Theophilus I of Alexandria

Theophilus of Alexandria (Greek: Θεόφιλος; died 15 October 412) was the 23rd Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark from 385 to 412. He played an important role during a time when Christianity was growing and changing. Theophilus was known for his strong actions against old beliefs that were not part of Christianity. He worked hard to guide the church and solve disagreements that helped decide what Christians believed. His efforts influenced the development of the Christian faith in the years that followed.

Historical context

Theophilus became the leader of the church in Alexandria at a time when big changes were happening in the Roman Empire. Christianity had started to become more accepted, thanks to leaders like Constantine and Theodosius I, which changed things for older beliefs. Alexandria, known for its learning and important traditions, found itself in the middle of many religious and political disagreements.

Early life and patriarchate

Little is known about Theophilus’s early life, but he was likely born in Egypt in the middle of the 4th century. He became the Patriarch of Alexandria in 385 AD after Pope Timothy I. Later, he mentored his nephew, Cyril of Alexandria, who then took over as Patriarch after Theophilus.

Suppression of paganism

In 391 AD, after laws were made to stop people from worshipping in old ways, Patriarch Theophilus I of Alexandria helped change or remove places used for pagan worship in the city of Alexandria. He made fun of items used in these old religions, which led to fights between people who followed the old beliefs and those who followed Christianity.

One big event was the tearing down of the Serapeum of Alexandria, a very important temple in the ancient city. Christian writings called this a big win against wrong beliefs, but today experts think it showed the many problems and disagreements happening in that time in Alexandria. Some believe taking down the temple was also a way to make Christianity stronger and show the power of the empire.

Further information: Serapeum of Alexandria

The Origenist controversy

Theophilus of Alexandria at first supported the teachings of Origen, an important early Christian thinker. However, in 399 AD, he changed his mind and began to support monks who took religious images very literally. At a meeting in Alexandria, Theophilus condemned Origen's writings and removed Origenist monks from the church. This included a group of four important thinkers known as the Four Tall Brothers, who later went to live under the protection of John Chrysostom in Constantinople.

Synod of the Oak and deposition of John Chrysostom

In 403, Theophilus led a meeting called the Synod of the Oak in Constantinople. During this meeting, he helped remove John Chrysostom from his position as Archbishop of Constantinople. Theophilus claimed that Chrysostom did not follow rules and held incorrect beliefs. One reason for this action was that Chrysostom had protected some people who were in trouble.

Writings and legacy

Theophilus was a writer who created many works, but most of them exist only in pieces or in different languages. Some of his known writings include:

• Festal Letters – Sent out each year to share news about Easter and thoughts on faith.
• Paschal Table – A lost work made for Emperor Theodosius I.
• Homilies – Speeches on topics such as the Crucifixion, kept in Latin and Coptic/Geʽez languages.
• Correspondence – Letters he wrote to Jerome, Pope Anastasius I, and Pope Innocent I.
• Syriac Texts – Several speeches kept in Syriac, published by Fr. Zakka F. Labib.

Some of his prayers were changed into Geʽez, the special language used by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, showing that his ideas had an impact far beyond Egypt.

Death and veneration

Theophilus passed away on 15 October 412 and was buried in Alexandria. He is honored as a saint in the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Syriac Orthodox Church. His special day is celebrated on 18 Paopi in the Coptic calendar, which is the same as 28 October in the Gregorian calendar.