The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Achillas of Alexandria
d. c. AD 313 · Head of the catechetical school · Bishop of Alexandria · Alexandria
The Nicene Age
Who Achillas of Alexandria was
Presbyter-teacher of the Alexandrian school in the persecution years — 'a rare example of philosophy and the genuine conduct of the gospel,' Eusebius says — and briefly bishop between the martyred Peter and Alexander. In the Arian tradition's accounting he bears one fateful act: it was Achillas who ordained Arius to the presbyterate.
Also listed in the bishops of Alexandria.
Common questions
When did Achillas die?
Achillas of Alexandria is dated d. c. AD 313 in the archive, which places Achillas in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Achillas?
Achillas of Alexandria is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea, Jerome of Stridon and Sozomen. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Achillas from?
The archive associates Achillas of Alexandria with Alexandria.
Who were Achillas’ contemporaries?
The archive links Achillas of Alexandria to 3 other figures, including Pierius of Alexandria, Arius and Alexander of Alexandria. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History VII.32
c. AD 325Achillas, who had been entrusted with a presbytery in Alexandria at the same time as Pierius… exhibited a most rare example of philosophy and the genuine conduct of the gospel.Eusebius of Caesarea · VII.32 · source text
Chronicle of Jerome (the Alexandrian succession)
c. AD 380Church History I.15 (Arius ordained presbyter under him)
c. AD 445Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
- AD 251 · The Novatianist schism, AD 251
- AD 257 · The Valerian persecution, AD 257
- AD 260 · Gallienus’ edict of toleration, AD 260
- AD 268 · Antioch deposes Paul of Samosata, AD 268
- AD 272 · Aurelian awards the Antioch church, AD 272
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
- AD 306 · The Council of Elvira, AD 306
- AD 311 · Galerius’ edict of Serdica, AD 311
- AD 313 · The Edict of Milan, AD 313
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Achillas.