Canonized Pre-Congregation Name Alexander Jerusalem | Role Martyr | |
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Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Churches Feast March 18 (Roman Catholic Church)
May 16/29 and December 12/25 (Eastern Orthodox Churches) Died 251 AD, Caesarea Maritima, Caesarea, Israel Similar People Eusebius, Herod Agrippa, Basil of Ancyra | ||
Saint Alexander of Jerusalem (died 251 AD) is venerated as a Martyr and Saint by both the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Roman Catholic Church. He died during the persecution of Emperor Decius.
He was the first Bishop of Cappadocia and was afterwards associated as coadjutor with the Bishop of Jerusalem, Saint Narcissus, who was then 116 years old. Alexander had been imprisoned for his faith in the time of Roman Emperor Alexander Severus. After his release, he came to Jerusalem, where he was compelled by the aged bishop to remain and assist him in the government of that see. This arrangement, however, was entered into with the consent of all the bishops of Palestine (Syria Palaestina). It was Alexander who permitted Origen, although only a layman, to speak in the churches. For this concession he was taken to task, but he defended himself by examples of other permissions of the same kind given even to Origen himself elsewhere, although then quite young. Alban Butler says that they had studied together in the great Christian school of Alexandria. Alexander ordained him a priest.
Alexander is praised for the library he built at Jerusalem.
Finally, in spite of his years, he, with several other bishops, was carried off a prisoner to Caesarea, and as the historians say, "The glory of his white hairs and great sanctity formed a double crown for him in captivity". His vita states that he suffered many tortures, but survived them all. When the wild beasts were brought to devour him, some licked his feet, and others their impress on the sand of the arena. Worn out by his sufferings, he died in prison. This was in the year 251.
His feast is kept by the Roman Catholic Church on March 18, by the Eastern Orthodox Churches on May 16/29 and December 12/25.
Eusebius has preserved fragments of a letter written by him to the Antinoïtes; of another to the Antiochenes; of a third to Origen; and of another, written in conjunction with Theoctistus of Caesarea, to Demetrius of Alexandria.
Though at his time Jerusalem was officially known as Aelia Capitolina, the name used by the Roman authorities since the city was rebuilt by the Emperor Hadrian, Christian tradition persisted in using the original name.