Pope Avilius of Alexandria
Saint Avilius of Alexandria | |
|---|---|
| 3rd Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark | |
| Papacy began | 83 AD[1] |
| Papacy ended | 95 AD in Thout or September, October[1] |
| Predecessor | Anianus |
| Successor | Cerdon |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 43 AD (Priesthood) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Egypt |
| Died | 95 AD in Thout or September, October Alexandria, Egypt |
| Buried | Baucalis, Alexandria[2] |
| Nationality | Egyptian |
| Denomination | Coptic Orthodox Christian |
| Residence | Saint Mark's Church[3] |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | 1 Thout in the Coptic Calendar)[4] |
Pope Avilius of Alexandria (or Abilius), also known as St. Sabellius (Abylius, Abitius, Milius and Melyos) (? - 95 AD), was the 3rd Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.[4][5]
Overview
Upon the death of Pope Anianus of Alexandria, the suffragan bishops and priests of the area converged with the laity in Alexandria, Egypt and talked about the next appointment to the position.[1] Avilius was unanimously elected in the month of December (Kiahk), 83 AD, during the reign of the Roman Emperor Titus Flavius Domitianus.[6]
Pope Avilius was known for his chastity, and was pious and caring towards the people of Christ. He continued to establish the people in faith and the Christians grew in number in Egypt and in the five western provinces, and Sudan.[1] During his time serving, the Egyptian people began renouncing the worshiping of idols and practiced their Christianity together, in groups. Despite the religion of Egypt being Roman Paganism, his time as pope was a time of peace for the church.[1] While some historians claim that Emperor Domitianus had expelled Avilius from the "episcopal throne",[7] and installed another in his place, there is no written history of this. According to historical records, he remained in his position for twelve years, and departed on the first of Thout (11 September), in the year 95 AD. Avilius was buried next to the remains of St. Mark the Evangelist in the Church of Baucalis in Alexandria, Egypt.[3]
Veneration
St. Milieus, 3rd Patriarch of Alexandria is venerated, as a saint, in various churches. His feast day in the Coptic Church is on The Coptic New Year 1 Thout, which is September 11th in the Gregorian Calendar, and on 29 August and 29 March in the Roman Catholic Church,[5] and 22 February in Greek Orthodox Church.[8]
References
- ^ a b c d e Morgan, Robert (September 21, 2016). History of the Coptic Orthodox People and the Church of Egypt. FriesenPress. p. 16. ISBN 9781460280287. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ Meinardus, Otto F.A. (2002). Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity. American University in Cairo Press. ISBN 978-977-424-757-6.
- ^ a b Burials at Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral: Mark the Evangelist, Pope Anianus of Alexandria, Pope Avilius of Alexandria. General Books LLC. ISBN 9781158926091.
- ^ a b Atiya, Aziz S. "Synaxarion, Copto-Arabic". Claremont Coptic Library. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
- ^ a b "St. Sabellius (Abylius, Abitius, Milius)". Catholic. Catholic Online. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
- ^ "St. Melyous, the Third Pope of Alexandria". Official network of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and All of Africa. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
- ^ "Tout 20 - The Departure of pope Athanasius the Second, the Twenty-Eighth Patriarch of the See of St. Mark". Coptic Orthodox Church Network - Lives of Saints. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
- ^ "Previous Patriarchs - Abelios (83-95)". The official web site of Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
External links
Further reading
- Holweck, F. G., A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co. 1924.
- Atiya, Aziz S. The Coptic Encyclopedia. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1991. ISBN 0-02-897025-X
