Pope Alexander of Alexandria

Alexander of Alexandria ( † April 17 328 in Alexandria ) was Bishop of Alexandria 313-328 and at the beginning of the Arian dispute one of the leading representatives of orthodoxy against Arius.

Life

Alexander was highly regarded by the people and clergy, bountiful to the poor, eloquent, just, and of ascetic life.

Alexander was one of the protagonists at the beginning of the Arian controversy which erupted when Arius accused him in a defense of Sabellianism. When Arius presented his teachings open, Alexander first tried Arius to turn from his teachings and he earned from his clergy allegations of excessive mildness. When the dispute escalated, Alexander summoned a synod at Alexandria 320, sentenced to more than 100 bishops from Egypt and Libya Arius.

Arius left Egypt and sought the support of Eusebius of Caesarea and Eusebius of Nicomedia, whereby the whole of the Christian East was practically involved in the dispute. Emperor Constantine I sent his adviser Ossius in Cordoba with a letter to Alexander and Arius, who invited the two to reconcile and not " so trifling thing " falling out because of a.

At the First Council of Nicaea Alexander was one of the leading men of the orthodox party.

Of his works three letters are obtained which are important evidence for the early history of the Arian controversy: an epistle to Alexander of Constantinople Opel, another to all Catholic bishops, and the impeachment of Arius. Quotes from letters and sermons can be found in the works of his successor Athanasius of Alexandria.

Alexander is her 19th Pope of the Coptic Church after counting.

In the Orthodox and Catholic Church Alexander is revered as a saint of Alexandria. His feast day is February 26th in the Coptic Church April 22.