Alexander Constantinople

Description

Alexander of Constantinople (Ancient Greek: Ἀλέξανδρος; c. 241 – 337) was bishop of Byzantium from 314 and the first bishop of Constantinople from 330 (the city was renamed during his episcopacy). Scholars consider most of the available information on Alexander to be legendary.

According to the Synaxarion, Alexander was originally from Calabria in Italy and his parents were called George and Vryaine. From a very young age he was given to God and stayed in a monastery, where he cultivated virtue and became a good labourer of God’s commands. He was granted divine visions, while for twenty days he stayed completely fasting. But he also stayed naked for four years and fell into thousands of problems because of attacks of the Saracens. In this way, he lived many years traveling around Greece with his pupils Vitalius and Nicephorus.

Alexander was elected as a vicar to assist the aged bishop Saint Metrophanes of Byzantium. Due to age and ill health, Metrophanes could not attend the First Council of Nicaea, so he sent Alexander instead. At the time of his death, Metrophanes left instructions in his will to elect his vicar to the see of Constantinople. Alexander succeeded him at the age of 73.

During his episcopacy, Alexander engaged in debate with pagan philosophers and opposed heresies. He was highly praised by Gregory Nazianzus and Epiphanius of Cyprus. Theodoret called him an “apostolic” bishop. Alexander served as bishop for about 23 years, during which time he distinguished himself by his virtues and administrative abilities