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Alexander of Constantinople

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'''Our father among the [[saint]]s '''Alexander of Constantinople’‘’ Constantinople''' was the first [[bishop]] of Constantinople having been the bishop of the city of Byzantium when the name of the city was changed to Constantinople. Alexander participated in the [[First Ecumenical Council]] at [[Nicea]] and fought against the Arian [[heresy]]. His [[feast day]] is [[August 30]].
==Life==
St. Alexander is believed to have been born between 237 and 244. He was elected as a [[vicar]] to assist St. [[Metrophanes of Constantinople|Metrophanes]], who was the bishop of Byzantium during the early decades of the fourth century, and was of great age by the time of the council at Nicea. There is considerable uncertainty about the time of Alexander’s transition as Metrophanes’ successor as Bishop of Byzantium and Metrophanes’ repose. Alexander’s [[consecration of a bishop|consecration]] as vicar is believed to have taken place between 313 and 314, when Alexander was 72 years old. In view of Metrophanes’ age Alexander attended the Council in Nicea, although Metrophanes may have attended the council himself. <ref> The website of the Ecumenical Patriarchate [[http://www.ec-patr.org/list/index.php?lang=en]] lists Alexander succeeding Metrophanes in 314</ref>. In the event, in accordance with Metrophanes’ will, Alexander succeeded Metrophanes upon his reposed.
The central issue of the Council at Nicea was [[Arius]] and his teaching [[Arianism]]. Alexander supported [[Alexander of Alexandria]] in the defense of the Trinitarian position at the council that in the end resulted in the council’s condemnation of Arius and Arianism. After the council, Arius wanted to be received back into communion. With the support of [[Eusebius of Nicomedia]], who convinced him, [[Constantine the Great|Constantine I]] commanded Alexander to formally receive Arius back into communion. <ref>[[Athanasius of Alexandria]] ''Ep. ad Serap.''; [[Rufinus]], ''Hist.'' i.</ref> According to Socrates Scholasticus, Arius did not in fact repent of his heresy, but was equivocating, of which Bishop Alexander was aware.<ref>Socrates Scholasticus, ''op. cit.'' i. 37</ref> Alexander, though threatened by the Eusebians with [[deposition]] and banishment, persisted in his refusal to admit Arius back into the Church. Alexander shut himself up in the Church of Hagia Irene, which at that time was the [[cathedral]] of Constantinople, in fervent prayer that God would take him from this world rather than be forced to restore someone to communion who he feared was only feigning [[repentance]]. As it happened, Arius died in 336 on his way to the church, before he could be received back into communion.
Alexander did not long survive Arius.<ref>Socrates Scholasticus, ''op. cit.'' ii. 6 ; Theodoret, ''op. cit.''i. 19</ref> On his deathbed he was said to have nominated his vicar, [[Paul I of Constantinople|Paul]] as his successor, and to have warned his [[clergy]] against [[Macedonius I of Constantinople|Macedonius]], a [[Semi-Arianism|semi-Arian]] who became bishop of Constantinople in 342 and whose teachings inspired [[Macedonianism]].
==References==
{{succession|
before=Metrophanes|
title=[[List of Patriarchs of Constantinople|List of Patriarchs of Constantinople]]Bishop of Constantinople]]|
years=314-337|
after=[[Paul I of Constantinople|Paul I]]}}
{{end box}}
==Troparion - Tone 4==
*[http://www.ec-patr.org/list/index.php?lang=en&id=26 Ec-patr: Metrophanes I]
[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category:4th-century bishops]]
[[Category: Patriarchs of Constantinople]]
[[Category: Saints]]
[[Category:Byzantine Saints]]
[[Category:4th-century saints]]
[[Categoryro: Saint]][[Category: Bishop]][[Category: Patriarch of ConstantinopleAlexandru de Constantinopol]]

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