The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Dioscorus of Alexandria
confessor at 15, AD 250 · Boy-confessor of the Decian persecution · Alexandria
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Dioscorus of Alexandria was
A boy of fifteen who answered the judge's questions so wisely and bore the first tortures so firmly that the astonished magistrate released him 'for his age,' — 'he is with us now,' Dionysius wrote, 'reserved for some longer and greater contest.'
Dionysius to Fabius (via Eusebius VI.41) only.
Common questions
When did Dioscorus live?
Dioscorus of Alexandria is dated confessor at 15, AD 250 in the archive, which places Dioscorus in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
Which early sources mention Dioscorus?
Dioscorus of Alexandria is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Dionysius the Great. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Dioscorus from?
The archive associates Dioscorus of Alexandria with Alexandria.
Who were Dioscorus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Dioscorus of Alexandria to 5 other figures, including Dionysius the Great, Heron the Martyr of Alexandria, Ater and Isidorus of Alexandria. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Dionysius of Alexandria, via Ecclesiastical History VI.41
c. AD 255Dioscorus, a boy of about fifteen… answered wisely to the questions and endured the tortures; and the judge released him, saying that on account of his youth he granted him time for repentance. And the most godly Dioscorus is with us now, awaiting a longer conflict.Dionysius the Great · VI.41 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 202 · Perpetua and Felicity martyred, AD 202
- AD 235 · Maximinus Thrax targets the clergy, AD 235
- 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
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Dioscorus.