The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Maximus of Alexandria
d. c. 282 · Bishop of Alexandria · Alexandria
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Maximus of Alexandria was
Bishop of Alexandria (c. 264–282), successor of the great Dionysius, who led the Egyptian church through the peace of Gallienus and the recovery from the plague and persecution that had ravaged the city. He took part, by letter, in the synods that condemned Paul of Samosata at Antioch. Eusebius names him in the succession; the substance of his eighteen years is the quiet rebuilding of a battered church.
Also listed in the bishops of Alexandria.
Common questions
When did Maximus die?
Maximus of Alexandria is dated d. c. 282 in the archive, which places Maximus in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313). 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 Maximus?
Maximus of Alexandria is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Dionysius of Alexandria, Eusebius of Caesarea and Jerome of Stridon. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Maximus from?
The archive associates Maximus of Alexandria with Alexandria.
Who were Maximus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Maximus of Alexandria to 6 other figures, including Dionysius the Great, Theonas of Alexandria, Paul of Samosata and Dioscorus the Presbyter. 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.
Letter to Germanus, VII.11.3, 24 — transmitted in Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History (c. 325)
c. AD 257[Arrested with Dionysius in 257 as a presbyter, he concealed himself in the city with Dioscorus, Demetrius and Lucius, visiting the brethren secretly; he afterwards succeeded Dionysius as bishop.]Dionysius of Alexandria · Ecclesiastical History VII.11.24 · source text
Ecclesiastical History VII.28, 32
c. AD 325Maximus, who had been a presbyter under Dionysius, succeeded to the episcopate of Alexandria, and having held it eighteen years was succeeded by Theonas.Eusebius of Caesarea · 32 · source text
Chronicle of Jerome (the Alexandrian succession)
c. AD 380Connected in the archive
People
- Dionysius the Great
- Theonas of Alexandria
- Paul of Samosata
- Dioscorus the Presbyter
- Demetrius the Presbyter
- Lucius the Presbyter
Events in this lifetime
- 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
- AD 268 · Antioch deposes Paul of Samosata, AD 268
- AD 272 · Aurelian awards the Antioch church, AD 272
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Maximus.