Demetrius of Alexandria
Encyclopedia
Pope Demetrius of Alexandria was Patriarch of Alexandria
(189–232). Sextus Julius Africanus
, who visited Alexandria
in the time of Demetrius, places his accession as eleventh bishop after Mark
in the tenth year of Commodus
; Eusebius of Caesarea
's statement that it was in the tenth of Septimius Severus
is a mistake.
The Catholic Encyclopedia states, "Demetrius is the first Alexandrian bishop of whom anything is known." While Jerome
claimed that Demetrius sent Pantaenus
on a mission to India
, it is likely that Clement
had succeeded Pantaenus as the head of the Catechetical School
before the accession of Demetrius. When Clement retired (c. 203), Demetrius appointed Origen
, who was in his eighteenth year, as Clement's successor.
While Demetrius was a scholar in his own right, taking part in the controversy over the proper calculation of Easter
that preoccupied the Church in the time of Pope Victor I
, Origen's brilliance eventually outshone Demetrius, and it is in his relationship with the famous theologian that Demetrius is defined in history.
Demetrius gave Origen encouragement at the beginning of his career, and is said to have shown him favor. He dispatched Origen to the governor of Arabia
, who had requested his presence in letters to the prefect of Egypt as well as to Demetrius. When the Emperor Caracalla
sacked Alexandria (215) in punishment for their satire directed at him, Origen fled to Caesarea
, where the bishops present requested that he give sermons. Demetrius wrote to him a rebuke that this activity was not fitting for a layman. Bishops Alexander of Jerusalem and Theoctistus of Caesarea wrote in his defense and mentioned precedents for laymen to give sermons, but despite their efforts Demetrius recalled Origen. Once Origen was back in Alexandria
, the strain in their relationship eased.
In 230 Origen was asked to settle a dispute in Achaea which required his presence, so he set out by way of Palestine
, perhaps without the permission of Demetrius. Moreover, Origen was ordained priest at Caesarea without leave. When Demetrius learned of this, he considered it an act of insubordination, which ended their relationship. Demetrius convened a synod
in 232 that banished Origen, then sent a formal condemnation of Origen to all the churches. Rome accepted the decision, but Palestine, Phoenicia
, Arabia, Achaea rejected it. From Caesarea Origen sent forth letters in his own defence, and attacked Demetrius.
Demetrius put the Catechetical School under the charge of Heraclas
, the first pupil of Origen, who had long been his assistant. This may have been Demetrius' final act as bishop.
Patriarch of Alexandria
The Patriarch of Alexandria is the Archbishop of Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt. Historically, this office has included the designation of Pope , and did so earlier than that of the Bishop of Rome...
(189–232). Sextus Julius Africanus
Sextus Julius Africanus
Sextus Julius Africanus was a Christian traveller and historian of the late 2nd and early 3rd century AD. He is important chiefly because of his influence on Eusebius, on all the later writers of Church history among the Fathers, and on the whole Greek school of chroniclers.His name indicates that...
, who visited Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
in the time of Demetrius, places his accession as eleventh bishop after Mark
Mark the Evangelist
Mark the Evangelist is the traditional author of the Gospel of Mark. He is one of the Seventy Disciples of Christ, and the founder of the Church of Alexandria, one of the original four main sees of Christianity....
in the tenth year of Commodus
Commodus
Commodus , was Roman Emperor from 180 to 192. He also ruled as co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father's death in 180. His name changed throughout his reign; see changes of name for earlier and later forms. His accession as emperor was the first time a son had succeeded...
; Eusebius of Caesarea
Eusebius of Caesarea
Eusebius of Caesarea also called Eusebius Pamphili, was a Roman historian, exegete and Christian polemicist. He became the Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine about the year 314. Together with Pamphilus, he was a scholar of the Biblical canon...
's statement that it was in the tenth of Septimius Severus
Septimius Severus
Septimius Severus , also known as Severus, was Roman Emperor from 193 to 211. Severus was born in Leptis Magna in the province of Africa. As a young man he advanced through the customary succession of offices under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Severus seized power after the death of...
is a mistake.
