Demetrius of Alexandria

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Demetrius of Alexandria ( ancient Greek Δημήτριος Demetrios ; † 232 ) was the eleventh bishop of Alexandria after Mark and the first about whom more than his name and term of office are known. He held the episcopate for 43 years, longer than most other bishops of antiquity. According to Sextus Iulius Africanus , who had visited Alexandria shortly afterwards, the beginning of his term of office was in the tenth year of the reign of Emperor Commodus , ie in 189; the statement of Eusebius of Caesarea , who instead gives the tenth year of the reign of Septimius Severus , is obviously an error.

Demetrius gained special ecclesiastical significance through his quarrel with Origen . He had initially started his training in the catechist school of Alexandria supported by Demetrius , whose chairmanship he took over at the age of just 18 in 204 as the successor to Clement of Alexandria . But soon there were differences of opinion between Demetrius and Origen. a. based on different ideas in the Easter dispute , i.e. the correct date of Easter. In 214 Demetrius sent Origen to the province of Arabia, whose prefect had asked to be sent. The next year, Origen had returned, events took a dramatic turn when Emperor Caracalla had the city of Alexandria punished for its anti-imperial attitude: the city was given up for looting, its schools were closed and all foreigners were expelled. Origen then fled with Ambrose from Alexandria to Caesarea (probably the one in Cappadocia), where Origen began to preach himself, although he had not been ordained a priest by Demetrius, which is why Demetrius protested violently. In contrast, the bishops Alexander of Jerusalem and Theoctistus of Caesarea stood up for Origen, pointing out that it was common practice in their areas for lay people to also preach. However, Origen returned to Alexandria in 216 without any documented conflicts with Bishop Demetrius for the next few years.

However, the dispute escalated in 230, when Origen went on a trip to Greece and again made a stop in Caesarea. Here he was now ordained a priest, which Demetrius saw as an affront. He immediately called a church meeting at which Origen's license to teach was revoked. Another synod declared the ordination invalid. This decision was accepted by the Roman bishop Pontianus , but rejected by the communities in Palestine, Phenicia, Arabia and Achaia. A little later Demetrius died. Heraclas was his successor .

The dispute between Origen and Demetrius is primarily documented by Eusebius of Caesarea , who as an admirer of Origen does not always report neutrally. Demetrius is venerated as a saint in the Orthodox Church, his feast day is September 11th .

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predecessor Office successor
Julianus Bishop of Alexandria
189–232 		Heraclas
personal data
SURNAME Demetrius of Alexandria
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Demetrios; Δημήτριος (Greek)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Bishop of Alexandria
DATE OF BIRTH 2nd century
DATE OF DEATH 232