Timothy II of Alexandria

Pope Timothy II of Alexandria (died 477), also known as Timothy Ailuros (from Greek Αἴλουρος, "cat", because of his small build or in this case probably "weasel"[1]), 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 began457
Papacy ended31 July 477
PredecessorDioscorus the Great
SuccessorPeter III
Personal details
Born
Died31 July 477
BuriedSaint Mark's Church
NationalityEgyptian
DenominationCoptic Orthodox Christian
ResidenceSaint Mark's Church
Sainthood
Feast day31 July Julian calendar (7 Mesra in the Coptic calendar)
Venerated inCoptic 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.[2] In the Anti-Chalcedon Sources, Proterius was murdered on the order of the Byzantine General in Charge of Egypt after a heated exchange [3]

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.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Philip Jenkins,Jesus Wars (2010) pp 221
  2. ^ Philip Jenkins,Jesus Wars (2010) pp 222
  3. ^ "Zachariah of Mitylene, Syriac Chronicle (1899). Book 4".
  4. ^ "John, Bishop of Nikiu: Chronicle. London (1916). English Translation".

Sources

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Religious titles
Preceded by Coptic Pope
454–477
Succeeded by