Pantaenus

Infobox Saint
name=Pantaenus of Alexandria
birth_date=unknown
death_date=c. 200
feast_day=July 7 (Old Roman Calendar)
June 22 (Coptic Tradition)
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birth_place=unknown
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titles=Saint
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canonized_date=pre-congregation
canonized_place=
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attributes=lecturing from a pulpit
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Saint Pantaenus (d. ca. 200) ["As he was succeeded by Clement who left Alexandria about 203, the probable date of his death would be about 200. " ("Catholic Encyclopedia")] was a Christian theologian who founded the Catechetical School of Alexandria about AD 190. This school was the earliest catechetical school, and became influential in the development of Christian theology.

Pantaenus was a Stoic philosopher teaching in Alexandria. He converted to the Christian faith, and sought to reconcile his new faith with Greek philosophy. His most famous student, Clement, who was his successor as head of the Catechetical School, described Pantaenus as "the Sicilian bee" [Clement, "Stromata", 1.1.] . Although no writings by Pantaenus are extent, [Although Lightfoot ("Apost. Fathers", 488), and Batiffol ("L'église naissante", 3rd ed., 213ff) attribute the concluding passages of the "Epistle to Diognetius" to Pantaeus; see "Pantaenus" in "The Westminster Dictionary of Christian History", ed. Jerald Brauer.] his legacy is known by the influence of the Catechetical School on the development of Christian theology, in particular in the early debates on the interpretation of the Bible, the Trinity, and Christology. He was the main supporter of Serapion of Antioch for acting against the influence of Gnosticism. Generally says Serapion of Antioch appointed him as a missionary of India.? He visited in S.India.

In addition to his work as a teacher, according to Eusebius of Caesarea, Pantaenus was for a time a missionary preacher, traveling as far as India, [Eusebius, "Ecclesiastical History", 5.10.] where it was reported that he found Christians who were using the Gospel of Matthew. [web cite|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11446b.htm|title=Pantænus|work=Catholic Encyclopedia]

His feast day is July 7 (June 22 in the Coptic tradition).

References

External links

* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11446b.htm "Catholic Encyclopedia", "s.v." "Saint Pantaenus"]
* [http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0707.htm#pant Saint Pantaenus] in For all the Saints