View source for Pope Demetrius I of Alexandria

{{Short description|Head of the Coptic Church from c. 189 to c. 232}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Pope
| honorific-prefix = Saint
| name = Demetrius of Alexandria
| honorific-suffix = 
| venerated = [[Oriental Orthodox Church]]<br>[[Coptic Catholic Church]]<br>[[Roman Catholic Church]]
| feast_day = [[Coptic Church]]: 12 [[Paopi|Ⲡⲁⲟⲡⲓ]] ([[Julian Calendar]]: 9 October)<br>[[Catholic Church]]: 9 October<ref>[https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=2849 "St. Demetrius"]</ref>
| title = [[Patriarch of the Church of Alexandria|Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria]]
| image = Pope Demetrius of Alexandria.jpg
| caption = Bishop Demetrius
| enthroned = early 189
| ended = 9 October c. 224-232
| predecessor = [[Pope Julian of Alexandria|St. Julian of Alexandria]]
| successor = [[Pope Heraclas of Alexandria|St. Heraclas of Alexandria]]
| monastic tonsure = 
| ordination = 
| consecration = 
| other_post = 
| birth_name = 
| birth_date = c. 127 AD
| birth_place = [[Alexandria, Egypt]]
| death_date = 9 October c. 224-232
| death_place = Alexandria, Egypt
| buried = [[Baucalis]], Alexandria
| religion = [[Church of Alexandria]]
| residence = [[Saint Mark's Egyptian Orthodox Basilica (Alexandria)|Saint Mark's Church]]
| see = [[Patriarch of Alexandria|Alexandria]]
| archdiocese = [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria]]
| signature = 
}}
{{Infobox manner of address
| background  = plum
| type        = Papal
| name        = Pope Demetrius I
| image       = [[File:Coptic cross.svg|75px]]
| reference   = [[His Holiness]]
| spoken      = Your Holiness
| religious   = [[Pope of Alexandria|Pope]] and [[Patriarch of Alexandria|Patriarch]]
| posthumous  = Saint
}}

'''Demetrius I''' (died 22 October 232), 12th [[List of Orthodox Patriarchs of Alexandria|Bishop and Patriarch of Alexandria]]. [[Sextus Julius Africanus]], who visited [[Alexandria]] in the Bishoprice of Demetrius, places his accession as eleventh bishop from [[Mark the Evangelist|Mark]] in the tenth year of [[Roman Emperor]] [[Commodus]]; [[Eusebius of Caesarea]] places it in the tenth year of [[Septimius Severus]].<ref>''[[Church History (Eusebius)|Historia Ecclesiastica]]'', [https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250106.htm VI, 2]</ref>

==Life==
Demetrius was a farmer, who cohabited with his wife as celibates, for 47 years, until he was chosen Patriarch.<ref name="cocn">{{Cite web|url=https://copticchurch.net/synaxarium/2_12.html|title=Lives of Saints :: Baba 12|website=www.copticchurch.net|access-date=2018-03-14}}</ref> According to the ''Coptic Synaxarium'', a biographical collection of the Church's saints, the ailing Patriarch Julian had a vision informing him that his successor would visit him, with a [[cluster of grapes]], while out of season at that time of year. The next day, a farmer named Demetrius arrived with a cluster of grapes for the Bishop, asking for his blessings, and was announced next as Bishop Demetrius I, the twelfth bishop of Alexandria.

