Anianus of Alexandria

St. Mark heals the cobbler Anianus. Relief above the entrance to the former guild house of the Venetian cobblers ( Scoletta dei Calegheri )

Saint Anianus of Alexandria (other spellings of the name: Annianus, Ananias) is considered by the ancient church tradition as the second bishop of Alexandria . He was the first convert and later successor in the episcopate of the evangelist Mark .

The only sources in which he is mentioned are the apocryphal Acts of Mark (4th / 5th centuries AD) and the list of the Bishops of Alexandria by Eusebius of Caesarea , which only contains his name.

According to a Coptic legend, Anianus was the first Christian in Alexandria : When the evangelist Mark came to Alexandria, he stepped wrong and tore his sandal, which he therefore took to the shoemaker Anianus. While Anianus was repairing the sandal with the awl, the latter injured his finger and shouted eis theos (Greek: oh only God!) In pain . Mark then healed the shoemaker, asked about his faith and told him about Jesus Christ. Anianus and all his household were baptized. When Markus moved to the West, he is said to have appointed Anianus head of the community, according to Coptic tradition, Patriarch of Alexandria. Legend has it that Anianus turned his house into a church, and from then on preached Christianity and baptized. After twenty-two years he is said to have died in peace.

Orthodox and Catholic memorial day is April 25th, Coptic memorial day is the day of his death, the 20th Hator (29/30 November).

Web links

• Anianus in the ecumenical dictionary of saints
• Coptic Church: Anianus (English)

predecessor	Office	successor
Markus	Bishop of Alexandria 61–82	Avilius