Catechetical School of Alexandria

The '''Catechetical School of Alexandria''' (founded c.a. 190) was and is a place for the training of Christian [[theologians]] and priests in [[Alexandria]]. The teachers and students of the school (also known as the '''Didascalium''') were influential in many of the early [[Christian theology|theological]] controversies of the [[Christian church]]. The earliest recorded instructor at the school, and the probable founder, was [[Saint Pantaenus]]. He was succeeded as head of the school by his student [[Clement of Alexandria|Saint Clement]]. [[Image:ClemensVonAlexandrien.jpg|thumb|Clement of Alexandria (c. 150–211/216).]] Other notable theologians with a connection to the school include [[Origen]], [[Gregory Thaumaturgus]], [[Heraclas]], [[Dionysius of Alexandria|Dionysius "the Great"]], and [[Didymus the Blind]]. Others, including [[Jerome]] and [[Basil of Caesarea|Basil]], made trips to the school to interact with the scholars there. Currently, the dean of the Catechetical School of Alexandria is His Holiness [[Pope Shenouda III]]. ==Beginning== The Catechetical School of Alexandria is the oldest catechetical school in the world. It is part of the [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]]. St. [[Jerome]] records that the Christian School of Alexandria was founded by St. [[Mark the Evangelist|Mark]] himself and the first manager appointed by Saint Mark was Saint [[Justus of Alexandria|Justus]], who later became the sixth bishop of Alexandria. There is another opinion that the school was founded mid-second century , around 190 A.D. Under the leadership of the scholar [[Pantaenus]], the school of Alexandria became an important institution of religious learning, where students were taught by scholars such as [[Athenagoras of Athens|Athenagoras]], [[Clement of Alexandria|Clement]], [[Didymus the Blind|Didymus]], and the great [[Origen]], who was considered the father of theology and who was also active in the field of commentary and comparative Biblical studies. Many scholars, such as [[Jerome]], visited the school of Alexandria to exchange ideas and to communicate directly with its scholars. The scope of this school was not limited to theological subjects; science, mathematics and humanities were also taught. The question-and-answer method of commentary began there, and, 15 centuries before [[Braille]], blind students at the school were using wood-carving techniques to read and write. ==Re-establishment== The Theological College of the Catechetical School of Alexandria was re-established in 1893 as the Coptic Theological Seminary‎. The new school currently has campuses in Alexandria, [[Cairo]], [[New Jersey]], and [[Los Angeles]], where [[Copt]]ic priests-to-be and other qualified men and women are taught on subjects including Christian theology, history, [[Coptic language]] and art – including [[chanting]], music, [[iconography]], and tapestry. ==See also== *[[Alexandrian school]] *[[School of Antioch]] *[[Christian Universalism]] *[[Coptic Orthodox Church]] *[[Habib Girgis]] *[[List of Copts|List of prominent Copts]] *[[Middle Platonism]] *[[Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria|Pope Shenouda III]] ==External links== * [http://web.archive.org/web/20091027035645/http://geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/9944/ Coptic Orthodox Theological Seminary the United States] * Books ** Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty *** [http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/patrology/schoolofalex/index.html The School of Alexandria — Deans Before Origen/BOOK 1] *** [http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/patrology/schoolofalex2/index.html The School of Alexandria & Origen's Theology/BOOK 2] [[Origen]] was excommunicated by the [[Coptic Orthodox Church]] in early church history. {{coord missing|Egypt}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Catechetical School Of Alexandria}}