The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Pierius of Alexandria
d. after c. AD 309 (at Rome) · Presbyter · Head of the catechetical school · 'Origen the Younger' · Alexandria → Rome
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Pierius of Alexandria was
Head of Alexandria's catechetical school under Carus and Diocletian, so exact an expositor and so voluntary a pauper that the city called him 'Origen the Younger.' He taught the martyr Pamphilus, survived the persecution as a confessor, and spent his last years at Rome — his homilies, Jerome notes, still circulating in elegant long-hand.
Common questions
When did Pierius die?
Pierius of Alexandria is dated d. after c. AD 309 (at Rome) in the archive, which places Pierius 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.
What did Pierius write?
Pierius of Alexandria has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: Twelve treatises ('Origen the Younger'). All are lost, known only from later citation.
Which early sources mention Pierius?
Pierius of Alexandria is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea and Jerome. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Pierius from?
The archive associates Pierius of Alexandria with Alexandria, Rome. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Writings (1)
Twelve treatises ('Origen the Younger')
The catechetical school's polished voice — every book goneA very long treatise of his on the prophet Hosea is extant; his style is polished and luminous. (after Jerome, On Illustrious Men 76 — extant then, lost since)Lost — known only from later citation.
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History VII.32
c. AD 325Pierius… was distinguished for his life of extreme poverty and his philosophic learning, exceedingly diligent in the exposition and public discussion of the scriptures.Eusebius of Caesarea · VII.32 · source text
On Illustrious Men 76
c. AD 393Pierius, presbyter of Alexandria… taught the people with such elegance that he was called Origen the Younger; an ascetic of voluntary poverty, he lived after the persecution at Rome.Jerome · 76 · source text
Connected 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
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Pierius, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.