Alexander of Constantinople (; 241 – 337) was bishop of Byzantium from 314 and the first bishop of Constantinople from 330 (the city was renamed during his episcopacy in 330). Scholars consider most of the available information on Alexander to be legendary.

Origin and early life

According to the

Synaxarion Synaxarion or Synexarion (plurals Synaxaria, Synexaria; , from συνάγειν, ''synagein'', "to bring together"; cf. etymology of '' synaxis'' and ''synagogue''; Latin: ''Synaxarium'', ''Synexarium''; ; Ge'ez: ሲናክሳሪየም(ስንክ� ...

, Alexander was originally from

Calabria Calabria is a Regions of Italy, region in Southern Italy. It is a peninsula bordered by the region Basilicata to the north, the Ionian Sea to the east, the Strait of Messina to the southwest, which separates it from Sicily, and the Tyrrhenian S ...

in Italy and his parents were called George and Vryaine. From a very young age, he was given to God and stayed in a

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...

, where he cultivated virtue and became a good labourer of God's commands. He was granted divine visions, while for twenty days he stayed completely

fasting Fasting is the act of refraining from eating, and sometimes drinking. However, from a purely physiological context, "fasting" may refer to the metabolic status of a person who has not eaten overnight (before "breakfast"), or to the metabolic sta ...

. But he also stayed naked for four years and fell into thousands of problems because of attacks of the

Saracens file:Erhard Reuwich Sarazenen 1486.png, upright 1.5, Late 15th-century History of Germany, German woodcut depicting Saracens ''Saracen'' ( ) was a term used both in Greek language, Greek and Latin writings between the 5th and 15th centuries to ...

. In this way, he lived many years traveling around Greece with his pupils Vitalius and Nicephorus. Alexander was elected as a

vicar A vicar (; Latin: '' vicarius'') is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior (compare "vicarious" in the sense of "at second hand"). Linguistically, ''vicar'' is cognate with the English p ...

to assist the aged bishop Metrophanes of Byzantium. According to Gelasius of Cyzicus, Metrophanes was alive during the

First Council of Nicaea The First Council of Nicaea ( ; ) was a council of Christian bishops convened in the Bithynian city of Nicaea (now İznik, Turkey) by the Roman Emperor Constantine I. The Council of Nicaea met from May until the end of July 325. This ec ...

(325), but could not partake due to his age and ill health, so he sent instead Alexander of Constantinople, whom he destined as his successor. Metrophanes was most likely already dead by then. Alexander succeeded him at the age of 73 in 314. During his episcopacy, Alexander engaged in debate with

pagan Paganism (, later 'civilian') is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Christianity, Judaism, and Samaritanism. In the time of the ...

philosophers Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, value, mind, and language. It is a rational and critical inquiry that reflects on ...

and opposed heresies. He was highly praised by Gregory Nazianzus and

Epiphanius of Salamis Epiphanius of Salamis (; – 403) was the bishop of Salamis, Cyprus, at the end of the Christianity in the 4th century, 4th century. He is considered a saint and a Church Father by the Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox, Catholic Churche ...

Theodoret Theodoret of Cyrus or Cyrrhus (; AD 393 – 458/466) was an influential theologian of the School of Antioch, biblical commentator, and Christian bishop of Cyrrhus (423–457). He played a pivotal role in several 5th-century Byzantine ...

called him an "apostolic" bishop. Alexander served as bishop for about 23 years, during which time he distinguished himself by his virtues and administrative abilities.

Arian controversy

When the

Arian controversy The Arian controversy was a series of Christian disputes about the nature of Christ that began with a dispute between Arius and Athanasius of Alexandria, two Christian theologians from Alexandria, Egypt. The most important of these controversies c ...

began, Pope Alexander I of Alexandria, the

Patriarch of Alexandria The Patriarch of Alexandria is the archbishop of Alexandria, Egypt. Historically, this office has included the designation "pope" (etymologically "Father", like "Abbot"). The Alexandrian episcopate was revered as one of the three major epi ...

, requested his cooperation in combating what he perceived to be

heresy Heresy is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, particularly the accepted beliefs or religious law of a religious organization. A heretic is a proponent of heresy. Heresy in Heresy in Christian ...

. At the Council of Nicaea,

Arius Arius (; ; 250 or 256 – 336) was a Cyrenaica, Cyrenaic presbyter and asceticism, ascetic. He has been regarded as the founder of Arianism, which holds that Jesus Christ was not Eternity, coeternal with God the Father, but was rather created b ...

and his teachings were condemned. Later, Arius desired to be received back into the communion of the Church. The Roman Emperor

Constantine the Great Constantine I (27 February 27222 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was a Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337 and the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. He played a Constantine the Great and Christianity, pivotal ro ...

, having been convinced by the Eusebians, commanded Alexander to formally receive Arius back. According to

Socrates of Constantinople Socrates of Constantinople ( 380 – after 439), also known as Socrates Scholasticus (), was a 5th-century Greek Christian church historian, a contemporary of Sozomen and Theodoret. He is the author of a ''Historia Ecclesiastica'' ("Church Hist ...

, Arius did not in fact repent of his heresy but was equivocating, and Bishop Alexander was aware of this. Alexander, though threatened by the Eusebians with deposition and banishment, persisted in his refusal to admit Arius back into the Church, and shut himself up in the Church of Hagia Irene (which at that time was the

cathedral A cathedral is a church (building), church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, Annual conferences within Methodism, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually s ...

of Constantinople) in fervent prayer that God would take him from this world rather than be forced to restore someone to communion who he feared was only feigning repentance. As it happened, Arius died on his way to the church, before he could be received back into communion.

Death

Alexander did not long survive Arius. cites Socrates Scholasticus, ''op. cit.'', ii, 6; Theodoret, ''op. cit.'', I, 19. On his deathbed he was said to have nominated his vicar,

Paul I of Constantinople Paul I of Constantinople or ''Saint Paul the Confessor'' (Greek: Παῦλος; died 350), was the sixth bishop of Constantinople, elected first in 337. Paul I became involved in the Arian controversy which drew in the Emperor of the West, Co ...

, as his successor, and to have warned his clergy against Macedonius I of Constantinople, who became bishop of Constantinople in 342 and whose teachings inspired Macedonianism. After his death, Alexander came to be regarded as a saint of the Church. The service in his honor was printed in

Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...

in 1771. According to some ancient manuscripts, the feast of Saint Alexander was commemorated on 2 June. Today, his

feast day The calendar of saints is the traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the day as the feast day or feast of said saint. The word "feast" in this context does n ...

is celebrated annually on 30 August, in a common commemoration with his fellow Patriarchs of Constantinople John IV of Constantinople (582–595, also commemorated on 2 September) and Paul IV of Constantinople (780–784).

Notes and references

Attribution

External links

Saint Alexander the Patriarch of Constantinople
Orthodox

Icon An icon () is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, in the cultures of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholic Church, Catholic, and Lutheranism, Lutheran churches. The most common subjects include Jesus, Mary, mother of ...

and

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander Of Constantinople 3rd-century births 337 deaths 3rd-century Romans 4th-century Romans Roman-era Byzantines 4th-century Byzantine bishops 4th-century Christian saints People from Calabria 4th-century Archbishops of Constantinople Participants in the First Council of Nicaea