300’s           Earliest known church locations in Alexandria: Pharos (restored under Theophilis), martyrium of

St. Mark, Boukolou (pasture near northeastern cliffs beside the sea, Eunostos Harbor), Bendidiou (Mendideion, Church of St. Athanasius), Angeloi (Serapeum), St. Theonas church near eastern gate; Caesareum on Great Harbor; Church of the Archangel Michael; Cosmos and Damian (founded 282 near the stadium west of the colonnade.)

    300’s           Writings: fourth-century Gnostic manuscripts in Nag Hammadi Library; Deir el Bala’iza fragments; Askew Codex; Bohairic Coptic Bible translations; Teachings of Silvanus compiles earlier second century Alexandrian Christian moral wisdom.

    300              Death of Theonas, patriarch of Alexandria, was succeeded by Theognostus.

c. 300              Acts of Mark draws together previous centuries of Marcan tradition in Egypt and Libya.

c. 300              Christians becoming numerous throughout the empire, and notably in Africa.

    302–310      Peter, patriarch of Alexandria, fourteen penitential canons on discipline during time of persecution; Homily on Riches, Epiphany homily On the Baptism of Christ are attributed to Peter.

    303              Beginning of the Great Persecution, February 23; imperial decrees under Diocletian (emperor 284-305) to destroy churches, burn books, confiscate property, dissolve congregations. In Egypt, Hesychius, Pachomius, Theodorus, and Philea are forcibly removed and jailed.

303              Apa Hor, prepared for martyrdom, makes public confession of faith in Pelusium, tortured, beheaded; later the martyrium of Apa Hor south of Minya was cut into the rock, entered through tunnel to nave; seven monastic centers would form on east bank of Nile south of Minya; St. Apater tortured and beheaded near Asyut.

    304–306      Four Egyptian bishops under arrest rebuke Melitius for presuming to appoint successor to exiled Peter; Melitian Schism begins between Melitius of Lycopolis and Peter of Alexandria.

    304              Porphyry, Neoplatonic philosopher, wrote Against the Christians (Adversus Christianos.)

    304              Grave Illness of Diocletian.

    305              Diocletian and Maximian abdicate, 1 May.

c. 305              Anthony emerges as a monk with disciples; first Christian monastic community formed around him in Eastern Egyptian desert; the colony of hermits evidence of the beginnings of semi-eremetic monasticism; Anthony authored seven letters.

    310              Anthony goes to Alexandria to encourage the martyrs.

    311              Peter, Bishop of Alexandria imprisoned and taken to Boukolous where he prayed at the tomb of

St. Mark before being beheaded; Martyrdom of Peter (Passio S. Petri) an anonymous fourth-century

text is written.

    311              Galerius issues Edict of Toleration to Christians, though some persecution continues.

c. 311-325       Ammonius (Ammoun), a notable Alexandrian, takes up monastic life in Nitria; he forms a loosely connected semi-eremitic monastic retreats; numbers grew to 5000 monks by 400 C.E.

    313              Licinius defeats Maximinus Daia and is sole emperor of the East.

    313              Emperor Constantine with Licinius declares “Edict of Milan” ending religious persecutions, providing freedom of worship and restitution of the goods confiscated from the Christian communities; first step towards the establishment of Christianity’s dominance in the Roman Empire.

c. 313              Birth of Didymus the Blind, the leading Alexandrian exegete after Origen (d. 398.)

    318              Athanasius, Treatise on the Incarnation of the Word [De Incarnatione.]

    318              Pachomius (c. 292-347), born in Sne, a converted Egyptian soldier (312), founds first communal monastery, initiating coenobitic monasticism; sets forth monastic rule for communities.

    318–23        Arian controversy begins; Alexander deposes Arius from his presbyterium.

    320–329      Pachomius founds the monasteries of Tabennisi, Phbow, Sheneset, Thmoushons .

    321              Synod at Alexandria condemns Arius (born c. 260 in Cyrenaica.)

    323–346      Letters of Pachomius, Instruction of Pachomius are written.

    324              Eusebius (c. 265-339; Bishop from 314) of Caesarea completes Ecclesiastical History.

    325–350      Bruce Codex, probably Egyptian; the first Bishop of Phyle (1st cataract, Sudan) is appointed.

325              First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, called by Constantine; Arianism condemned by the 318 bishops in the Nicene Creed; Arius is exiled to Illyricum.

327              The kingdom of Ethiopia adopts Christianity; Ethiopian missionaries sent to convert the Himyarites; church historian Philostorgios (386-433) offers first evidence of a Jewish presence in the region.

c. 327              Death of Arnobius of Sicca.

