Alexander of Jerusalem

Alexander was formed in the great catechetical tradition of Alexandria, a disciple of Clement and a fellow-student of Origen, with whom he kept a lifelong friendship. Early in the third century he was made a bishop in Cappadocia (the sources name his see as Flavias or Flaviada). During the persecution under Septimius Severus (193–211) he confessed Christ and was imprisoned for some three years, emerging with the honour of a confessor.

On his release he travelled to Jerusalem to venerate the holy places, and, according to the tradition, was told by a divine revelation to remain there. In the year 212, while the bishop Narcissus was living in extreme old age, Alexander was appointed his coadjutor — governing the Church of Jerusalem alongside the sitting bishop, a thing so rare in the ancient Church that Eusebius records it as exceptional. On the death of Narcissus (commemorated August 7) Alexander succeeded him, and led the Church of Jerusalem for some thirty-eight years.

To Alexander belongs one of the great scholarly foundations of early Christianity: he assembled at Jerusalem a library of Christian writings and the letters of the churches, which Eusebius of Caesarea used a century later in composing his Ecclesiastical History — in effect the first Christian theological library. He also welcomed and supported Origen, ordaining him to the priesthood, an act that drew the anger of Demetrius of Alexandria and became a celebrated dispute of the age.

During the persecution of Decius (249–251) the aged Alexander was arrested a second time and brought before the tribunal at Caesarea in Palestine. He confessed Christ once more, was subjected to torture, and — the tradition adds — was condemned to the beasts, which would not touch him. He was returned to prison, and there gave up his soul to God, crowned at the last as a martyr after a life as a confessor.