Alexandria

Location

Alexandria stands on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, at the western edge of the Nile Delta. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, it was the capital of Hellenistic Egypt under the Ptolemies and remained the second city of the Roman Empire after Rome. Its port and its Great Library made it the intellectual capital of the ancient Mediterranean.

Biblical importance

Alexandria is named directly in Acts (18:24 — Apollos was 'born at Alexandria'; 27:6 and 28:11 — Paul is put on ships of Alexandria bound for Italy). Its greater biblical importance lies in the Septuagint — the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures made at Alexandria in the third century BC, quoted throughout the New Testament — and in its role as the mother city of Egyptian Christianity.

Historical timeline

331 BC — Alexander founds Alexandria.
c. 250 BC — Traditional dating of the Septuagint (the Letter of Aristeas).
30 BC — Rome takes Egypt after the death of Cleopatra.
Tradition c. AD 42-62 — St Mark the Evangelist is traditionally the first bishop of Alexandria, martyred there. This tradition is attested by Eusebius (Ecclesiastical History II.16, II.24).
c. AD 180 — Pantaenus is head of the Catechetical School of Alexandria.
c. AD 190-215 — Clement of Alexandria teaches at the Catechetical School.
c. AD 215-232 — Origen teaches at the Catechetical School.
AD 251-356 — Antony the Great pioneers the desert monastic movement in the Egyptian desert.
AD 325 — The Council of Nicaea; Alexander of Alexandria attends with the young deacon Athanasius.
AD 328-373 — Athanasius is Bishop of Alexandria (with several exiles).
AD 381 — The Council of Constantinople; the Nicene Creed is enlarged.
AD 412-444 — Cyril of Alexandria is patriarch; he presides at the Council of Ephesus (AD 431).
AD 451 — The Council of Chalcedon; the Coptic Church of Egypt and the Chalcedonian church divide.
AD 642 — Arab conquest of Alexandria.

Important biblical events

Acts 6:9 (KJV) The synagogue of the Libertines includes 'them of Alexandria' among those who dispute with Stephen.
Acts 18:24-28 (KJV) Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, comes to Ephesus, an eloquent man mighty in the scriptures.
Acts 27:6 (KJV) 'The centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.'
Acts 28:11 (KJV) After the shipwreck at Malta, 'we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.'

Important Christian events

The tradition that St Mark founded the church at Alexandria and was martyred there (c. AD 68) is attested by Eusebius; the Coptic Church counts him as its first pope.
The Catechetical School of Alexandria (Didaskaleion) was the earliest school of Christian theology, associated with Pantaenus, Clement, and Origen.
The desert monastic movement began in the Egyptian desert under Antony the Great and Pachomius, and shaped all later Christian monasticism.
Athanasius of Alexandria was the great defender of the Nicene faith against Arianism.
Cyril of Alexandria was the leading theologian at the Council of Ephesus (AD 431), which affirmed Mary as Theotokos.
The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria remains one of the oldest continuous Christian communities, with a Pope of Alexandria as successor of St Mark.

Related Scripture

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (KJV) As rendered in the Septuagint — the version quoted throughout the New Testament (see Mark 12:29-30).
Isaiah 7:14 (KJV) Whose Septuagint rendering 'a virgin shall conceive' is cited at Matthew 1:23.
Isaiah 19:19-25 (KJV) 'In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt.' — an Old Testament prophecy claimed by early Egyptian Christianity.
Matthew 2:13-15 (KJV) The Holy Family flees to Egypt, calling forth Hosea 11:1: 'Out of Egypt have I called my son.'

Related biblical people

St Mark the Evangelist — tradition names him first bishop.
Apollos — the eloquent Alexandrian of Acts 18.
Pantaenus, Clement, and Origen — the Catechetical School.
Antony the Great — father of Christian monasticism.
Athanasius the Great — defender of Nicaea.
Cyril of Alexandria — the Council of Ephesus.
The Septuagint translators — traditional 70 (or 72) elders.

Related Journeys

Historical churches

The Cathedral of St Mark the Evangelist (Coptic Orthodox, modern structure on ancient foundations) in Alexandria.
St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo (modern, but the seat of the Coptic Pope).
The Church of St Menas at Abu Mena (fifth-century pilgrimage site) — a UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site.

Historic monasteries

The Monastery of St Anthony (Deir Mar Antonios), in the Eastern Desert — foundation traditionally connected to Antony himself (fourth century).
The Monastery of St Paul the Anchorite (Deir Mar Boulos), in the Eastern Desert.
The four Wadi Natrun monasteries (Deir Anba Bishoi, Deir el-Sourian, Deir Abu Makar, Deir el-Baramous) — foundations of the fourth and fifth centuries, continuously inhabited.

Museums and archaeological collections

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina (modern successor to the Great Library) and its Antiquities Museum.
The Coptic Museum in Cairo — the world's principal collection of Coptic Christian art and manuscripts.
The Graeco-Roman Museum in Alexandria.

Pilgrimage today

Alexandria and the Egyptian desert monasteries remain a living pilgrimage centre for Coptic Christians. CrossAIHub does not offer travel guidance; any pilgrimage should be planned with a trusted Coptic parish or diocese.

Related liturgical seasons

Feast of St Mark the Evangelist — 25 April (Latin) / 30 Baramoudah = 8 May (Coptic).
Feast of St Athanasius — 2 May.
Feast of St Antony — 17 January (Latin) / 22 Tobi = 30 January (Coptic).

Images (public-domain, to be added)

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A nineteenth-century view of Alexandria showing Pompey's Pillar and the port.

Public-domain source: nineteenth-century engraving.

Historic maps (public-domain, to be added)

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Roman Egypt showing Alexandria, the Nile Delta, and the desert monastic sites.

Public-domain source: Smith's Historical Atlas of the Bible.