The Liturgical Calendar: The Church Remembers

Today the church remembers Clement of Alexandria, Priest, c. 210.

Titus Flavius Clement was a sophisticated Greek, well-educated in philosophy and welltraveled. He was converted to Christianity largely through the efforts of Pantaenus, the head of a Christian school in Alexandria, Egypt. Unlike some of his contemporaries, Clement was not at all willing to leave his philosophical training at the baptismal font. He found Christianity to be quite compatible with philosophy, and he continued to practice and refine his speculative skills. He regarded Socrates and Plato as important forerunners of Christ, asserting that their teaching prepared people to accept and understand the gospel much as the Old Testament prophets had.

His extant works include An Exhortation to the Greeks and Instruction in Christian Living. For most of his adult life his home was Alexandria, with its renowned library and university. Clement served as principal of the Christian school there. However, he also visited the Christian communities in Antioch and Jerusalem, where he was highly regarded. He died under unknown circumstances during the persecution of the Emperor Septimus Serverus.

O God, who has enlightened your church by the teaching of your servant Clement: Enrich us evermore, we beseech you, with your heavenly grace, and raise up faithful witnesses to the way of your salvation. Amen.

Read the Wikipedia article here.

O God of unsearchable wisdom, you gave your servant Clement grace to understand and teach the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, the source of all truth: Grant to your Church the same grace to discern your Word wherever truth is found; through Jesus Christ our unfailing light, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Back to the Calendar page.