Pope Avilius of Alexandria

Pope Avilius of Alexandria (also known as Abilius, Sabellius, Abylius, Abitius, Milius and Melyos) (? – 95 AD), was the 3rd Patriarch of Alexandria.^[2][3]

Saint Avilius of Alexandria
Patriarch of Alexandria
Papacy began	83 AD[1]
Papacy ended	11 September 95 AD[1]
Predecessor	Anianus
Successor	Cerdon
Orders
Ordination	43 AD (Priesthood)
Personal details
Born	Egypt
Died	11 September 95 AD Alexandria, Egypt
Buried	Baucalis, Alexandria
Nationality	Egyptian
Denomination	Church of Alexandria
Sainthood
Feast day	22 February (Eastern Orthodox) 29 March (Roman Catholic) 29 August (Roman Catholic) 1 Thout (Coptic)

Overview

Upon the death of Anianus of Alexandria, the suffragan bishops and priests of the area converged with the laity in Alexandria^[1] and unanimously elected Avilius in the month of December (Kiahk), 83 AD, during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian.^[4]

Pope Avilius was known for his chastity, and was pious and caring towards the people of Christ. He continued to establish the people in faith and the Christians grew in number in Egypt and in the five western provinces, and Sudan.^[1] During his time serving, the Egyptian people began renouncing the worshiping of idols and practiced their Christianity together, in groups. Despite the religion of Egypt being Roman Paganism, his time as pope was a time of peace for the church.^[1]

While some historians claim that Emperor Domitian expelled Avilius from the episcopal throne,^[5] and installed another in his place, there is no written record of this. According to historical records, he remained in his position for twelve years, and died on the first of Thout (11 September), in the year 95. Avilius was buried next to the remains of St. Mark the Evangelist in the Church of Baucalis in Alexandria.^[6][7]

Veneration

He is venerated as a saint in various churches. His feast day in the Coptic Church is on The Coptic New Year 1 Thout, which is September 11 in the Gregorian calendar, and on 29 August and 29 March in the Catholic Church,^[3] and February 22 in Eastern Orthodox Church.^[8]

References

1. Morgan, Robert (September 21, 2016). History of the Coptic Orthodox People and the Church of Egypt. FriesenPress. p. 16. ISBN 9781460280287. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
2. Atiya, Aziz S. "Synaxarion, Copto-Arabic". Claremont Coptic Library. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
3. "St. Sabellius (Abylius, Abitius, Milius)". Catholic. Catholic Online. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
4. "St. Melyous, the Third Pope of Alexandria". Official network of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and All of Africa. Archived from the original on 18 December 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
5. "Tout 20 – The Departure of pope Athanasius the Second, the Twenty-Eighth Patriarch of the See of St. Mark". Coptic Orthodox Church Network – Lives of Saints. Archived from the original on 18 December 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
6. Burials at Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral: Mark the Evangelist, Pope Anianus of Alexandria, Pope Avilius of Alexandria. General Books LLC. July 2010. ISBN 9781158926091.
7. Meinardus, Otto F.A. (2002). Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity. American University in Cairo Press. ISBN 978-977-424-757-6. Archived from the original on 2014-01-01.
8. "Previous Patriarchs – Abelios (83-95)". The official web site of Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa. Archived from the original on 25 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.

External links

• Coptic Documents in French

Further reading

• Holweck, F. G., A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. St. Louis, Missouri: B. Herder Book Co. 1924.
• Atiya, Aziz S. The Coptic Encyclopedia. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1991. ISBN 0-02-897025-X

Titles of the Great Christian Church
Preceded by Anianus	Patriarch of Alexandria 83-95	Succeeded by Kedron