Peter II of Alexandria

Saint

Peter II of Alexandria
Patriarch of Alexandria
Installed373
Term ended381
PredecessorAthanasius the Apostolic
SuccessorTimothy I
Personal details
Born
Egypt
Died27 February 381
Egypt
BuriedDominicium, Alexandria
NationalityEgyptian
ResidenceSaint Mark's Church
Sainthood
Feast day27 February (20 Amshir in the Coptic calendar)[1]

Patriarch Peter II of Alexandria (Greek: Πέτρος Β΄ Αλεξανδρείας; died 27 February 381) was the 21st Patriarch of Alexandria from AD 373 to AD 381. He was a disciple of Athanasius of Alexandria who designated him as his successor before his death in 373.[2][3]

The Arians opposed his appointment and shortly after his consecration, the prefect Palladius, acting on orders from Emperor Valens drove him from the city and installed Lucius, an adherent of Arianism as bishop.[4][5] Pope Damasus I, hearing of this new persecution, sent a deacon with a letter of communion and consolation for Peter; the messenger was arrested, treated as a criminal, savagely beaten, and sent to the mines of Phenne.[2]

Peter remained for some time in concealment, and then found refuge at Rome, where Damasus received him and gave him support against the Arians. While there, he participated in a council to condemn Apollinarism. Peter returned to Alexandria in the spring of 378,[2] where Lucius yielded out of fear of the populace.

Peter was a staunch defender of Nicene theology, a position endorsed by Theodosius I, who cites Peter of Alexandria in his Edict of Thessalonica. The Emperor called Peter a man of apostolic holiness.[6]

Peter died around 380 and was succeeded by his brother Timothy.[4]

  1. ^ Severus of Al'Ashmunein (Hermopolis), History of the Patriarchs of the Coptic church of Alexandria (1904) Part 2: Peter I - Benjamin I (661 AD). Patrologia Orientalis 1 pp. 383-518 (pp.119-256 of text)
  2. ^ a b c Bright, W., "Petrus II., archbp. of Alexandria", Dictionary of Christian Biography, (Henry Wace, ed.) John Murray, London, 1911
  3. ^ Maximus the Confessor and his Companions: Documents from Exile, (Pauline Allen, Bronwen Neil, eds.) OUP Oxford, 2003, p. 190 n.41 ISBN 9780191583421
  4. ^ a b Fowler, Montague. Christian Egypt, Past, Present, and Future, London. Church Newspaper Company, Ltd. 1901, p. 31
  5. ^ Leemans, Johan. Episcopal Elections in Late Antiquity, Walter de Gruyter, 2011, p. 53 ISBN 9783110268553
  6. ^ Farag, Lois M., "Constantine's Era and Athanasious", The Coptic Christian Heritage: History, Faith and Culture, Routledge, 2013, no pagination ISBN 9781134666911