St. Melito of Sardis

I am absolutely convinced that if we want to better understand the church and the theology of the first-century (the so-called New Testament Church), then we must look to the theology and the church of the second-century. St. Melito of Sardis (died 180 A.D.) is little known to us today -- especially among Western Protestants -- but he was a giant in the latter-half of the second-century church. Most of what he wrote is lost to history, alas. The fragments we do have, however, are remarkable. His writing on Pascha and the divine nature of Christ are astonishing, and they can be credited for helping to establish much of the robust theological tradition we have today.

Fr. John Behr is theologian and early church historian par excellence. Now that both the Eastern and Western Church are in Eastertide, I think this lecture by Fr. Behr is fitting. I encourage you to take some time this week to listen to it. Fr. Behr makes the second-century church come alive!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwal7oRceLc#action=share