The Apostolic Fathers · AD 70–130
Primus of Alexandria
d. c. 118 · Bishop of Alexandria · Alexandria
The Apostolic Fathers
Who Primus of Alexandria was
Fifth bishop of Alexandria after the evangelist Mark, following Cerdon. Eusebius dates his accession to the twelfth year of Trajan and gives him about twelve years — a name in the bare Egyptian succession that runs, almost without narrative, down to the age of Demetrius. (Eusebius's ordinal — “fourth” — counts from the apostles' successor; tables counting from Mark reckon him fifth.)
Also listed in the bishops of Alexandria.
Common questions
When did Primus die?
Primus of Alexandria is dated d. c. 118 in the archive, which places Primus in the Apostolic Fathers (AD 70–130). 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 Primus?
Primus of Alexandria is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea and Jerome of Stridon. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Primus from?
The archive associates Primus of Alexandria with Alexandria.
Who were Primus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Primus of Alexandria to 2 other figures, including Cerdon of Alexandria and Justus of Alexandria. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History IV.1
c. AD 325…in Alexandria Primus received the episcopate in the twelfth year of Trajan’s reign, being the fourth in succession from the apostles.Eusebius of Caesarea · IV.1 · source text
Chronicle of Jerome (the Alexandrian succession)
c. AD 380Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 49 · The Council of Jerusalem, AD 49
- AD 57 · Paul writes Romans, AD 57
- AD 62 · James the Just stoned, AD 62
- AD 64 · The Great Fire and Nero’s persecution, AD 64
- AD 70 · The fall of Jerusalem, AD 70
- AD 95 · Domitian’s reprisals, AD 95
- AD 96 · Rome writes to Corinth: 1 Clement, AD 96
- AD 112 · Pliny writes Trajan, AD 112
- AD 117 · Symeon and Ignatius martyred, AD 117
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Primus.