Pope Avilius of Alexandria

Pope Avilius of Alexandria (Abilius in the West), also known as Sabellius, Milius or Melyos, 3rd Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. Upon the death of Bishop Anianus, all the suffragan bishops and priests of his area converged in Alexandria, Egypt where they conferred with the laity about the next appointment to the position.

Avilius was unanimously elected by the people in the month of December (Kiahk), 83 AD, during the reign of the Roman Emperor Titus Flavius Domitianus. He was renowned for his chastity and described as pious and caring for the people of Christ. He continued to establish the people in faith until they greatly increased in Egypt, Pentapolis, and Africa.

The Egyptians started to renounce the worship of idols and they clamored in joining Christianity in groups. During his time there was tranquility and the Church enjoyed total peace.

Some historians claim that Emperor Domitianus had expelled Avilius from the Throne of Alexandria, and installed another in his place. However, there is no proof to this story and it was not recorded by historians. He remained in that position for twelve years, and departed on the first of Thout (11 September), in the year 95 AD. Avilius was buried next to the remains of St. Mark the Evangelist in the Church of Baucalis in Alexandria, Egypt.

Veneration

He is venerated as a saint in various churches. His feast day in the Coptic Church is 1 Thout (in the Coptic calendar, which currently corresponds to 11 September in the Gregorian Calendar), and on 29 August and 29 March in the Roman Catholic Church, and 22 February in Greek Orthodox Church.

References

• "St. Melyos (Milius), the Third Pope of Alexandria". Official network of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and All of Africa. 
• Meinardus, Otto F.A. (2002). Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity. American University in Cairo Press. ISBN 978-977-424-757-6. 
• Holweck, F. G., A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co. 1924.
• Atiya, Aziz S. The Coptic Encyclopedia. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1991. ISBN 0-02-897025-X

External links

• The Official website of the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy See of Saint Mark the Apostle
• Coptic Documents in French

Popes of Alexandria and Patriarchs of the See of St. Mark Patriarchs prior to the Chalcedonian schism (43–451) Mark the Evangelist (Founder) Anianus Avilius Kedronos Primus Justus Eumenius Markianos Celadion Agrippinus Julian Demetrius I Heraclas Dionysius Maximus Theonas Peter I Achillas Alexander I Athanasius I Peter II Timothy I Theophilus I Cyril I Dioscorus I Coptic Orthodox Popes and Patriarchs (451–present) Timothy II Peter III Athanasius II John I John II Dioscorus II Timothy III Theodosius I Peter IV Damian Anastasius Andronicus Benjamin I Agathon John III Isaac Simeon I Alexander II Cosmas I Theodore I Michael I Mina I John IV Mark II James Simeon II Joseph I Michael II Cosmas II Shenouda I Michael III Gabriel I Cosmas III Macarius I Theophilus II (AKA Theophanes) Mina II Abraham Philotheos Zacharias Shenouda II Christodolos Cyril II Michael IV Macarius II Gabriel II Michael V John V Mark III John VI Cyril III Athanasius III John VII Gabriel III John VII Theodosius III John VIII John IX Benjamin II Peter V Mark IV John X Gabriel IV Matthew I Gabriel V John XI Matthew II Gabriel VI Michael VI John XII John XIII Gabriel VII John XIV Gabriel VIII Mark V John XV Matthew III Mark VI Matthew IV John XVI Peter VI John XVII Mark VII John XVIII Mark VIII Peter VII Cyril IV Demetrius II Cyril V John XIX Macarius III Joseph II Cyril VI Shenouda III Tawadros II (Current) Greek Orthodox Patriarchs (451–present) Proterius Timothy II Timothy III John I Peter III Athanasius II John II John III Dioscorus II Timothy IV Theodosius I Gainas Paul Zoilus Apollinarius John IV Eulogius Theodore I John V George I Cyrus Peter IV Peter V Peter VI Cosmas I Politianus Eustatius Christopher I Sophronius I Michael I Michael II Christodoulos Eutychius Sophronius II Isaac Job Elias I Arsenius Theophilus II George II Leontius Alexander II John VI Cyril II Sabbas Sophronius III Elias II Eleutherius Mark III Nicholas I Gregory I Nicholas II Athanasius III Gregory II Gregory III Niphon Mark IV Nicholas III Gregory IV Nicholas IV Athanasius IV Mark V Philotheus Mark VI Gregory V Joachim I Silvester Meletius I Pegas Cyril III Gerasimus I Metrophanes Nicephorus Joannicius Paisius Parthenius I Gerasimus II Samuel Cosmas II Cosmas III Matthew Cyprian Gerasimus III Parthenius II Theophilus III Hierotheus I Artemius Hierotheus II Callinicus Jacob Nicanor Sophronius IV Photius Meletius II Nicholas V Christopher II Nicholas VI Parthenius III Peter VII Theodore II (Current) Category Commons

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