Saint Alexander of Constantinople
Saint Alexander of Constantinople (born c. 240 AD; died August 28, 340 AD in Constantinople, Eastern Roman Empire) was the second Patriarch of Constantinople, serving from around 314 AD until his death at the extraordinary age of approximately one hundred years old. He was a vigorous defender of the Nicene faith against Arianism and is credited in the Eastern hagiographic tradition with the miraculous death of Arius himself: according to the tradition preserved by Sozomen and others, Alexander prayed so fervently that God would not allow the restoration of Arius to communion in Constantinople (which the Emperor Constantine had ordered) that Arius died suddenly on the very day appointed for his reintegration, in circumstances that the faithful interpreted as divine judgment. His feast day is August 28.
Alexander of Constantinople's long episcopate—nearly thirty years—spanned the transition from persecution to imperial favor and the entire crisis of the Arian controversy from its origins through the Council of Nicaea and beyond. His death, at an age suggesting he may have been among the oldest bishops of the patristic era, was mourned throughout the Eastern Church.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Alexander Of Constantinople
| Saint Alexander of Constantinople | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | August 28 |
| Profession | Bishop; Patriarch |
| Rel. Affiliation | Patriarchate of Constantinople (early) |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; book (the Nicene faith) |
| Birthplace | Constantinople area (present-day Istanbul, Turkey) or Asia Minor |
| Death Place | Constantinople (present-day Istanbul, Turkey) |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Liturgical Class | Not included (universal calendar) |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Alexander served as Bishop (and later Patriarch) of Constantinople from around 314 AD, succeeding Metrophanes of Byzantium. He governed the see through the Arian controversy, attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD (where Arianism was condemned), and continued to defend the Nicene faith in the decades afterward.
The most celebrated episode of his episcopate is the story of Arius's death. When Emperor Constantine, persuaded by Arian-leaning advisers, ordered that Arius be restored to communion in Constantinople, Alexander was deeply distressed and spent the night before the appointed Sunday in prayer, asking God to prevent this if it would damage the faith. The next morning, Arius was found dead in a public latrine in Constantinople, in circumstances that observers attributed to divine intervention. This story, preserved by several early church historians, became one of the most celebrated anti-Arian anecdotes of the patristic era.
Alexander died on August 28, 340 AD, at a reputed age of approximately one hundred years. He was succeeded by Saint Paul I of Constantinople.
Significant events
- Became Bishop of Constantinople c. 314 AD; succeeded Metrophanes.
- Attended the First Council of Nicaea (325 AD); defended the Nicene faith against Arianism.
- Prayed that God would prevent Arius's restoration to communion; Arius died suddenly on the appointed day.
- Died August 28, 340 AD at Constantinople, at approximately age 100.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: None
Death location: Constantinople (present-day Istanbul, Turkey)
Notable location: Patriarchate he governed for nearly 30 years (Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey)
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Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Saint Alexander of Constantinople have been added to the database yet.
Media
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Shrines
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Canonization
Canonization
Saint Alexander of Constantinople is venerated through the ancient process of universal veneration in both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions.
Miracles
No specific miracles have been authenticated through the modern Congregation for the Causes of Saints process.
Other notable miracles
- The tradition that Arius died in answer to Alexander's prayer is preserved in several patristic sources (Athanasius, Sozomen, Socrates Scholasticus) and is one of the most discussed providential events in early Church history.
Feast day
August 28
Veneration
Saint Alexander of Constantinople is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast day on August 28. He is also commemorated in the Eastern Orthodox Church. He is honored as a defender of the Nicene faith and as the patriarch whose prayer is associated in tradition with the providential death of Arius.
Prayers
Authored
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Intercessory
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External links
- catholicsaints.info – Saint Alexander of Constantinople
- catholic.org – Saint Alexander of Constantinople