Saint Theodosius I of Alexandria | |
---|---|
Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark | |
Papacy began | 535 |
Papacy ended | 22 June 566 |
Predecessor | Timothy III |
Successor | Paul/Peter IV |
Personal details | |
Born | |
Died | 22 June 566 Egypt |
Buried | Saint Mark's Church |
Nationality | Egyptian |
Denomination | Coptic Orthodox Christian |
Residence | Saint Mark's Church |
Sainthood | |
Feast day | 22 June (28 Paoni in the Coptic calendar) |
Pope Theodosius I of Alexandria (died June 5, 566) was the last Patriarch of Alexandria recognised by both the Coptic Orthodox Christians and the Chalcedonian Melchites.
As successor to Timothy III (IV), at the request of the Arab king Al-Harith ibn Jabalah al-Ghassani and Empress Theodora's efforts, Jacob Baradaeus ordained a universal bishop in 543/4 AD by Mor Theodosius. [1] He was at first recognized by the Emperor Justinian I and the Eastern Orthodox Church. However, because of his Miaphysite theology, he was rejected by the Eastern Orthodox Church of Alexandria and exiled by the Emperor Justinian I in 536. In his place, Paul was elected Patriarch. [2]
As the Copts continued to recognise Theodosius, the lineage between the Coptic and Melchite split. This split endures until today.
Theodosius spent the last 28 years of his life imprisoned in Upper Egypt and after his death the Coptic Church elected Peter IV as his successor. [2]
Theodosius is commemorated in the Coptic Synaxarion on the 28th day of Ba'unah (June 5), the day of his death.
Year 535 (DXXXV) was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Belisarius without colleague. The denomination 535 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.
Theodosius is a given name. It may take the form Teodósio, Teodosie, Teodosije etc. Theodosia is a feminine version of the name.
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Menas, considered a saint in the Calcedonian affirming church and by extension both the Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church of our times, was born in Alexandria, and enters the records in high ecclesiastical office as presbyter and director of the Hospital of Sampson in Constantinople, where tradition has him linked to Saint Sampson directly, and in the healing of Justinian from the bubonic plague in 542. He was appointed Patriarch of Constantinople by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I on 13 March 536. Pope Agapetus I consecrated him to succeed Anthimus, who was condemned as a monophysite. This was the first time that a Roman Pope consecrated a Patriarch of Constantinople.
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