Alexander the 19th Patriarch

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this lesson is to familiarize the children with Alexander, demonstrate the issues at the time of his ordination, and introduce the council of Nicaea.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 5 Minutes

Please review the previous week's lesson. (5 minutes)

In a school district in a small town, a certain high school teacher told his students that (something wrong/inaccurate)
People started to hear about what the teacher was telling his students, and when the principal of the school found out, he had him removed. The teacher, however, got a job at another school district that seemed to agree with what he was teaching.
Confusion was growing in the city, as many parents and students from different parts of the city were hearing multiple rumors. So, the mayor held a conference with all of the principals and teachers from the local districts to discuss and settle the situation. At the large conference, one of the principals took the lead and made the case as to why what this teacher was saying was incorrect. After a long debate and a vote, and the schools and their leaders decided come up with a mission statement to clearly identify their values and philosophies.
Just like this group of educators gathered and discussed what was being taught in their school, the Church Fathers gathered in the ecumenical councils to resolve disagreements in the Church over what was being taught about Christ. Similar to the leading principal in the story, Pope Alexander presided over the first ecumenical council of Nicaea and made the case against Arius and his teachings.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 10 Minutes

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. 7 Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own (John 10:1-14).
Memory Verse: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep" John 10:11

CONTENT - 15 Minutes

Patriarch during Peaceful Period

Alexander I was the nineteenth Patriarch of Alexandria, from 312 to 326
He was born in Alexandria and had experienced the bloody persecutions of Emperors Galerius and Maximinus Daia growing up
He was the Pope during Emperor Constantine's Edict of Milan, which allowed Christians throughout the Roman empire to worship freely
He was already in his old age at the time of his ordination
Pope Alexander took up the responsibility of rebuilding churches and comforting families that lost loved ones during the persecutions

Relationship with Athanasius

According to tradition, Alexander noticed a young Athanasius at the beach playfully baptizing his non-Christian friends according to the Church rite of the time
From that time, Alexander took Athanasius in as a disciple, and eventually ordained him a deacon and he became his personal assistant and secretary

Dispute Regarding the Date of Easter

One of Alexander's earliest challenges was a group led by Erescentius, and this group disputed the time of Easter
Groups such as the Quatrodecimans wanted Christians to celebrate Easter on the 14th of the Coptic month Nisan according to Jewish law, even if it didn't fall on a Sunday
Alexander would eventually resolve this issue at the Council of Nicaea

Arian Controversy

Arius, who had been excommunicated by Pope Peter and restored by Achillas, once again attempted to spread his heresy that the Son was neither divine nor equal with the Father (explain how this differs from our belief of the Trinity)
In 320, Pope Alexander had a small synod (committee) among thirty-six bishops that unanimously agreed on the condemnation of Arianism
Despite this official condemnation, Arius continued his teachings, which became very popular
In 321, Pope Alexander called a local synod of 100 Egyptian clergy members in Alexandria and deposed Arius and his teachings
Arius fled from Alexandria to Palestine and continued to gain popularity outside of Egypt with the assistance of Eusebius of Nicomedia

Ecumenical Council of Nicaea

As the conflict continued to divide Alexandria and the Roman Empire, Constantine called an Ecumenical Council to bring order back to the Church
Although Hodosius of Cardova attempted to reconcile the positions of Alexander and Arius, he eventually held his small council in Antioch, condemning Arius and his followers
The 318 Bishops met in Nicaea under the leadership of Alexander and, after examining the Arian heresy presented by Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia, the spokesperson for Arius, denounced Arianism and took to formulating the Nicene Creed
Upon its completion, the Council turned to other issues such as the Quatrodecimans and the Melitian schism, and eventually authored 20 Canons as well as a synodal letter to Alexandria to pronounce Alexander's victory over Arius
While some sources claim that Alexander died five months after Nicaea in 326, modern scholarship points closer to 328

DISCUSSION - 10 Minutes

How did Alexander reveal the light of Christ during his papacy?
What do you think were Alexander's greatest concerns at the beginning of his papacy?
Why was leadership so important in rebuilding the church and taking care of families?
Why didn't Alexander condemn Arius right away? In other words, why did Alexander try to reason with Arius?

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

Patriarchs revealed the Light of Christ in Dark Times

Darkness was present in the early Church, especially violent killings, evil heresies, and the attempts at disunity in the Church.
The patriarchs who were elected to take care of the people had faced numerous challenges that made their jobs impossible to do.
Their trust in God during that darkness had made the Church even stronger and brighter for us today.
Even at the darkest point in your life, whether during challenges or falls, do you trust God and hope in Him that He will get you out of the problem, and lead you?

Pastoral Care

The beginning of Alexander's papacy was a time of great pastoral care, meaning that he spent a lot of time helping families and people in the church while also taking care of both physical and spiritual needs
We are called to take care of and be concerned with one another, meaning that if someone in our congregation is suffering, we are not to cast a blind eye but rather help them
If Pope Peter demonstrated mercy through allowing the lapsed to receive forgiveness, Alexander demonstrated mercy by taking care of families who had suffered

Reasoning and Defending the Faith

Although Arius was always suffered with pride, Alexander knew that God could save his soul and therefore did everything he could to convince him of the true orthodox faith
Alexander was very merciful and patient with Arius and was hoping that he would repent

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Have the students complete the attached worksheet to fill in four facts about Pope Alexander that they have learned.

SERVANT RESOURCES

Morgan, Robert. History of the Coptic Orthodox People and the Church of Egypt. FriesenPress, 2016.

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Parents can also encourage their kids to reflect and relate to what kind of patriarch/saint by a certain quality that the kids like about the saint, and ask for their intercessions.
Have an icon/picture of one of the patriarchs at home in the living room.