The Catholic Encyclopedia states, "Demetrius is the first Alexandrian bishop of whom anything is known." While Jerome
Jerome
Saint Jerome was a Roman Christian priest, confessor, theologian and historian, and who became a Doctor of the Church. He was the son of Eusebius, of the city of Stridon, which was on the border of Dalmatia and Pannonia...
claimed that Demetrius sent Pantaenus
Pantaenus
Saint Pantaenus was a Christian theologian who founded the Catechetical School of Alexandria about AD 190. This school was the earliest catechetical school, and became influential in the development of Christian theology....
on a mission to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, it is likely that Clement
Clement of Alexandria
Titus Flavius Clemens , known as Clement of Alexandria , was a Christian theologian and the head of the noted Catechetical School of Alexandria. Clement is best remembered as the teacher of Origen...
had succeeded Pantaenus as the head of the Catechetical School
Catechetical School of Alexandria
The Catechetical School of Alexandria was and is a place for the training of Christian theologians and priests in Alexandria. The teachers and students of the school were influential in many of the early theological controversies of the Christian church.The earliest recorded instructor at the...
before the accession of Demetrius. When Clement retired (c. 203), Demetrius appointed Origen
Origen
Origen , or Origen Adamantius, 184/5–253/4, was an early Christian Alexandrian scholar and theologian, and one of the most distinguished writers of the early Church. As early as the fourth century, his orthodoxy was suspect, in part because he believed in the pre-existence of souls...
, who was in his eighteenth year, as Clement's successor.
While Demetrius was a scholar in his own right, taking part in the controversy over the proper calculation of Easter
Computus
Computus is the calculation of the date of Easter in the Christian calendar. The name has been used for this procedure since the early Middle Ages, as it was one of the most important computations of the age....
that preoccupied the Church in the time of Pope Victor I
Pope Victor I
Pope Saint Victor I was Pope from 189 to 199 .Pope Victor I was the first bishop of Rome born in the Roman Province of Africa: probably he was born in Leptis Magna . He was later canonized...
, Origen's brilliance eventually outshone Demetrius, and it is in his relationship with the famous theologian that Demetrius is defined in history.
Demetrius gave Origen encouragement at the beginning of his career, and is said to have shown him favor. He dispatched Origen to the governor of Arabia
Arabia Petraea
Arabia Petraea, also called Provincia Arabia or simply Arabia, was a frontier province of the Roman Empire beginning in the 2nd century; it consisted of the former Nabataean kingdom in modern Jordan, southern modern Syria, the Sinai Peninsula and northwestern Saudi Arabia. Its capital was Petra...
, who had requested his presence in letters to the prefect of Egypt as well as to Demetrius. When the Emperor Caracalla
Caracalla
Caracalla , was Roman emperor from 198 to 217. The eldest son of Septimius Severus, he ruled jointly with his younger brother Geta until he murdered the latter in 211...
sacked Alexandria (215) in punishment for their satire directed at him, Origen fled to Caesarea
Caesarea Palaestina
Caesarea Maritima , Caesarea Palaestina from 133 CE onwards, was a city and harbor built by Herod the Great about 25–13 BC. Today, its ruins lie on the Mediterranean coast of Israel about halfway between the cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa, on the site of Pyrgos Stratonos . Caesarea Maritima was...
, where the bishops present requested that he give sermons. Demetrius wrote to him a rebuke that this activity was not fitting for a layman. Bishops Alexander of Jerusalem and Theoctistus of Caesarea wrote in his defense and mentioned precedents for laymen to give sermons, but despite their efforts Demetrius recalled Origen. Once Origen was back in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, the strain in their relationship eased.
In 230 Origen was asked to settle a dispute in Achaea which required his presence, so he set out by way of Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, perhaps without the permission of Demetrius. Moreover, Origen was ordained priest at Caesarea without leave. When Demetrius learned of this, he considered it an act of insubordination, which ended their relationship. Demetrius convened a synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
in 232 that banished Origen, then sent a formal condemnation of Origen to all the churches. Rome accepted the decision, but Palestine, Phoenicia
Phoenicia
Phoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
, Arabia, Achaea rejected it. From Caesarea Origen sent forth letters in his own defence, and attacked Demetrius.
Demetrius put the Catechetical School under the charge of Heraclas
Heraclas of Alexandria
Pope Heraclas of Alexandria served as the thirteenth Pope of Alexandria between 232 and 248...
, the first pupil of Origen, who had long been his assistant. This may have been Demetrius' final act as bishop.
External links
- St. Demetrius of Alexandria
- Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913