Saint Alexander of Jerusalem
Bishop and Martyr
Born	2nd century AD
Died	251 AD Caesarea Maritima,Syria Palaestina
Venerated in	Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodox Churches Roman Catholic ChurchAnglican Communion
Canonized	Pre-Congregation
Feast	March 18 (Roman Catholic Church) May 16/29 and December 12/25 (Eastern Orthodox Church)

Alexander of Jerusalem (Greek:Αλέξανδρος Ιεροσολύμων; died 251 AD) was a third century bishop who is venerated as amartyr andsaint by theEastern Orthodox Church,Oriental Orthodox churches, and theRoman Catholic Church. He died during the persecution of EmperorDecius.^[1]

Alexander was originally from Cappadocia and became Cappadocia's first bishop. Afterwards he was associated ascoadjutor with theBishop of Jerusalem,Narcissus, who was, at that time, very old. Alexander had been imprisoned for his faith in the time of Roman EmperorAlexander Severus. After his release, he came toJerusalem, where the aged Bishop Narcissus prevailed on Alexander to remain and assist him in the government of that see.^[2]

It was Alexander who permittedOrigen, despite being a layman, to speak in the churches. For this concession he was taken to task, but he defended himself by examples of other permissions of the same kind given even to Origen himself elsewhere, although then quite young.Alban Butler says that they had studied together in the great Christian school of Alexandria. Alexander ordained him a priest.^[2]

Alexander is praised for the library he built at Jerusalem.^[3] Though at his time Jerusalem was officially known asAelia Capitolina, the name used by the Roman authorities since the city was rebuilt by the EmperorHadrian, Christian tradition persisted in using the original name.

Finally, in spite of his years, he, with several other bishops, was carried off a prisoner toCaesarea, and as the historians say, "The glory of his white hairs and great sanctity formed a double crown for him in captivity".^[2] Hisvita states that he suffered many tortures, but survived them all. When the wild beasts were brought to devour him, some licked his feet, and others their impress on the sand of the arena.

His feast is kept by theRoman Catholic Church on March 18, by theEastern Orthodox Churches on May 16/29^[4] and December 12/25.^[5]

Eusebius has preserved fragments of a letter written by him to the Antinoïtes; of another to theAntiochenes;^[6] of a third toOrigen;^[7] and of another, written in conjunction with Theoctistus of Caesarea, toDemetrius of Alexandria.^[8]

EnglishWikisource has original works by or about:

Alexander of Jerusalem

• Patron Saints Index:Saint Alexander of Jerusalem
•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Alexander".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

• 2nd-century deaths
• 251 deaths
• 3rd-century bishops of Jerusalem
• Doctors of the Church
• Saints from the Holy Land
• Cappadocia (Roman province)
• People who died in prison custody
• 3rd-century Christian martyrs
• Decian persecution

• CS1: unfit URL
• Articles with Greek-language sources (el)
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Articles containing Greek-language text
• Articles incorporating a citation from the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia with Wikisource reference
• Articles incorporating text from the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia with Wikisource reference
• Year of birth unknown