The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Metras of Alexandria
d. 249 · Elderly martyr of Alexandria · Alexandria
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Metras of Alexandria was
An old man, the first named victim in bishop Dionysius’s account of the Alexandrian pogrom of 249 — the mob demanded he utter impious words, and when he refused they beat him with clubs, drove sharp reeds into his face and eyes, and stoned him to death outside the city. Dionysius records his name so that the church would remember the first to fall in the persecution that Decius’s edict would soon make universal.
Dionysius to Fabius only.
Also listed in martyrs and the decian persecution.
Common questions
When did Metras die?
Metras of Alexandria is dated d. 249 in the archive, which places Metras in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
Which early sources mention Metras?
Metras 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 Metras from?
The archive associates Metras of Alexandria with Alexandria.
Who were Metras’ contemporaries?
The archive links Metras of Alexandria to 3 other figures, including Apollonia of Alexandria, Quinta of Alexandria and Serapion 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 Eusebius VI.41
c. AD 255First, they seized an old man named Metras, and commanded him to utter impious words; and when he would not obey, they beat him with clubs and pierced his face and eyes with sharp reeds, and led him to the suburbs and stoned him.Dionysius of Alexandria · VI.41 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 180 · The Scillitan martyrs, AD 180
- AD 190 · The Quartodeciman controversy, AD 190
- AD 202 · Perpetua and Felicity martyred, AD 202
- AD 235 · Maximinus Thrax targets the clergy, AD 235
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Metras.