gospel, established the See of Alexandria. • This is the story that is traditionally taught about the origins of Christianity in Egypt. • Ecclesiastical History, 4th century CE in Koine Greek

11. Agenda: • Church Fathers • Christian Educational Institution (Didascalium) • Martyrs and Saints • Monasticism • Early Ecumenical Councils • Lost Christianities • Egyptian Spiritual Elements in Christianity

12. What is the relevance of this presentation? • Many of us grew up attending church from an early age. We know little to nothing about the history of the church or its doctrine. • We certainly don’t learn about the role of Africans in the development in the Christian movement. • Despite our ignorance of the lives and contributions, the Church Fathers and Mothers influence can be felt in the hymns we sing and the doctrines that are taught. • These Church Fathers were bishops, priests, deacons, and martyrs of the early Christian Church. Church Mothers were also martyrs and deaconesses – they were Africans. • These Africans contributed to the intellectual development of both the Eastern and Western Christian traditions. • These Africans debated the meaning of central doctrines including, by not limited to, the nature and work of Jesus the Christ, the Trinity and the identity of the Church.

13. Early African Intellectuals (Church Fathers)

14. Church Fathers • Although they were of North African descent, they spoke and wrote in Greek and Latin. • They also had names that we don’t typically associate with Africa. • They were Africans even though the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches refer to them as the Greek and Latin Fathers • Clement, c.150-c.215 CE • Origen, 184-253 CE • Athanasius, 296-373 CE • Cyril, 412-444 CE • Wrote and Spoke Greek • Cyprian, 210-258 CE • Tertullian, c.155- c.240 CE • Augustine, 354-430 CE • Wrote and Spoke Latin

15. European painters depicted these Africans as white men. • For example: • Botticelli’s painting of Augustine featured in Western museums and replicas in textbooks of church history and theology

17. Key Academic Communities in Africa • These Africans were leaders in key academic communities in North Africa • Alexandria (Egypt) • Origen • Athanasius • Hippo (Algeria) • Augustine • Carthage (Tunisia) • Tertullian • Cyprian • Cyrenaica (Libya)

18. These Academic Communities are Ancient Cities • Hippo – first settled by Phoenicians from Tyre c. 12th century BCE • Carthage – Qart-hadast – established by the Phoenicians in 814 BCE • Cyrenaica – established in 631 BCE according to Herodotus • Alexandria – founded in 331 BCE by Alexander of Macedonia

19. In these ancient cities African institutions developed and provided the essential archetype of universities and libraries of medieval Europe such as: • Padua (Italy) • Paris (France) • Salamanca (Spain) • Oxford (England)

20. Major Academic Community:Alexandria, Egypt • Established by Alexander, son of Philip of Macedonia, 331 BCE • Ptolemy (367-283 BCE), Alexander’s general, claimed the city after Alexander died in 323BCE • Second only to Rome in size and wealth • Center of trade, commerce, tourism and learning • Home to the a very large Jewish community • Home to the Library, Musaeum, Serapeum and the Didascalium

22. The Library and Musaeum of Alexandria • Library of Alexandria: • Was one of the largest storehouses of texts in the ancient world: • Anatolia, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Rome and Syria • Constructed in the 3rd century BCE • Flourished under the Ptolemaic dynasty • Unexcelled for 500 years • Part of a larger research institution called the Musaeum • After the library was destroyed ancient scholars used the Serapeum • Museum of Alexandria: • Μουσεῖον τῆς Ἀλεξανδρείας • Functioned as a research institution • Curriculum included: Astronomy and Anatomy • There was a zoo of exotic animals • Classical thinkers who studied, wrote and experimented there include: • Euclid, Archimedes, Eratosthenes, Pappas, Hypatia, and Aristarchus

23. Hypatia • Born c. 355 CEinto academic elite of Alexandria • Her father, Theon, taught her mathematics and astronomy • She formed her own school – attracting he sons of some of the most influential and wealthy families • She taught: Ethics, Ontology, Astronomy, Mathematics and Philosophy (Pythagoras, Plato and Aristotle) • She was also a public lecturer • She was savagely attacked and murdered • There is a film about her life and work: The Agora

