Alexander, Bishop of Antioch

At this time the see of Alexandria was held by Cyril, the nephew of Theophilus, whom he succeeded. At the same time Jerusalem was held by John, the successor of the Cyril I mentioned earlier. The people of Antioch were in the care of Alexander, whose life and conduct were all of a piece with his office as bishop. Before he was consecrated he spent his time in ascetic training and hard bodily discipline. He was known as a noble champion, teaching by word and confirming the word by deed. His predecessor was Porphyrius, who guided that church after Flavian and left behind many memorials of his loving character. He was also distinguished for his powers of mind. The holy Alexander was especially rich in self-discipline and philosophy. His life was one of poverty and self-denial, his eloquence was abundant, and his other gifts were beyond counting. By his counsel and urging, the followers of the great Eustathius, whose return Paulinus and after him Evagrius had not allowed, were united to the rest of the body, and a festival was held such as no one had ever seen before. The bishop gathered all the faithful together, both clergy and laity, and marched with them to the assembly. Musicians went with the procession, and all sang one hymn together. So he and his company went in procession from the western gate to the great church, filling the whole forum with people, a stream of thinking, living beings like the Orontes in its course. [a]

When the Jews, the victims of the Arian plague and the small remnant of pagans saw this, they groaned and wailed, distressed to see the other rivers emptying their waters into the church. It was Alexander who first entered the name of the great John in the records of the church. [f]