Timothy II of Alexandria

Pope Timothy II of Alexandria (died 477), also known as Timothy Ailuros or Timotheus Ælurus^[1] (from Greek Αἴλουρος, "cat", because of his small build or in this case probably "weasel"^[2]), succeeded twice in supplanting the Chalcedonian patriarch of Alexandria.

Saint Timothy II of Alexandria
Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark
Papacy began	457
Papacy ended	31 July 477
Predecessor	Dioscorus the Great
Successor	Peter III
Personal details
Born	Egypt
Died	31 July 477
Buried	Saint Mark's Church
Nationality	Egyptian
Denomination	Coptic Orthodox Christian
Residence	Saint Mark's Church
Sainthood
Feast day	31 July Julian calendar (7 Mesra in the Coptic calendar)
Venerated in	Coptic Orthodox Church and Syriac Orthodox Church

10th century Armenian translation of the writings of Timothy Ailuros

Before he became a bishop, Timothy was a monk at the Eikoston. He was elected and consecrated after the death of the exiled Dioscorus of Alexandria in 454 by the Miaphysite opponents of the Council of Chalcedon and became a rival of the pro-Chalcedon bishop Proterius.

According to pro-Chalcedon sources, after Proterius of Alexandria, has been installed as patriarch after the Council of Chalcedon, he was murdered at Timothy's instigation at the baptistery during Easter.^[3] In the Anti-Chalcedon Sources, Proterius was murdered on the order of the Byzantine General in Charge of Egypt after a heated exchange ^[4]

In 460, Emperor Leo I expelled him from Alexandria and installed the Chalcedonian Timothy III Salophakiolos as patriarch.

In 475, Timothy was brought back to Alexandria by Basiliscus, where he ruled as patriarch until his death. According to John of Nikiu, the emperor Zeno sent an officer to summon him, but when the officer arrived, Timothy told him "The emperor will not see my face" and immediately fell ill and died.^[5]

Timothy gave his name to the sect of Christians who came to be known as the Timotheans, or alternatively, the sect of Ælurus.^[1]