Bishop Demetrius was eager to establish a fixed calendar for church fasts and feast days. He established a liturgical calendar by which fast dates were determined.<ref name=cocn/> As bishop of the great metropolis, Demetrius was engaged in the controversy over the canonical [[computus|calculation of Easter]]. He was the first to apply the calculation method for determining the dates of Easter. His edict was approved by the Nicene Council (325 AD). The Oriental Orthodox churches continue to follow Alexandria.<ref name="stmark">{{cite web |url=http://stmark.org.uk/heritage |title=Our Coptic Heritage - St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church, London |website=stmark.org.uk |language=en-gb |access-date=2018-03-14 |archive-date=2019-09-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911084621/http://stmark.org.uk/heritage |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Jerome]] claimed that Demetrius sent [[Pantaenus]] on a mission to [[India]],<ref>{{ws|"[[s:en:De Viris Illustribus#Chapter 36 (Pantaenus the Philosopher)|De Viris Illustribus - Pantaenus the Philosopher]]"}}</ref> it is likely that [[Clement of Alexandria|Clement]] succeeded Pantaenus as head of the [[Catechetical School of Alexandria|Catechetical School]] before the patriarchy of Demetrius. When Clement left Alexandria (c. 203), Demetrius appointed [[Origen]], who was in his eighteenth year, as Clement's successor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.copticcentre.com/the-coptic-orthodox-church/contributions-to-christendom |title="The School of Alexandria", The Coptic Orthodox Church Centre UK |access-date=2025-01-11}}</ref>

Demetrius supported [[Origen]] in the beginning of his career, it is said to have admired his scholarship. He dispatched [[Origen]] to [[Arabia Petraea|Arabia]], upon an invitation for his visit in letters to the prefect of Alexandria. When the Emperor [[Caracalla]] sacked Alexandria in 215 AD, Origen fled to [[Caesarea Palaestina|Caesarea]], where the Palestinean bishops requested him to give sermons. Demetrius was enraged and wrote to rebuke that his teaching was not canonical for him, as a layman. Bishops [[Alexander of Jerusalem]] and [[Bishop of Caesarea|Theoctistus of Caesarea]] wrote in his defense and mentioned precedents for laymen to give sermons, but despite their efforts Demetrius recalled Origen.<ref name="chapman">{{cite web |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04706b.htm |title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. Demetrius |website=www.newadvent.org |access-date=2025-01-11}}</ref>

In 230, Origen was asked to settle a dispute in [[Achaea (province)|Achaea]] which required his presence, so he set out by way of [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]]. Origen was then ordained priest at Caesarea.<ref>Eusebius, ''Historia Ecclesiastica'' [https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250106.htm VI, 23].</ref> When Demetrius learned of this, he considered it an act of emancipation, which deteriorated their relationship. Demetrius convened a [[synod]] in 232 that banished Origen, then sent a condemnation of Origen's behavior to all the churches. It is evident, it was personal jealousy not merely non ordination, that have been alleged by Demetrius for such a reaction.<ref name=chapman/> Rome accepted the decision, but Caesarea, [[Phoenicia]], Arabia, Achaea disputed it. From Caesarea Origen sent forth letters in his self defence, and attacked Demetrius.

Demetrius then passed Catechetical School under the charge of [[Heraclas of Alexandria|Heraclas]], an assistant of Origen, who had long been his associate. This may have been Demetrius' final act as bishop. Demetrius governed the Church of Alexandria for forty-two years,<ref name="woods">{{cite web |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01300b.htm |title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: The Church of Alexandria |website=www.newadvent.org |access-date=2025-01-11}}</ref> and died at the age of 105.<ref>[https://missionstclare.com/english/people/oct23o.html "Departure of Abba Demetrius", Mission St. Clare]</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite web |url=https://www.patriarchateofalexandria.com/patriarch/dimitrios-189-232-2/?lang=en |title=Dimitrios (189–232) |publisher=Official web site of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa |access-date=2024-01-11}}

{{Spoken Wikipedia|Demetrius of Alexandria.ogg|date=2006-09-24}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|grt}}
{{s-bef | before=[[Pope Julian of Alexandria|Julian]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Patriarch of Alexandria|Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria]]|years=189–232}}
{{s-aft | after=[[Pope Heraclas of Alexandria|Heraclas]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Patriarchs of Alexandria}}
{{Coptic saints}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Demetrius of Alexandria}}
[[Category:2nd-century births]]
[[Category:2nd-century popes and patriarchs of Alexandria]]
[[Category:2nd-century Christian saints]]
[[Category:3rd-century popes and patriarchs of Alexandria]]
[[Category:3rd-century Christian saints]]
[[Category:Christian clerical marriage]]
[[Category:Saints from Roman Egypt]]
[[Category:232 deaths]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]