200’s           Third century non-Gnostic literature of Egyptian provenance: Apocalypse of Elijah (Upper Egypt), Gospel of Bartholomew, Gospel of the Savior, Exhortation to the Greeks.

     200’s          Third century Sethian Gnostic writings: Hypostasis of the Archons, Gospel of the Egyptians, Three Steles of Seth, Zostrianos, Melchizedek, Thought of Norea, Allogenes (these either from Alexandria or Syria). Seth is a central figure (mythological) in the Nag Hammadi texts.

200’s           Third century Alexandrian Gnostic writings: Apocalypse of Peter; Letter of Peter to Philip;

Gospel of Mary; Bala’izah Gnostic fragments at monastic library at Bala’izah.

202–203      Persecution of growing Christianity in Africa and Egypt under Septimius Severus--- Eusebius reports “countless numbers” wreathed with crowns of martyrdom, escorted to the arena “from Egypt and the whole Thebais” (from Nile delta as far south as Syene); Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas at Carthage and  Victorius of Tabarka.

    202              Origen’s father, Leonidas, is martyred in Alexandria during the persecution of Septimius Severus;

Origen escapes as teen-age orphan.

    202              Clement leaves Alexandria for Palestine during Severan persecutions.

    202              Upon Clement’s leaving, Origen at age eighteen is called by bishop Demetrius to direct the catechetical school of Alexandria, assisted by Heraclas.

202–231      Origen, trained in Greek literature and philosophy under Ammonius Saccas, continues as head of the Alexandrian Catechetical school.

    205              Birth of Plotinus, Egyptian philosopher.

212              Caracalla grants Roman citizenship to all free residents of the empire; legal recognition is nominally granted to Jews and Christians for the first time.

c. 212              Origen visits Rome.

    215              Caracalla fearing revolt in Egypt, orders massacre of Alexandria.

    216              Origen visits Palestine.

    217–222      Death of Clement of Alexandria.

220–229      Flourishing of Alexandrian School under Origen, Heraclas, and Demetrius; Origen’s first period of literary activity in Alexandria: Commentary on John.

    222-235       Reign of Alexander Severus, Roman Emperor, halted Christian persecutions, offering religious tolerance.

    225-300       Neo-Platonism develops in Alexandria.

c. 230              Origen writes: Hexapla and First Principles.

    231              Bishop Demetrius of Alexandria deposes Origen from the priesthood; brings Catechetical school more under episcopal supervision.

    231              Origen moves from Alexandria to Caesarea in Palestine where he completes his work Hexapla, as well as homilies and biblical commentaries which make frequent use of Jewish Midrashim exegesis; Gregory Thamaturgus describes his method of teaching; many church leaders emerge from Origen’s teaching; neither Origen or Plotinus changed teaching when they left Alexandria.

    231              Origen invited to Greece, teaches, writes and preaches in church as a simple presbyter.

    231              Origen succeeded by Heraclas as head of the catechetical school at Alexandria.

c. 231              Plotinus (founder of Neo-Platonism) begins his studies for eleven years in Alexandria with

Ammonius Saccas.

    232              Origen writes Commentaries on Genesis.

    232              Origen visits Julia Mammaea at Antioch.

    232              Bishop Demetrius dies; Heraclas is consecrated bishop of Alexandria ND IS succeeded in the catechetical school by Dionysius.

    235              Origen writes Exhortation to Martyrdom.

c. 243              Plotinus moves his school of textual analysis of Platonists from Alexandria to Rome.

    247              Death of Heraclas.

    247              In Hermopolis Magna in Egypt, a Greek temple was converted into a church; bishop Conon received letter from bishop Dionysius allowing lapsed to be readmitted.

    247–264      Dionysius, new bishop of Alexandria, brings theological teaching to village level in Arsinoite villages.

    249              Beginning of Christian persecutions under Emperor Decius (249-51), who issued a general edict

ordering Roman citizens to participate in a formal civic confession; tempting many Christians to

lapse into idolatry.

     249–251     3,600 Martyrs of Isna, Upper Egypt.

c. 250              Origen writes Contra Celsum, Didascalia.

    250              Origen arrested and tortured.

    250              Letters of Porphry; Gnostic Gospel of Pistis Sophia.

    251              Birth of Anthony.

    251              Persecution of Valerian.

    257–260      Persecutions under Valerian.

    260              upon Valerian’s death, Gallienus becomes sole emperor; issues Edict of Toleration, bringing second long peace; Sabellianism condemned.

    264              Death of Dionysius, bishop of Alexandria.

    264–282      Maximus, patriarch of Alexandria.

    265–282      Theognostus heads school of Alexandria after Dionysius, followed by Prierus, Achillas, and Peter of Alexandria before Theognostus elected patriarch (c. 300); the curriculum of Theognostus described later by Photius as moving from Father to Son to Spirit.

    260’s           Paul the Theban born; later would settle in eastern Egyptian desert; Jerome claimed Paul proceeded Anthony in the desert.

    270’s           Anthony begins his ascetic life.

    270              Death of Plotinus.

    270–300      Steady increase of Christianity in central Egypt and North Africa; intellectual attacks against Christian teaching by Porphyry, disciple of Plotinus.

    276              Death of Mani, whose disciples came to Africa before his death, requiring Christian response.

    282              Death of Maximus, patriarch of Alexandria.

    282–300      Theonas is patriarch of Alexandria.

    284              Year one of Coptic calendar, dating from beginning of Diocletian’s reign, the era of the Martyrs.

    285              Anthony retreats into the Egyptian desert, beginnings of eremitic monasticism.

    285              Hieracas of Leontopolis guides an ascetic community, writing expositions on Scripture.

    285              Roman Empire partitioned by Diocletian into Western and Eastern empires.

    290’s           Conversion of Arnobius of Sicca.

c. 295–298      Birth of Athanasius either in Alexandria or according to Dair Anba Maqar document, his parents came from al-Balyyana in Upper Egypt (see Bebawi); brought up in area of Oratory Theometor, built near the shore of Alexandria’s Eunostos harbor by Bishop Theonas (282-300), which served as episcopal residence (now Franciscan fathers at Rue Karam). Athanasius became bishop of Alexandria (328-373.)

    297–299      Revolt in Alexandria against Diocletian’s taxation policies; repressive measures against the Christians; reinforcement of fort at Babylon in Old Cairo.