328              Death of Alexander I; Athanasius succeeds as bishop of Alexandria in disputed election; early episcopacy spent among monastic circles and remote rural Christian communities along the Nile and in the desert as far south as the frontier of modern Sudan; Bebawi attempts to locate Athanasius’ birthplace in Upper Egypt; Athanasius’ sympathies strong toward Upper Egypt and the desert and Cyrenaica, rather than Alexandrian upper class identified with Arius.

328              Founding of Church of the Holy Virgin at Gabal al-Tayr (Convent of the Pulley, on the cliff above the Nile) built (memorial tablet remains.)

    328              Melitians oppose Athanasius.

329              Hilarion of Gaza (b. 291) founds Palestinian monasticism as disciple of Anthony, whom he sought out at Qalala mountain; then founds hermitage in Libya, later Gaza.

329              Amid beginnings of Pachomian monasticism, Athanasius forms close bonds with monastic communities of Upper Egypt; does not succeed in ordaining Pachomius as requested by bishop Serapion.

c. 330              Macarius of Egypt founds desert monastery at Wadi-el-Natrun.

    330              Constantine moves capital to the New Rome, Constantinople formerly Byzantium.

330’s           Evidences of Christianity at necropolis of Kharga at al-Bagawat, a place of banishment for both Arius and Athanasius at different times.

335              Ecclesiastical trial of Athanasius at Tyre, Council (Latrocinium) condemns Athanasius, exiled by Constantine to Trier in Gaul; Athanasius would spend twenty three of his next thirty two years in five periods of exile or banishment, each time using his exile as a new frontier of witness; in Gaul writes Against the Nations.

    336              Death of Arius in exile in Upper Egypt.

337              Constantine baptized by Eusebius of Nicomedia on his deathbed; Athanasius returns to Alexandria; Christians the majority in many parts of North Africa by death of Constantine. After Constantine, Africa ruled by Constantius II (337-340) along with Italy and Illyricum; Egypt ruled to Constantius II (337-361) along with Asia and Syria; Spain and Britain by Constans I (337-350.)

    337–339      Athanasius writes Letter to Virgins.

    338              Kellia monasteries founded.

    338              Anthony visits Alexandria in support of Athanasius.

    339              Anti-Athanasian synod at Antioch names Gregory of Cappadocia bishop of Alexandria.

    339–46        Second exile of Athanasius, who introduces monasticism to Italy and Gaul.

340               Founding of Dair al-Baramus, monastery of the Romans at Wadi al-Natrun (sacked and rebuilt in 407, 410, 444, 507, and 817.)

    345              Synod of Latopolis tries Pachomius on charges of clairvoyance.

    346              The Rule of Pachomius.

    346              Return of Athanasius to Alexandria.

    346              Death of Pachomius during plague; Pachomius succeeded by Theodore, then Petronius, then Horsisius (Horsiesi), then by Theodore again who held together Pachomian and Athanasian visions.

    350              Fall of island of Meroe to the Aksumite King Ezana; ancient capital of Meroe abandoned to Noba, perhaps pastoralists from south.

    350              Athanasius writes letter to Ammoun; Paphnutius active in Upper Egypt, Horsisius resigns to Seneset; in Phbow, Theodore takes control of monasteries.

    350’s           Pachomian writings under Theodore and Horsisius: Vitae Paraliponema; Letter of Ammon; Pachomian Rule; Letter of Theodore; Instructions of Theodore; Letters of Horsisius; Instructions of Horsisius; Regulations of Horsisius; Liber Horsisiusi, and later anonymous Pachomian Apocalpyse of Kjarur.

    353              Serapion of Thumis leads Athanasian delegation to appeal to Emperor Constantius; Councils of Arles (353) and of Milan (355) condemn Athanasius.

    356              Death of Anthony; the Church of Theonas is stormed in attempt to capture Athanasius, who escapes, assisted by monks; church buildings taken over by anti-Athanasians.

    356–362      Third exile of Athanasius (356-362), in hiding among monks; writes Defense of his Flight, Discourses Against the Arian, anti-Arian letters to monks, Life of Anthony, Four Letters to Serapion.

    356–359      During exile, George of Cappadocia installed as bishop, then forced to flee Alexandria, returns, lynched by pro-Athanasian mob.

c. 356              Frumentius, shipwrecked, enslaved by king of “India ulterior”, becomes prime minister, goes to Alexandria to inform Athanasius, who ordains him bishop of Aksum--- traditionally identified with Abba Salama, first apostle of Ethiopia; Aksumite inscriptions identify King Ezana and his brother Sazana, who convert to Christianity; monks migrate to Aksum.

