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AntoniosHenry

posted on Nov 20, 2007 - 03:55 PM

In one of our servant classes, the speaker said that St. Anthony was ordained a priest and then an archpriest by Pope Athanasius. This was a new fact for me that I've never heard before, and wanted to confirm that this was in fact the case. He got it from the Synaxarium, see reference below. I don't remember reading in the Life of St. Anthony by Pope Athanasius that he ever ordained him a priest.

Athanasius was the first Pope to wear the monastic tunic from the hand of St. Antonios. He made it the uniform for bishops and patriarchs. He was the one who ordained St. Antonios a priest, and then Archpriest.

He departed in peace after he had been on the Apostolic Throne for forty five years.

May his prayers be with us, and glory be to God forever. Amen.

http://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/9_7.html[/quote]

Joined: Aug 26, 2005 | Posts: 66

Bigd

posted on Nov 21, 2007 - 09:06 PM

Mr. Henry,

I checked my synaxarium and I found the same quote, But the preisthood is definetly not mentioned in THE LIFE OF ANTONY or in the synaxarium of St. Antony and I cant find any other info on this.

Does anybody have any information on this? Or opinions?

Joined: Jan 26, 2005 | Posts: 13
Location: ST.MARY'S SEATTLE, WA

AntoniosHenry

posted on Nov 26, 2007 - 07:48 PM

Makes me wonder about the authenticity of the Synaxarium which I have heard is not always 100% accurate. I also heard that His Holiness wanted to rewrite the Synaxarium, is this true?

Joined: Aug 26, 2005 | Posts: 66

Remnkemi

posted on Nov 26, 2007 - 08:10 PM

Everyone knows the Synaxarium is historically correct. It was meant to be a historical document but it has too much "romanticism" or mythicism attached with numerous errors. The late Iris Habib el-Masri, professor of history at the HICS History Department did write an updated version. Otto Meinardus also added a revised Synaxarium in his book "2000 years of Coptic Christianity" (I think that was the title). Hopefully, one day we will get an approved Synod version of the Synaxarium.

George

Joined: Apr 07, 2003 | Posts: 667
Location: Boston, MA USA

Overgrownegyptian

posted on Nov 28, 2007 - 01:36 AM

From AntoniosHenry:In one of our servant classes, the speaker said that St. Anthony was ordained a priest and then an archpriest by Pope Athanasius. This was a new fact for me that I've never heard before, and wanted to confirm that this was in fact the case. He got it from the Synaxarium, see reference below. I don't remember reading in the Life of St. Anthony by Pope Athanasius that he ever ordained him a priest.

Athanasius was the first Pope to wear the monastic tunic from the hand of St. Antonios. He made it the uniform for bishops and patriarchs. He was the one who ordained St. Antonios a priest, and then Archpriest.

He departed in peace after he had been on the Apostolic Throne for forty five years.

May his prayers be with us, and glory be to God forever. Amen.

http://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/9_7.html

Dear All,

St. Antony was only a monk. In order to perform the mysteries of communion he would need to have been clergy. So it makes sense when it says that St. Athanasius ordained him a priest (priest monk) and then an archpriest (hegomen monk), the highest level of priest rank.

Hope this helps. God bless.

_________________
andrew

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, pleasing to you.

"O God, my God, I will rise up early unto You; for my soul has thirsted for You: to make my flesh blossom for You, in a barren land and a trackless and dry place." (Psalm 62:1)

"My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways." (Proverbs 23:26)

"Every meeting with Christ is a prayer of renewal. Every prayer is an experience of faith. Every experience of faith is eternal life." Abouna Matta El-Meskeen

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Biboboy

posted on Nov 28, 2007 - 02:47 AM

Agape,

There is no evidence that St. Antony was ordained. He doesn't say he's ordained, and neither does St. Athanasius say that. After all, St. Athanasius wrote St. Antony's life after St. Antony departed to the heavenly Jerusalem; and if he did ordain him, he would've mentioned it. But the whole point of the life of Antony by St. Athanasius was that this layman, Antony, who lived a spiritual life in the desert, knew that Arianism was false and fought against it. So it was not only a theological battle between the clergy, but the spiritual laypeople were invovled as well.

In summary, St. Antony wasn't ordained. I'm not sure where the Synexarium got that info. More research is certainly needed.

_________________
"Our hearts are restless until they find rest in You, Lord" (St. Augustine, Confessions, I, 1).

"Pray gently and calmly,
Chant hymns with understanding and rhythm;
Then you will soar like a young eagle
High in the heavens"
+ St. Evagrius the Solitary, On Prayer, 82.

In Christ,
Bishoy
HCOC Member


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Overgrownegyptian

posted on Nov 28, 2007 - 12:37 PM

From Biboboy:Agape,

There is no evidence that St. Antony was ordained. He doesn't say he's ordained, and neither does St. Athanasius say that. After all, St. Athanasius wrote St. Antony's life after St. Antony departed to the heavenly Jerusalem; and if he did ordain him, he would've mentioned it. But the whole point of the life of Antony by St. Athanasius was that this layman, Antony, who lived a spiritual life in the desert, knew that Arianism was false and fought against it. So it was not only a theological battle between the clergy, but the spiritual laypeople were invovled as well.

In summary, St. Antony wasn't ordained. I'm not sure where the Synexarium got that info. More research is certainly needed.


I know in the Life of St. Antony written by St. Athanasius nothing is written about ordination. According to the synexarium used in the Southern Diocese (http://suscopts.org/readings/2008/jan/1/) nothing is said again about the ordination of St. Antony but wouldn't it make sense, if the synexarium, were true indeed for him to have been ordained a priest then hegomen priest?

_________________
andrew

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, pleasing to you.

"O God, my God, I will rise up early unto You; for my soul has thirsted for You: to make my flesh blossom for You, in a barren land and a trackless and dry place." (Psalm 62:1)

"My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways." (Proverbs 23:26)

"Every meeting with Christ is a prayer of renewal. Every prayer is an experience of faith. Every experience of faith is eternal life." Abouna Matta El-Meskeen

Administrator of copticamerica.org. Ask me for help!

Joined: Sep 23, 2003 | Posts: 245
Location: St. Mary and St. George COC [tallahassee, fl] l St. George COC [tampa, fl]

AntoniosHenry

posted on Nov 28, 2007 - 03:03 PM

It never mentions in the life of St. Anthony that he performed the mystery of the Eucharist, so it doesn't make sense to say that he was ordained a priest monk, if he never practiced the responsibilities of a clergy (baptism, communion, absolution, etc.).

Joined: Aug 26, 2005 | Posts: 66