The Christian Age

According to tradition, Christianity was introduced into Alexandria by St.Marc, who, in the middle of the first century came to Alexandria to preach the new religion. His first recruit was a shoemaker called Annianus. About 62 AD, St Mark, was martyred and buried probably in the same site where stands now St.Mark’s Cathedral.

Christianity once established in Alexandria was bound before long to spread up the Nile Valley. By the end of the second century it must have been widespread even in Upper Egypt. At the beginning of the IIIrd century Septimius Severus ordered a campaign against Christianity and according to Eusebius, the church historian, persecution was particularly violent at Alexandria. The persecution begun by Decius (249-250 AD) was stopped by Gallienus (253-268 AD) but even persecution helped to spread the faith because the heroism of the martyrs won the admiration of many pagans and the Christians banished to the oasis and remote parts of Egypt or who went in hiding new
converts. The peace, which the church enjoyed in the second half of the IIIrd century, was broken in 302-303 when Diocletian gave orders for the great persecution. No where in the Roman Empire was it as severe as it was in Egypt. From this stormy period, the Egyptian Church started its calendar the “ Era of Martyrs “ commencing in 284 AD.

The Church of Alexandria played an important role in the religious councils, which were held during the IVth and Vth century. In the council of Nicaea (325 AD) Athanasius, the bishop of Alexandria, defended the true faith and convinced the members of the council of his views. Theophilus played an important part in the council of Constantinople (381 AD) and fought against heresy. In the council of Chalcedony (451 AD) when Dioscrous failed to convince the members of his views, he did not hesitate to leave the main body of the church and from this time the Egyptian Church became independent.

BIBLEOGRAPHY:

1- World Book Encyclopedia
2-Alexandria, An Archeological Guide to the City