Alexander of Constantinople

Alexander of Constantinople ( ancient Greek Επίσκοπος Νέας Ρώμης Αλέξανδρος Epískopos Néas Rómes Aléxandros ; * around 250; † 337 or 340 in Constantinople ) was Bishop of Constantinople from 326 to 337.

Life

Little is known about his youth, in any case he must have acquired a classical education. His contemporary Alexander of Alexandria wrote to him to warn him against Arianism . In 314 or 317 he was ordained deputy bishop (Chorepiskopos), at that time he is said to have already numbered 73 years.

Alexander is mentioned in a document in the files of the first council of Nicaea , in which he took part as deputy of his bishop Metrophanes of Constantinople , who was unable to attend because of his old age. There he was also the spokesman for Emperor Constantine . Alexander belonged to the Nicene party in the Arian dispute and was a staunch opponent of Arianism.

When the emperor ordered him to take Arius back into the church in 335, Alexander refused and was threatened with dismissal by Eusebius of Nicomedia . According to the report of Socrates Scholasticus (Church History 1, 38), Alexander, who considered communion with Arius to be a sacrilege, locked himself in the Church of Peace and prayed that God would take away either himself or Arius before he took Arius for communion must allow. Arius died the day before he should have received communion.

Alexander is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. His feast day is August 30th .

literature

• Thomas Shahan:  Alexander of Byzantium . In: Catholic Encyclopedia , Volume 1, Robert Appleton Company, New York 1907.

Web links

• Letter from Alexander of Alexandria to Alexander of Constantinople ( Memento of June 15, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) (English)

predecessor	Office	successor
Metrophanes	Patriarch of Constantinople 326–337	Paulus I.