Pope Theonas of Alexandria

Saint
Theonas of Alexandria
16th Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark
Papacy began 282
Papacy ended 10 January 300
Predecessor Maximus
Successor Peter "Seal of the Martyrs"
Personal details
Born Egypt
Died 10 January 300
Egypt
Buried Church of the Cave, Alexandria
Nationality Egyptian
Denomination Coptic Orthodox Christian
Residence Saint Mark's Church
Sainthood
Feast day 10 January (2 Toba in the Coptic Calendar)

Pope Theonas of Alexandria, 16th Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.

St. Theonas was a righteous, meek scholar, gentle and loving to everyone. By the spirit of friendship and gentleness with everyone, he was able to build a church in Alexandria, Egypt dedicated to the name of the Virgin St. Mary, the Theotokos.

Until his time, the faithful were praying and performing their services in homes and in caves for fear of the unbelievers. Pope Theonas dealt with them wisely and gently to achieve what he wanted to do. He converted many of them to believe in the Lord Christ and baptized them.

He baptized, in the first year of his papacy, St. Peter, who succeeded him on the apostolic throne of St. Mark and was the 17th Pope. It was said that he ordained Saint Peter the "Seal of the Martyrs" as a reader at the age of five, then he promoted him to be a deacon at the age of twelve, then as a priest at sixteen.

At the time of this saint, a man by the name of Sabellius appeared in Alexandria who was teaching that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one person. St. Theonas excommunicated him and he invalidated his heresy by convincing proof.

When he completed his course, he died in peace, after he had been on the throne of St. Mark for 19 years.

References

Titles of the Great Christian Church
Preceded by
Maximus
Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria
282—300
Succeeded by
Peter I
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