Heron the Martyr of Alexandria

d. AD 250 (burned) · Egyptian layman · Martyr · Alexandria

The Ante-Nicene Church

Who Heron the Martyr of Alexandria was

One of three Egyptians handed over together with the boy Dioscorus. The three men stood firm, were scourged cruelly and delivered to the fire; the boy alone was dismissed. Distinct from Hero, the pupil of Origen beheaded about 202. Distinct from Hero of Alexandria, the neophyte of Origen’s school beheaded about 202, who is already in the archive.

Verified single attestation

Named once in Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History; no other ancient source names him.

Also listed in martyrs and the decian persecution.

Common questions

When did Heron die?

Heron the Martyr of Alexandria is dated d. AD 250 (burned) in the archive, which places Heron in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).

Which early sources mention Heron?

Heron the Martyr of Alexandria is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Dionysius of Alexandria. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Heron from?

The archive associates Heron the Martyr of Alexandria with Alexandria.

Who were Heron’s contemporaries?

The archive links Heron the Martyr of Alexandria to 3 other figures, including Ater, Isidorus of Alexandria and Dioscorus 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.

Letter to Fabius of Antioch, VI.41.19 — transmitted in Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History (c. 325)

c. AD 251

The Egyptians, Heron and Ater and Isidorus, and with them Dioscorus, a boy about fifteen years old, were delivered up… As the others remained firm, he scourged them cruelly and then delivered them to the fire.

Dionysius of Alexandria · Ecclesiastical History VI.41.19 · source text