24. The Serapeum - Σεραπεῖον • Built by Ptolemy III (246-222 BCE) • Temple was dedicated to Serapis • Serapis was the combined aspects of: • Worsir (Osiris) • Apis or Hapis – the sacred bull • Also had it own library and stadium • It was the center for Gnostic communities who made no distinction between Christ and Serapis

25. The Bull and Cow – Sacrosanct in Kemet • The bull was a powerful symbol since the first Egyptian dynasties • Originally it represented the power and the will of the pharaoh • When the bull died – there was mourning and fasting • The animal was mummified and buried at Saqqara • A new black calf was found • By Ptolemy’s rule the bull came to represent the incarnation of Wosir (Osiris) and known as Osiris Apis or Serapis

26. Christian Education Institution (Didascalium)

27. DidascaliumCatechetical School of Alexandria • Established c. 180/190 CE • Instructors included: Athenagoras (176), Pantaenus (181), Clement (190) • Originally a Christian school to educate converts, but was open to anyone • Curriculum: Philosophy, Classic literature, Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy, Medicine, Music • Classes were held in Greek and Coptic • There was a scriptorium were manuscripts were copied

28. DidascaliumCatechetical School of Alexandria • Students came from abroad to study there, especially from Rome • Graduates from this institution held prominent positions throughout the Roman Empire • Home of the first translation of the Hebrew Scriptures from Aramaic and Greek to Coptic – Septuagint (LXX) • At this time most Jews living in Alexandria could not read or write Aramaic or Hebrew

29. Recap: Alexandria was the most important Christian center of the 1st Century CE • Library of Alexandria was the model for university libraries all over Europe • The learning community that surrounded the Alexandrian library provided the model for medieval European universities: Padua, Paris, Salamanca and Oxford • Curriculum and text examination were refined in the 2nd century CE at the Didascalium in Alexandria • Christian scholarship born in leading academic centers in North Africa was exported to Rome, Byzantium, and Antioch • What most scholars fail to ask is… • What was the model for the Alexandrian Library, Museum, Serapium, Didascalium, and the North African academic communities? • The answer – the temples in ancient Kemet

30. Africans have been excelling in education since ancient times. The alphabet we currently use is derived from the ancient Kemetic (Egyptian) script, Medew Netcher. • Examples: • Medew Netcher is written everywhere: Temples, Obelsks, Stela • Archives – Recordkeeping • Ancient text: Satire of the Trades

31. Pr-ankh = House of Life • No other culture produced as many temples • Served many different purposes • Primary purpose – mansion of the nTr: • The statue of the nTr was bathed, censed, oiled, clothed, fed and entertained daily by priests and priestesses • Other purposes: • Fortresses, Administrative centers • Treasuries (spoils of military conquest, tribute of foreign nations, taxes, donations) • Offices, Slaughterhouses, Storehouses, Workhouses, Workshops • Participated in trade with other regions – fleets of boats and ships • Schools – where scholarship thrived

32. Pr-ankh = House of Life • The temples were integral to political, social and economic structure of the nation. • The temples were official repositories of Egyptian learning (wide range of disciplines) • Texts were also studied and copied in these temples • These ancient institutions in Kemet were run by priests (Wab– “Pure one”) • Houses of Life were located along the Nile River at: • Abdju (Abydos), Edfu, Ineb-hedj (Memphis), Akhenaten (Amarna), Ipet resut (Luxor) • The earliest mention of these institutions date to the Old Kingdom Period in the decrees of Pepi II (r. 2278-2184 BCE) 6th Dynasty • According to Miriam Lichtheim: • [t]he principle subjects studied and practiced by the members of the House of Life were medicine, theology, ritual, and dream interpretation.

