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| Of Alexander, bishop of Antioch.
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Chapter XXXV.—Of Alexander, bishop of Antioch.
At this
time the see of Alexandria was held by Cyril,931
| 931 Cyril occupied the Episcopal throne of Alexandria from 412 to 444.
Theodoretus could not be expected to allude to the withdrawal of the
Roman legions from Britain in 401, or the release of Britoins from
their allegiance by Honorius in 410. The sack of Rome by the Goths in
the latter year might have however claimed a passing notice. |
brother’s son to Theophilus whom he succeeded; at the same time
Jerusalem
was occupied by John932
| 932 Of
the five Johns more or less well known as bishop of Jerusalem this was
the second—from 386 to 417. He is chiefly known to us from the
severe criticisms of Jerome. | in succession to
Cyril whom we have formerly mentioned. The Antiochenes were under the
care of Alexander933
whose life and
conversation were of a piece with his episcopate. Before his
consecration he passed his time in ascetic training and in hard bodily
exercise. He was known as a noble champion, teaching by word and
confirming the word by deed. His predecessor was Porphyrius who guided
that church after Flavianus, and left behind him many memorials of his
loving character.934
| 934 Palladius (Dial. 143 et Seqq.) describes Porphyrius as a monster
of frivolity, iniquity, and bitterness. It is interesting to hear both
sides. | He was also
distinguished by intellectual power. The holy Alexander was specially
rich in self discipline and philosophy; his life was one of poverty and
self denial; his eloquence was copious and his other gifts were
innumerable; by his advice and exhortation, the following of the great
Eustathius which Paulinus, and after him Evagrius, had not permitted to
be restored, was united to the rest of the body, and a festival was
celebrated the like of which none had ever seen before. The bishop
gathered all the faithful together, both clergy and laity, and marched
with them to the assembly. The procession was accompanied by musicians;
one hymn was sung by all in harmony, and thus he and his company went
in procession from the western postern to the great church, filling the
whole forum with people, and constituting a stream of thinking living
beings like the Orontes in its course.
When this was seen by the Jews,
by the victims of the Arian plague, and by the insignificant remnant of
Pagans, they set up a groaning and wailing, and were distressed at
seeing the rest of the rivers discharging their waters into the Church.
By Alexander the name of the great John was first inscribed in the
records935
| 935 Theodoret here uses the word δίπτυχον. Other words in use were ἱεραὶ, δέλτοι and κατάλογοι. The names engraved on these tablets were recited during
the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. e.g. at Carthage in 411 we find
it said of Cæcilianus: “In ecclesia sumus in qua
episcopatum gessit et diem obiit. Ejus nomen ad altare recitamus ejus
memoriæ communicamus tanquam memoriæ fratris.”
(Dict. Christ. Ant. i. 561. Labbe ii. 1490.) Names were sometimes
erased from unworthy motives. A survival of the use obtains in the
English Church in the Prayer for the Church Militant, and more
specifically in the recitation of names in the Bidding
Prayer. | of the Church.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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