Saint Achillas of Alexandria
Saint Achillas of Alexandria (also known as Achillus, Achilles of Alexandria, or Achillas the Patriarch; died c. 312–313 AD) was the eighteenth Pope of Alexandria (Patriarch of Alexandria) in the Coptic Orthodox Church tradition, serving from approximately 311 to 312 AD. He succeeded the martyr-patriarch Saint Peter I of Alexandria and was himself succeeded by the great Saint Alexander of Alexandria, under whom the Arian Controversy would explode into the defining theological crisis of the fourth century. Saint Achillas's significance rests in part on a decision that would have enormous consequences for the Church: his ordination of Arius as a priest, which gave the future heresiarch his platform in the Alexandrian Church.
Despite having ordained Arius — a decision he apparently later regretted when Arius's opinions became clear — Achillas himself was orthodox in his faith and is venerated as a confessor and bishop who served during the tumultuous final years of the Diocletianic persecution. His pontificate was brief, lasting little more than a year, but he maintained the Alexandrian tradition of Nicene orthodoxy and is numbered among the saints of the Coptic Orthodox Church and of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Saint Achillas is commemorated on November 7 in the Eastern Orthodox calendar.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Achillas Of Alexandria
| Saint Achillas of Alexandria | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | November 07 |
| Profession | Patriarch of Alexandria; bishop; priest |
| Rel. Affiliation | Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria; Eastern Orthodox Church; Catholic Church |
| Attributes | Patriarch's vestments; crozier; Book of the Gospels |
| Birthplace | Alexandria, Egypt (probable) |
| Death Place | Alexandria, Egypt |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; confessor patriarch |
| Liturgical Class | Not included |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Birth
The birth date and birthplace of Saint Achillas of Alexandria cannot be confirmed from available historical sources. He was presumably born and raised in or near Alexandria, the great Egyptian metropolis and the center of the most important Christian patriarchate outside of Rome. In the early fourth century, Alexandria was the intellectual capital of the Christian world — home to the Catechetical School of Alexandria, where such figures as Origen, Clement of Alexandria, and Didymus the Blind had taught or would teach.
Early Life
Achillas served as a priest of the Alexandrian Church under the great bishop-martyr Saint Peter I of Alexandria (d. 311 AD), who was martyred near the end of the Diocletianic persecution. Achillas was apparently a trusted and senior member of the Alexandrian presbyterate. During the tumultuous period of the persecution, he may have led the local church in the absence of the imprisoned bishop.
One of the most historically significant acts of his presbyteral career was the ordination of a certain theological teacher named Arius to the priesthood. Arius would later develop the heretical doctrine (Arianism) that the Son of God was a creature, not co-eternal with the Father — a doctrine that convulsed the entire Church in the decades after his ordination. Achillas is said to have ordained Arius in good faith and to have later recognized his error when Arius's opinions became clearer.
Occupation
Saint Achillas was elected Pope of Alexandria (Patriarch of Alexandria) upon the martyrdom of Saint Peter I in 311 AD. His pontificate lasted approximately one year, ending with his death around 312–313 AD. His brief reign fell at the very end of the Diocletianic persecution and at the dawn of the Constantinian peace — one of the great turning points in Christian history.
As patriarch, Achillas was responsible for the governance of the Alexandrian Church and all the Christian communities of Egypt. The patriarchate of Alexandria in this era was one of the most important sees in Christendom, second in dignity (in the East) only to Rome.
Vocation
Saint Achillas served the Alexandrian Church during one of its most difficult periods — the final phase of the Diocletianic persecution, when the patriarch himself had been martyred. His brief pontificate maintained the Alexandrian tradition of orthodoxy and passed the see to his able successor Alexander, who would guide the Church through the crisis of Arianism.
Death
Saint Achillas died around 312–313 AD in Alexandria, after a pontificate of approximately one year. He died peacefully as a confessor — not by martyrdom, but having served through the persecution.
Saint Achillas met his end peacefully in Alexandria, handing on the great Alexandrian see to his successor Saint Alexander, under whom the Nicene faith would be defined and defended.
Significant events
- Served as a senior priest of Alexandria under Saint Peter I of Alexandria.
- Ordained Arius to the priesthood — a decision of enormous future consequence for the Church.
- Elected Pope of Alexandria (Patriarch) upon the martyrdom of Saint Peter I in 311 AD.
- Served as patriarch during the final months of the Diocletianic persecution.
- Died c. 312–313 AD; succeeded by Saint Alexander of Alexandria.
- Feast day observed on November 7 in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Alexandria, Egypt (probable)
Death location: Alexandria, Egypt
Notable location: His patriarchal see; center of his ministry (Alexandria, Egypt)
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Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Saint Achillas of Alexandria have been added to the database yet.
Media
No media found for this saint.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
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No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
List of shrines
No shrines formally dedicated to Saint Achillas of Alexandria meeting the canonical definition of Canon 1230 have been identified in current sources.
Canonization
Servant of God
Saint Achillas of Alexandria was not subjected to a modern formal canonization process. His recognition rests on the ancient tradition of the Coptic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
Venerable
Not applicable.
Beatification
Not applicable.
Canonization
Saint Achillas of Alexandria is recognized as a saint through the ancient tradition of the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Miracles
No specific miracles attributed to Saint Achillas of Alexandria have been formally documented.
Miracle for beatification
Not applicable.
Miracle for canonization
Not applicable.
Other notable miracles
No specific miracles are recorded in available primary sources.
Patronage
No formal patronage has been assigned to Saint Achillas of Alexandria.
Feast day
November 7 (Eastern Orthodox); also commemorated in the Coptic Orthodox calendar.
Veneration
Saint Achillas of Alexandria is venerated in the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church as one of the early patriarchs of Alexandria who served during the persecution period. His feast is observed on November 7. Though his brief pontificate was overshadowed by the larger careers of his predecessor (the martyr Peter I) and his successor (the theologian Alexander), Achillas holds an honored place in the apostolic succession of the great Alexandrian see.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.
Books
Written about the saint
- Eusebius of Caesarea. Historia Ecclesiastica (Ecclesiastical History), various references. Primary historical source.
- Meinardus, Otto F. A. Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 1999.
- Camplani, Alberto. Atanasio di Alessandria. Rome: Borla, 2000.
Written by the saint
- No writings by Saint Achillas of Alexandria have been identified.
External links
References
- Eusebius of Caesarea. Historia Ecclesiastica. Translated by H. J. Lawlor and J. E. L. Oulton. London: SPCK, 1927.
- Coptic Orthodox Church patriarchal lists and synaxarion.
- Roman Martyrology (Martyrologium Romanum). Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2004.