Question 1

Which Roman Emperor famously converted to Christianity?&#10;A) Nero&#10;B) Marcus Aurelius&#10;C) Constantine&#10;D) Claudius Maximus

Accepted Answer

Constantine famously converted to Christianity and issued the Edict of Milan in 313 CE, which granted religious toleration to all religions, including Christianity. He also played a significant role in the Council of Nicaea, which established the basic tenets of Christian theology.

Question 2

Why did many Christians remove themselves from society and live in the desert?&#10;A) To spread the gospel to monadic tribes&#10;B) To found monasteries&#10;C) A means of penance&#10;D) The goal of spiritual perfection.

Accepted Answer

Many Christians removed themselves from society and lived in the desert for the goal of spiritual perfection. This practice is known as "eremitic" or "anchoritic" monasticism, and it involved living alone or in isolated communities to focus on prayer, contemplation, and the pursuit of a closer relationship with God. It was seen as a way to detach from worldly distractions and temptations, and to dedicate one's life entirely to God.

Question 3

What did the edict of Milan put into effect?&#10;A) Confiscates the property of Christians.&#10;B) Enforced persecution of Christians.&#10;C) Decriminalized Christianity throughout the Empire.&#10;D) Made Christianity the official religion of the Empire.

Accepted Answer

The Edict of Milan decriminalized Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, ending the persecution of Christians. It did not make Christianity the official religion of the Empire, nor did it confiscate the property of Christians.

Question 4

Which of the Fathers spent most of his life in the desert?&#10;A) Athanasius&#10;B) Tertullian&#10;C) Augustine&#10;D) Antony

Accepted Answer

Antony, also known as Saint Antony of Egypt, is known as the "Father of All Monks" and spent the majority of his life in the desert as a hermit. He is considered one of the most important figures in early Christian monasticism. Athanasius and Augustine were influential theologians and bishops, while Tertullian was an early Christian writer and apologist, but they did not spend significant time in the desert as Antony did.

Question 5

Who was the most significant figure among the desert Mothers?&#10;A) Syncletica&#10;B) Felicitas&#10;C) Blandina&#10;D) Macrina

Accepted Answer

Syncletica is considered the most significant figure among the desert Mothers for her spiritual teachings and her impact on the development of the monastic movement in the East. She was known for her extreme asceticism and her teachings on the inner spiritual life, which greatly influenced many other desert mothers and fathers. Her sayings were collected and widely circulated, making her a revered figure in early monasticism.

Question 6

Theosis is defined as&#10;A) Becoming a god&#10;B) The process of freeing oneself of the evils of the flesh&#10;C) The process in which one becomes united with God&#10;D) God becoming human.

Accepted Answer

Theosis is the process in which one becomes united with God. It is a central concept in Eastern Orthodox Christianity and refers to the idea that through a life of prayer, worship, and participation in the sacraments, individuals can become more and more like God, ultimately achieving a state of union with Him. It is not about becoming a god or freeing oneself of the evils of the flesh, nor is it about God becoming human.

Question 7

Which of the following is not one of the Cappadocian Fathers?&#10;A) Gregory of Nyssa&#10;B) Basil of Caesarea&#10;C) Gregory Nazianzen&#10;D) Evagrius Ponticus

Accepted Answer

Evagrius Ponticus was not one of the Cappadocian Fathers, although he was a contemporary and influential theologian in the early Christian Church. The Cappadocian Fathers refers specifically to Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Gregory of Nyssa, who were all prominent figures in the development of Trinitarian theology and the Nicene Creed.

Question 8

What characterizes the apophatic approach to theology?&#10;A) We can only say what God has done, rather than what God will do.&#10;B) We cannot speak of God's actions, only his character&#10;C) We can only say what God is not, rather than what he is.&#10;D) It was emphasized in the West rather than in the East.

Accepted Answer

The apophatic approach to theology emphasizes that we can only speak about God by saying what he is not, rather than attempting to define him positively. This approach was prominent in both the Western and Eastern traditions. Choice A is incorrect because the apophatic approach does not preclude speaking about what God will do. Choice B is not accurate because the apophatic approach is not limited to discussing only God's character. Choice D is incorrect because the apophatic approach was prevalent in both the West and the East.

Question 9

One of the most important theologians of the Eastern Church was:&#10;A) Tertullian&#10;B) Ephrem&#10;C) Augustine&#10;D) Palladius

Accepted Answer

Ephrem was a Syrian theologian and hymnographer who lived in the 4th century and is considered one of the most important theologians of the Eastern Church. He was known for his writings on theology, particularly on the nature of Christ, and for his hymns, which are still sung in the Eastern Orthodox Church today. While Tertullian, Augustine, and Palladius were also important theologians, they were associated more with the Western Church.

Question 10

One of Basil's significant contributions was:&#10;A) Encouraged individualism in monastic groups&#10;B) Strived to keep the Eastern and Western churches united&#10;C) Bring many of the ascetics into conformity with the Church&#10;D) Purged ascetic practices from the mainstream life of the Church.

Accepted Answer

Basil encouraged many of the ascetics to join the Church and undergo formal education and training, thus bringing them into conformity with the Church's teachings and practices.

Deck 6: Spirituality and Asceticism: The Desert Fathers and Mothers