St. Alexander, Patriarch of Constantinople, defended the divinity of Christ during one of the most dangerous doctrinal crises in the early Church.

Alexander initially served as auxiliary bishop under the elderly St. Metrophanes, the first bishop of Constantinople. He represented him at the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325, where the Church condemned the Arian denial of Christ’s divinity. Following St. Metrophanes’s death, Alexander succeeded him upon the patriarchal throne.

The holy patriarch confronted both pagans and Arians. During a debate, Alexander commanded a pagan philosopher in the name of Jesus Christ to be silent. The man suddenly became mute. After acknowledging his error and the truth of Christianity, his speech returned, and he embraced Christ with several others.

Alexander also faced the attempted restoration of Arius. When Emperor Constantine asked Arius whether he accepted the Nicene Faith, the heretic deceptively affirmed a false creed concealed beneath his clothing.

A day was appointed for Arius to be received into communion. St. Alexander prayed throughout the night, begging God not to permit a public enemy of the Faith to enter the Church. The following morning, while Arius proceeded triumphantly toward the church under imperial protection, he died suddenly and shamefully before reaching it.

St. Alexander labored faithfully until his repose around 340 at approximately 98 years old. He is commemorated with St. John the Faster and St. Paul the New—patriarchs who likewise defended the Church against heresy.

St. Alexander of Constantinople, pray for us!

00:00 St. Alexander of Constantinople
00:18 Patriarchs Alexander, John, and Paul
00:26 Defenders of the Church against heresy
00:34 Alexander serves under St. Metrophanes
00:42 Representing Constantinople at Nicaea
00:49 The First Ecumenical Council of 325
00:57 Elected to the throne of Constantinople
01:02 Contending with Arians and pagans
01:05 The pagan philosopher is struck mute
01:14 He acknowledges the Christian Faith
01:23 The conversion of the philosophers
01:30 Arius attempts to enter communion
01:38 His concealed false creed
01:46 Arius deceives Emperor Constantine
01:53 Alexander’s all-night prayer
02:00 Begging God to protect the Church
02:07 Arius proceeds triumphantly
02:16 Divine judgment overtakes Arius
02:24 Alexander dies at age 98
02:32 His feast and ancient service
02:40 Commemorated with two holy patriarchs
02:49 St. John the Faster and St. Paul the New

https://www.oca.org/saints/lives

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