Movatterモバイル変換

Theophilus I of Alexandria

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Head of the Coptic Church from 384 to 412

Saint Theophilus of Alexandria
Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark
Artistic depiction of Theophilus at the Serapeum, from theAlexandrian World Chronicle
Papacy began	384
Papacy ended	15 October 412
Predecessor	Timothy I
Successor	Cyril of Alexandria
Personal details
Born	in the mid-4th century Likely Egypt
Died	15 October 412
Buried	Dominicium,Alexandria
Nationality	Egyptian
Denomination	Church of Alexandria
Residence	Saint Mark's Church
Sainthood
Feast day	18Paopi (Coptic calendar) 15 October (Julian calendar) Currently 28 October (Gregorian calendar)
Venerated in	Coptic Orthodox Church Syriac Orthodox Church Eastern Orthodox Church

Theophilus of Alexandria (Greek: Θεόφιλος; died 15 October 412) was the 23rdPope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark from 385 to 412. He is remembered as a pivotal figure in late antique Christianity, known for his assertive role in suppressing paganism and managing ecclesiastical disputes that shaped the doctrinal course of the early Church.

Historical context

[edit]

Theophilus rose to the patriarchate during a time of significant transformation in the Roman Empire. Christianity had recently gained imperial support through the policies of Constantine and Theodosius I, displacing long-dominant pagan cults. Alexandria, a center of learning and philosophical traditions, became a focal point of religious and political tensions.

Early life and patriarchate

[edit]

Little is known about Theophilus’s early life, though he was likely born in Egypt in the mid-4th century. He succeeded Pope Timothy I as Patriarch of Alexandria in 385 AD. His nephew,Cyril of Alexandria, whom he mentored, later succeeded him in the same office.^[1]

Suppression of paganism

[edit]

In 391 AD, following a series of imperial edicts issued by Emperor Theodosius I that banned pagan worship and closed temples across the empire, Patriarch Theophilus I of Alexandria led efforts to repurpose or dismantle pagan religious structures in Alexandria. According to the church historianSocrates Scholasticus, Theophilus publicly mocked pagan artifacts, an act that provoked violent clashes between pagan and Christian factions in the city.

One of the most significant events during this period was the destruction of theSerapeum of Alexandria, one of the most prominent temples in the ancient city. While Christian sources described the incident as a victorious moment in the struggle against idolatry, modern scholars note that the event reflected broader political, religious, and social tensions in late Roman Alexandria. Some argue that the temple's destruction was part of a wider campaign to consolidate Christian authority and imperial control.^[2]^[3]^[4]

The Origenist controversy

[edit]

Though Theophilus initially supported the allegorical theology ofOrigen, he changed his position in 399 AD, aligning instead with “Anthropomorphite” monks who interpreted divine imagery literally. At a synod in Alexandria, he condemned Origen's writings and expelled Origenist monks. This included the influential group known as theFour Tall Brothers, intellectuals who later sought refuge underJohn Chrysostom in Constantinople.^[5]^[6]^[7]

Synod of the Oak and deposition of John Chrysostom

[edit]

In 403, Theophilus presided over theSynod of the Oak in Constantinople, orchestrating the deposition ofJohn Chrysostom, then Archbishop of Constantinople. Theophilus accused him of insubordination and heresy, partly due to Chrysostom's sheltering of the exiled Origenists.^[8]

Writings and legacy

[edit]

Illustration from a papyrus showing Pope Theophilus I of Alexandria

Theophilus was a prolific author, though most of his writings survive only in fragments or translations. His surviving corpus includes:

Festal Letters – Issued annually to announce Easter and offer theological reflection.
Paschal Table – Now lost, but known to have been dedicated to Emperor Theodosius I.^[9]
Homilies – Including *Homily on the Crucifixion and the Good Thief*, preserved in Latin and Coptic/Geʽez versions.
Correspondence – Letters exchanged withJerome,Pope Anastasius I, andPope Innocent I.^[10]
Syriac Texts – Several homilies preserved in Syriac, published in modern editions by Fr. Zakka F. Labib.^[11]

Some of his prayers were translated intoGeʽez, the liturgical language of theEthiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, signifying his lasting influence beyond Egypt.^[12]

Death and veneration

[edit]

