Pope Achillas of Alexandria

Head of the Coptic Church from 312 to 313

Bishop Achillas the Great
Patriarch of Alexandria
Installed	24 December 312
Term ended	June 313
Predecessor	Peter "Seal of the Martyrs"
Successor	Alexander
Personal details
Born	Alexandria, Egypt
Died	June 313 Egypt
Buried	Church of the Cave, Alexandria
Nationality	Egyptian
Denomination	Church of Alexandria
Alma mater	Catechetical School of Alexandria
Sainthood
Feast day	19 Paoni (Coptic Christianity)
Venerated in	Oriental Orthodox Churches Catholic Church Eastern Orthodoxy

Achillas was the 18th Patriarch of Alexandria, reigning from 312 to 313.

He was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and was renowned for his knowledge and piety; this was why Pope Theonas had ordained him priest and appointed him head of the Catechetical School of Alexandria upon the departure of Pierius. He was apparently very highly thought of for his work in Greek philosophy and theological science, as Pope Athanasius later described him by the honorific "Achillas the Great".^[1]

As recommended by Pope Peter, he was enthroned patriarch in December (Kiahk) 312 AD, after the martyrdom of Peter during the Diocletianic Persecution.^[2] He yielded to the request of Arius, who had been condemned by Peter, to return to his former position as priest and preacher.

Achillas died six months later on the 19 Paoni 313.

After his death, Arius nominated himself to become Bishop of Alexandria, but the clergy and the people chose Alexander instead.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b Atiya, Aziz S. The Coptic Encyclopedia. New York:Macmillan Publishing Company, 1991. ISBN 0-02-897025-X.
^ Monks of Ramsgate. “Achillas”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 30 April 2012

Sources

"Achillas (311–313)". Official web site of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa. Archived from the original on 2011-08-12. Retrieved 2011-02-08.