Episcopal succession

The Bishops of Alexandria to AD 400

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The Alexandrian line from Annianus, whom Eusebius places directly after Mark the evangelist, to Timothy — the see that produced Origen’s school, Athanasius, and the theology that carried Nicaea.

23 names, AD 82 to 385 · 2 contested

Two Arian bishops appear here, Gregory and George of Cappadocia, installed by imperial force while Athanasius was in exile. They are shown because they held the see, and marked because the Alexandrian church never recognised them. Ordered by death year, they fall inside Athanasius’s tenure, which is exactly what happened.

Ordered by year of death, which is how the whole archive is ordered. For this see that is not always the order of succession — see above.

Who were the bishops of Alexandria before AD 400?

  1. 1 Annianus of Alexandria d. c. 82 Bishop of Alexandria, after Mark
  2. 2 Abilius of Alexandria d. c. 95 Bishop of Alexandria
  3. 3 Cerdon of Alexandria d. c. 106 Bishop of Alexandria
  4. 4 Primus of Alexandria d. c. 118 Bishop of Alexandria
  5. 5 Justus of Alexandria d. c. 129 Bishop of Alexandria
  6. 6 Eumenes of Alexandria d. c. 141 Bishop of Alexandria
  7. 7 Marcus of Alexandria d. c. 152 Bishop of Alexandria
  8. 8 Celadion of Alexandria d. c. 166 Bishop of Alexandria
  9. 9 Agrippinus of Alexandria d. c. 178 Bishop of Alexandria
  10. 10 Julian of Alexandria d. c. 189 Bishop of Alexandria
  11. 11 Demetrius of Alexandria d. c. 232 Bishop of Alexandria
  12. 12 Heraclas of Alexandria d. c. 247 Bishop of Alexandria · Head of the catechetical school
  13. 13 Dionysius the Great c. 190 – 264 Bishop of Alexandria
  14. 14 Maximus of Alexandria d. c. 282 Bishop of Alexandria
  15. 15 Theonas of Alexandria d. c. 300 Bishop of Alexandria
  16. 16 Peter of Alexandria d. 25 November 311 Bishop of Alexandria · Martyr
  17. 17 Achillas of Alexandria d. c. AD 313 Head of the catechetical school · Bishop of Alexandria
  18. 18 Alexander of Alexandria d. c. 328 Bishop of Alexandria · Opponent of Arius
  19. 19 Gregory of Cappadocia d. AD 345 Arian intruder-bishop of Alexandria (339–345) contested
  20. 20 George of Cappadocia lynched 24 December AD 361 Arian intruder-bishop of Alexandria (356–361) contested
  21. 21 Athanasius of Alexandria c. 296 – 373 Bishop of Alexandria · Defender of Nicaea
  22. 22 Peter II of Alexandria d. 380 Bishop of Alexandria · Athanasius’s successor
  23. 23 Timothy of Alexandria d. 385 Bishop of Alexandria

Each name links to its profile: the dates, the office, and every primary source that carries the name.

The other sees

All six successions → · All 1,152 figures →