Pope Avilius of Alexandria (Abilius in the West), also known as Sabellius, Milius or Melyos served as the third Patriarch of Alexandria (head of the church that became the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Greek Church of Alexandria) between 83 and 95.

He was enthroned during the reign of the Roman Emperor Titus Flavius Domitianus.

In the Church History of Eusebius of Caesarea, it is recorded that, upon the death of Anianus of Alexandria, all the suffragan bishops and priests of his area converged in Alexandria where they conferred with the laity about the next appointment to the position. Having cast lots, they unanimously voted for Avilius to succeed him, based on Avilius' reputation for chastity and his knowledge of Christ. He remained in that position for nineteen years and eight months, and was buried next to the remains of Mark the Evangelist in the Church of Bucalis in Alexandria.

The Apostolic Constitutions (viii.4) states that he (Avilius) was the second bishop of Alexandria and was ordained by Luke the Evangelist.^[1]

Veneration [edit]

He is venerated as a saint. His feast day in the Roman Catholic Church is 22 February, the Canons Regular keep his feast on 23 February, the Coptic Church on 29 August and 29 March, and the Greek Orthodox Church on 22 February.

References [edit]

External links [edit]

• "Abelios (83–95)". Official web site of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa. Retrieved 2011-02-07. 

Bibliography [edit]

• Atiya, Aziz S. The Coptic Encyclopedia. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1991. ISBN 0-02-897025-X
• Holweck, F. G., A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co. 1924.

v t e Patriarchs of Alexandria Patriarchs prior to the Chalcedonian schism (43–451) Mark I (Founder) Anianus Avilius (AKA Melius) Kedron Primus Justus Eumenes Markianos (Considered Mark II by Greek side of later schism) Celadion Agrippinus Julian Demetrius Heraclas Dionysius Maximus Theonas Peter I Achillas Alexander I Athanasius I Peter II Timothy I Theophilus I Cyril I Dioscorus I Coptic Orthodox Popes & 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 Agatho John III Isaac Simeon I Alexander II Cosmas I Theodoros I (AKA Theodosius II) Michael I Mina I John IV Mark II Jacob (AKA 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 Theodoros 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 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 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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