33. Ineb-Hedj (Memphis) Ipet-Isut (Karnak)

34. Many ancient Greeks studied in Kemet • Thales (c.624-546 BCE) • Pythagoras (c. 530 BCE) • Xenophanes (d. 475 BCE) • Plato (b. 427 BCE) • Anaximander (d. 545 BCE) • Anaximenes (c. 585-525 BCE)

35. Martyrs and Saints

36. African Martyrs

38. African Popes

39. Pope Victor I • Afer = African, Afri – plural • First pope from Africa • Papacy began in 189 and ended 199 CE • Born in Leptis Magna (Tripolitania), year unknown • He established the celebration of Easter on Sunday • First pope to celebrate mass in Latin instead of Greek • Upheld the divinity of Christ and the triumph of good over evil • He was canonized as a saint – Feast day is 28 July • During his rule as pope there was also an African ruler of the Roman Empire – Septimius Severus (r.193-211CE)

40. SeptimiusSeverus • Ruled as emperor from 193 – 211 CE • Born in Leptis Magna (Libya) - Roman province • Spoke Punic, Latin and Greek • Father: PubliusSeptimiusGeta • Mother: Fulvia Pia • Wealthy and distinguished family

41. Caracalla • The son of Septimius Severus • Caracalla (r. 198-217) • He co-ruled with his father from 198-211) • Best known for: • The baths he built in Rome which carry his name • An edict of 212/213 CE that granted full citizenship to nearly all inhabitants of the empire

42. Miltiades I • Afer = African, Afri – plural • Papacy began in 311 and ended 314 CE • Born in North Africa, date unknown • During his pontificate: • Constantine defeated Maxentius and became the emperor of Rome • Edict of Milan issued by Constantine • Donatist Controversy • Canonized – Feast day is 10 January

43. Gelasius I • Afer = African, Afri – plural • Papacy began in 492 and ended 496 CE • Last African pope • Born in North Africa, date unknown • He was a prolific writer: • Composed hymns • Arranged a standard mass book • Saved Rome from famine by insisting that bishops devote ¼ of their revenue to charity

44. The Desert People

45. Church Mothers • There were many great women in the early church • In most ancient societies women were rarely taught to read and write • Very few women’s writings come down to us from early church history • One surviving text penned by a noblewoman was that of Perpetua who was a martyred in 203 CE • There was also Felicity, Perpetua’s servant

46. Monasticism: The ascetic lifestyle • Patterns of early monasticism began in the Egyptian desert • Founders: Antony, Pachomius and Mary • Basil in the East and Benedict in the West followed • Monasticism spread from Africa to Syria, Palestine and Britain • Activities in the monasteries included: • Daily prayer, Eucharist, Manual labor, Fasting, Translating and preserving documents • Later monastic communities include: • Franciscans founded in 1209 by Francis of Assisi • Dominicans founded in 1200s by Dominic de Guzman • Jesuits founded in 1540 by Ignatius of Loyola

47. Scriptures that were translated and preserved in early monasteries • The Septuagint • The three oldest existing manuscripts are: • Vaticanus – 4th cent. CE – Vatican (Rome) • Sinaiticus – 4th cent. CE – found in a monastery on Mt. Sinai • Alexandrian – 5th cent. CE – written in Alexandria • Nag Hammadi Library – found in 1945 - Egyptian desert

48. The Egyptian Gnostics • In 1945, an Egyptian peasant discovered 48 texts at a place called Nag Hammadi. The texts had been translated from Greek into Coptic • The texts had been concealed because in the late 4th century CE Gnosticism and all other unorthodox teachings had been deemed a heresy • Alexandria was the world’s leading gnostic center in the 2nd century CE where many Gnostics lived and taught peacefully • They never formed a unified school of thought. Each teacher had their own teachings: • Basilides (founded -2nd century), Valentinus (founded -2nd century)

49. Nag Hammadi Texts • Discovered in 1945 • Witten in Coptic • Date to 4th Century CE • Translated in the 1970s • First published in 1978 • Include: • Gospel of Thomas • Gospel of Philip • Thunder Perfect Mind • Gospel of Mary Magdalene • Currently housed in the Coptic Museum, Egypt

50. Gospel of Thomas • Jesus said, “If those who lead you say to you, ‘the Kingdom is in the sky,’ then the birds will become first before you in the sky. If they say to you, ‘She is in the sea,’ then the fish will become first before you. But, the Kingdom, She is inside you and She is outside you.” • Hebrew word for kingdom is Mamlakah – fem noun - מַמְלָכָה • Greek word for kingdom is Basileia – fem noun - βασιλεία • “When you will know yourselves you will be award that you all are the children of the Father who lives. If you all will not know yourselves, then you all exist in poverty and you all are the poverty.”