Theophilus died on 15 October 412 and was buried in Alexandria. He is venerated as a saint in theCoptic Orthodox Church, theEastern Orthodox Church, and theSyriac Orthodox Church. His feast day is celebrated on 18 Paopi in the Coptic calendar, corresponding to 28 October on the Gregorian calendar.^[13]

References

[edit]

^"Saint Theophilus of Alexandria".Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved4 June 2025.
^David Frankfurter,Christianizing Egypt: Syncretism and Local Worlds in Late Antiquity, Princeton University Press, 2018, pp. 182–185.
^"The Christian Destruction of the Roman Serapeum".CUNY. Retrieved4 June 2025.
^"Serapeum".University of Chicago. Retrieved4 June 2025.
^Russell, Norman (2006).Theophilus of Alexandria. Routledge.ISBN 9780415167570.{{cite book}}:Check|isbn= value: checksum (help)
^Clark, Elizabeth A. (1992).The Origenist Controversy: The Cultural Construction of an Early Christian Debate. Princeton University Press.
^Kannengiesser, Charles (2004).Handbook of Patristic Exegesis. Vol. 2. Brill. pp. 1333–1335.
^Kelly, J.N.D. (1995).Golden Mouth: The Story of John Chrysostom. Cornell University Press. pp. 191–193.
^Mosshammer, Alden A. (2008).The Easter Computus and the Origins of the Christian Era. Oxford University Press. pp. 190–203.
^Chadwick, Henry (1967).The Early Church. Penguin Books. p. 190.
^Labib, Zakka."Works of Pope Theophilus of Alexandria Preserved in Syriac".Academia.edu. Retrieved4 June 2025.
^"Geʽez language".Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved4 June 2025.
^"Synaxarion, 18 Paopi".CopticChurch.net. Retrieved4 June 2025.

Norman Russell,Theophilus of Alexandria, Routledge, 2006.
J.N.D. Kelly,Golden Mouth: The Story of John Chrysostom, Cornell University Press, 1995.
Alden A. Mosshammer,The Easter Computus and the Origins of the Christian Era, Oxford University Press, 2008.
Elizabeth A. Clark,The Origenist Controversy, Princeton University Press, 1992.
Jan Zuidhoek,Paschal Chronology and the Alexandrian Church, 2017.
David Frankfurter,Christianizing Egypt: Syncretism and Local Worlds in Late Antiquity, Princeton University Press, 2018.
Banev, Kristu (2015).Theophilus of Alexandria and the First Origenist Controversy: Rhetoric and Power. Oxford Early Christian Studies.Oxford University Press.ISBN 978-0-19-872754-5.

