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18 JULI-SEPTEMVRI / JulY-SepTemBeR 2014 RelIgIouS eDuCATIoN of knowledge which are poten- tially an introduction to Christianity, and whatever information from geometry and astronomy may serve to explain the sacred books… The work of Origen was phenomenal. He wrote number- less treatises on many themes. He did the first truly systematic and literary studies of the books of the Bible. His work laid the foundation for virtually all sub- sequent Greek theology in the Church. Much of the teaching of Origen was judged by the Church to be false, however, and because of its persistence among his disciples, its author was formally condemned by the fifth ecumenical council in the year 553. Among the theologians of the third century who must be mentioned with Tertullian, Cyprian, Clement and Origen are Dionysius of Alexandria (d. 265), Hippolytus of Rome (d. 23 5), Gregory the Wonderworker in Cappodocia (d. 270) and Methodius of Olympus (d. 311). All of these men developed Orthodox Christian the- ology, and particularly laid the foundation for the doctrine of the Holy Trinity which would cause such controversy in the fourth century. Paul of Samosata and Lucian of Antioch also lived at the end of the third century and are known for their hereti- cal teachings concern- ing the Trinitarian char- acter of God. Liturgical Development Writings also exist from the third century which give an insight into the canonical and liturgical life of the Church of this time. These are the so- called Teachings of the Apostles from Syria, and the Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus of Rome (d. 235) who wrote in Greek. The for- mer gives regulations concern- ing the hierarchal offices and the sacramental practices in the Church of Syria, and describes the liturgical assembly. The lat- ter also gives similar informa- tion, in a more lengthy and detailed way about the Church in Rome. It contains the text of the oldest fixed eucharistic prayer inChurch history that we possess, as well as the form for the sacraments of baptism, chrismation and ordination. Baptism and Chrismation in the Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus And when he who is to be baptized goes down to the water, let him who baptizes lay hand on him saying thus: Dost thou believe in God the Father Almighty? And he who is being baptized shall say: I believe. Let him forthwith bap- tize him once, having laid his hand upon his head. And after this let him say: Dost thou Saint Clement the Bishop of Ancyra Saint Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria 235), Gregory the

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