Saint Alexander of Jerusalem

Also known as

• Alexander of Cappadocia

Memorial

• 18 March (Roman Church)
• 22 December (Greek Church)

Profile

Studied in Alexandria, Egypt. Fellow student with Origen. Bishop of Cappadocia. Imprisoned from 204 to 211 for his faith during the persecutions of Severus. Pilgrim to Jerusalem upon his release. Coadjutor bishop of Jerusalem with Saint Narcissus in 212. Censured for encouraging Origen to teach in churches while still a laymen. Developed a large theological library. Imprisoned again during the persecutions of Decius. When given a chance to save himself by denouncing Christianity, he made a public pronouncement of his faith. He was thrown to wild animals, but they refused to attack him. Re-imprisoned, Alexander died in chains from general maltreatment. Martyr.

Died

• martyred in 251 at Ceasarea

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Encyclopedia
• Catholic Online
• Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology
• Dominican Adaptations from the Catalogus Hagiographicus OP
• Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
• New Catholic Dictionary
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
• Santi e Beati
• Wikipedia

MLA Citation

• “Saint Alexander of Jerusalem“. Saints.SQPN.com. 17 March 2013. Web. 20 June 2013. <>