    360              Martin of Tours founds Liguge monastery after the Egyptian model.

c. 360              Birth of John Cassian (d. 435.)

    361              Monastery of St. Anthony at Mount Clysma founded below mountain cave of St. Anthony.

    361–363      Death of Constantius; reign of Julian, nephew of Constantine, apostate emperor of East, attempts to revive Paganism; Donatist triumph in Africa; Arian hegemony in East.

    362              Upon openly returning to Alexandria, Athanasius calls Council to decree triune faith;

fourth exile of Athanasius.

    362              October, Emperor Julian forces Athanasius from Alexandria.

    363              Julian dies; Athanasius returns, then leaves to meet new emperor Jovian in Syria.

    365–366      Fifth exile of Athanasius under duress from Emperor Valens; Athanasius again visits Pachomian monasteries seeking reconciliation between Theodore and Horsisius.

    365-403       Egyptian-born and educated Epiphanius would later become bishop of Salamis; visits Egyptian desert fathers, returns to Eleutheroopolis in Judea to found monastery following Egyptian rule; writes Panarion Against Heretics.

    367              Athanasius writes Festal Letter 39, first reference to complete ecumenically received canon of scripture, citing twenty seven New Testament apostolic books that by tradition have been received for reading

in churches.

    368              Athanasius writes Synodal Letter to the Bishops of Africa, Festal Letter 40; Isidore replaces bishop Dracontius of Hermopolis Parva; Theodore dies; Horsisius leads Pachomian monasteries.

    368              The Great Church (Megale Ecclesia, Kyriakon) of Alexandria reconstructed under Athanasius; a basilica is built at St. Menas near Maryut for international pilgrims.

    370              Athanasius’s Life of Anthony begins circulating in Gaul.

    373–80        Rufinus of Aquileia (c. 345-410) resides in Egypt under Didymus; translates Origen into Latin (397ff.)

    373              Death of Athanasius, succeeded by Peter II, who is immediately forced into exile; many monks sent away to hard labor in mines or exile.

   378–384       Timothy I, brother of Peter I, becomes bishop of Alexandria.

   379               Theodosius I, emperor of the united empire begins Age of Theodosius the Great and his sons (379-395.)

   380               Theodosian Code makes Catholic Christianity the official religion of the empire; those in communion with Peter of Alexandria and Damasus of Rome are considered orthodox.

   380’s            Pilgrimage of Egeria of Gallaecia to Egypt and Palestine.

   381               Proscriptions against pagan cults; assemblies of heretics interdicted; prohibition of sacrifices.

   381               Didymus the Blind writes On The Holy Spirit.

   381               First Council of Constantinople (second ecumenical council) defines the deity of the Holy Spirit; Constantinople is declared to have second place after Rome against Alexandrian wishes.

   384–412       Theophilus, patriarch of Alexandria, vests all teaching functions formerly held in catechetical school in the episcopal office; Anba Hadra consecrated Bishop of Aswan on Upper Nile.

   385               Jerome visits Scetis (Wadi al-Natrun) monastics and returns to Bethlehem to found four monasteries with Paula and Eustochium.

   385               Shenute of Atripe becomes hegumen of White Monastery near Suhag; he writes Letters, Sermons Against the Origenists (Contra Origenistas et gnosticos); Contra Melitianos; De Vetere Testamento contra Manichaeos; De praeexistentia Christi; Shenute (d. 466) would be succeeded by Besa, then by Zenobius.

c. 385              Evagrius of Pontus (345-399) settled in Egypt first in Nitria, then in Kellia.

    390              Death of Macarius (300-390), closely linked with Dair Abu Maqar monastery in Wadi al-Natrun; Macarius succeeded by Paphnutius.

    391              Palladius visits monks of Nitria; over a thousand monks reside at the Monastery of the Cross (Abu Fanah) on the edge of the western Egyptian desert near Qasr Hor, remains of three naves, pillars, apses, wall painting still visible.

    391              Riots in Alexandria destroy the Serapeum.

    394              Arsenius leaves Rome for Desert of Scetis to become disciple of John the Short; fled desert raid in 408 for Gabal Tura (Dair al-Qusayr) for twelve years; ten thousand monks in fourth century Oxyrhynchus; thirty thousand monks and nuns at Basilica at Kom al-Namrud.