Titles of the Great Christian Church

Preceded by

Timothy I

Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria
385–412

Succeeded by

Cyril

v t e Patriarchs of Alexandria
Patriarchs prior to the Chalcedonian schism (43–451)	Mark I the Evangelist (founder) Anianus Avilius Kedronos Primus Justus Eumenius Markianos* Celadion Agrippinus Julian Demetrius I Heraclas Dionysius Maximus Theonas Peter I Achillas Alexander I Athanasius I Peter II Timothy I Theophilus I Cyril I Dioscorus I
Coptic Orthodox Popes and Patriarchs (451–present)	Timothy II Peter III Athanasius II John I John II Dioscorus II Timothy III Theodosius I Peter IV Damian Anastasius Andronicus Benjamin I Agathon John III Isaac Simeon I Alexander II Cosmas I Theodore I Michael I Mina I John IV Mark II James Simeon II Joseph I Michael II Cosmas II Shenouda I Michael III Gabriel I Cosmas III Macarius I Theophilus II Mina II Abraham Philotheos Zacharias Shenouda II Christodoulos Cyril II Michael IV Macarius II Gabriel II Michael V John V Mark III John VI Cyril III Athanasius III John VII Gabriel III John VII Theodosius III John VIII John IX Benjamin II Peter V Mark IV John X Gabriel IV Matthew I Gabriel V John XI Matthew II Gabriel VI Michael VI John XII John XIII Gabriel VII John XIV Gabriel VIII Mark V John XV Matthew III Mark VI Matthew IV John XVI Peter VI John XVII Mark VII John XVIII Mark VIII Peter VII Cyril IV Demetrius II Cyril V John XIX Macarius III Joseph II Cyril VI Shenouda III Tawadros II (current)
Greek Orthodox Popes and Patriarchs (451–present)	Proterius Timothy II Timothy III John I Peter III Athanasius II John II John III Dioscorus II Timothy IV Theodosius I Gaianus Paul Zoilus Apollinarius John IV Eulogius Theodore I John V George I Cyrus Peter IV Peter V Peter VI Cosmas I Politianus Eustatius Christopher I Sophronius I Michael I Michael II Christodoulos Eutychius Sophronius II Isaac Job Elias I Arsenius Theophilus II George II Leontius Alexander II John VI Cyril II Sabbas Sophronius III Elias II Eleutherius Mark III* Nicholas I Gregory I Nicholas II Athanasius III Gregory II Gregory III Niphon Mark IV Nicholas III Gregory IV Nicholas IV Athanasius IV Mark V Philotheus Mark VI Gregory V Joachim I Silvester Meletius I Pegas Cyril III Gerasimus I Metrophanes Nicephorus Joannicius Paisius Parthenius I Gerasimus II Samuel Cosmas II Cosmas III Matthew Cyprian Gerasimus III Parthenius II Theophilus III Hierotheus I Artemius Hierotheus II Callinicus Jacob Nicanor Nilus Sophronius IV Photius Meletius II Nicholas V Christopher II Nicholas VI Parthenius III Peter VII Theodore II (current)
Latin Catholic (1276–1954)	Atanasio (Athanasius) Egidio da Ferrara (Giles) ?Humbert II, Dauphin of Vienne Juan (John) Guillaume de Chanac Arnaud Bernard du Pouget (Arnaldo Bernardi) uncanonicalJean de Cardaillac Pietro Amely di Brunac ?Johannes Walteri von Sinten uncanonicalSimon of Cramaud Pietro Amely di Brunac Leonardo Dolfin Ugo Roberti Pietro Amaury di Lordat Lancelotus de Navarra Giovanni Contarini Pietro Vitalis di Mauléon Giovanni Vitelleschi Marco Condulmer Jean d'Harcourt Arnaldo Rogerii de Palas Pedro de Urrea Pedro González de Mendoza Diego Hurtado de Mendoza Alonso de Fonseca y Acevedo Bernardino Carafa Cesare Riario Guido Ascanio Sforza di Santa Fiora Ottaviano Maria Sforza Julius Gonzaga Cristoforo Guidalotti Ciocchi del Monte Jacques Cortès Tommaso Alessandro Riario Enrico Caetani Giovanni Battista Albani Camillo Caetani Séraphin Olivier-Razali Alessandro di Sangro Honoratus Caetani Federico Borromeo Allesandro Crescenzi Aloysius Bevilacqua Petrus Draghi Bartoli Gregorio Giuseppe Gaetani de Aragonia Carlo Ambrosio Mezzabarba Filippo Carlo Spada Girolamo Crispi Giuseppe Antonio Davanzati Lodovico Agnello Anastasi Francisco Mattei Augustus Foscolo Paolo Angelo Ballerini Domenico Marinangeli Paolo de Huyn Luca Ermenegildo Pasetto
Melkite Catholic (1724–present)	Cyril VI Tanas Athanasius IV Jawhar Maximos II Hakim Theodosius V Dahan Athanasius IV Jawhar Cyril VII Siaj Agapius II Matar Ignatius IV Sarrouf Athanasius V Matar Macarius IV Tawil Ignatius V Qattan Maximos III Mazloum Clement Bahouth Gregory II Youssef-Sayur Peter IV Geraigiry Cyril VIII Geha Demetrius I Qadi Cyril IX Moghabghab Maximos IV Sayegh Maximos V Hakim Gregory III Laham Youssef I Absi
Coptic Catholic (1824–present)	Maximos Jouwed Kyrillos Makarios Stéphanos I Sidarouss Stéphanos II Ghattas Antonios I Naguib Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak
*Markianos is considered Mark II on the Greek side of the subsequent schism, hence this numbering of Mark III. Category Commons

Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF 2 3 4 GND FAST WorldCat
National	United States France BnF data Czech Republic Netherlands Norway Sweden Vatican Israel
Academics	CiNii
People	Trove Deutsche Biographie DDB
Other	IdRef Yale LUX