The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Theophilus the Veteran
d. AD 250 (martyr) · Aged soldier of the tribunal guard · Martyr · Alexandria
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Theophilus the Veteran was
The old man among the five soldiers of the Alexandrian tribunal — a lifetime in the ranks ended by a minute of magnificent insubordination.
Dionysius to Fabius only.
Also listed in martyrs and the decian persecution.
Common questions
When did Theophilus die?
Theophilus the Veteran is dated d. AD 250 (martyr) in the archive, which places Theophilus in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
Which early sources mention Theophilus?
Theophilus the Veteran is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Dionysius the Great. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Theophilus from?
The archive associates Theophilus the Veteran with Alexandria.
Who were Theophilus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Theophilus the Veteran to 2 other figures, including Ammon the Soldier and Dionysius the Great. 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 Ecclesiastical History VI.41
c. AD 255…and with them an old man, Theophilus… God triumphing gloriously in them.Dionysius the Great · 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
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Theophilus.