Peter of Alexandria (d. 311)

What is a Father of the Church? The title of “Fathers of the Church” is given to notable theologians who dedicated themselves to deepening Christian faith based on divine revelation. Although many were bishops (hence the name “Father”), there were also simple priests, such as Jerome, and laypeople, like Tertullian, among them. The criteria for belonging to this group include:– Ortodoxia doutrinária. – Santidade de vida. – Aprovação pela Igreja. – Pertencimento à antiguidade cristã.The Church Fathers distinguished themselves, especially, by their resistance to Gnosticism, which attempted to infiltrate christology and soteriology, mixing pagan doctrines with divine revelation. The need to define the limits of Christian faith and the sources of revelation led to the fixation of the biblical canon and opposition to arbitrary biblical interpretation by heretics.

The Bishop Peter of Alexandria

Peter of Alexandria was a fourth-century bishop known for his leadership of the catechetical school of Alexandria and his martyrdom in 311 A.D. His surviving works, in Greek and ancient Eastern translations, address fundamental theological themes. A Marian fragment, extracted from “On the Divinity,” highlights the hypostatic union of divine and human natures in Christ.

On the Divinity (Marian Fragment)

“The evangelist also affirms the truth, saying: ‘The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.’ This expression: ‘The Lord is with you’ here, on Gabriel’s lips, must be understood as: ‘The God of the Word is with you.’ In fact, it indicates the Word that was generated in the womb and made flesh, as it is written: ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the Power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called Son of God.’ The Word God, however, became flesh in the Virgin’s womb without relation to man, by the will of that God who can do all things. Nor did He need the work and presence of a man… The Power of God acted much more powerfully than the power of a man.” (De deitate, I,1,2,39)For a deeper understanding of Mariology, consult the Encyclical “Redemptoris Mater” by John Paul II, which explores Mary’s position at the heart of the theological tradition of the early Church.Deepening your studies in Mariology, Marian Theology, Marian Apparitions, and Postgraduate Studies in Mariology is highly recommended.