February 26 | Saint Alexander of Alexandria

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories, because today, we are heading back to the ancient world, to the dusty, busy streets of Egypt. Today, we are looking at a man named Alexander, specifically Saint Alexander of Alexandria.

Now, before you tune out thinking this is just another story about a guy in robes, let me tell you, this story has everything. It's got betrayal. It's got a massive road trip. It's got a personal enemy who wanted to take Alexander's job. And the stakes? Only the very definition of who Jesus is.

Let's rewind to the 3rd century. That's when Alexander was born. But our story really heats up in the year 313. Imagine you are up for a huge promotion at school or on a team. You get the spot. You are named the captain. But there is someone else who wanted that spot. Someone who thinks they are smarter than you, better than you, and who is absolutely furious that you won. That is exactly what happened to Alexander.

In 313, Alexander became the bishop of Alexandria, Egypt, but not everyone was happy about it. There was a man named Arius. The historical record tells us that Arius was actually a personal enemy of Alexander. Why? Because Alexander was given the seat, that means the seat of authority, or the bishop's job, and Arius was not.

So, right off the bat, Alexander is dealing with a guy who has a personal grudge against him. But Arius didn't just stay mad quietly. He started a movement. Arius began teaching something that went against everything the church believed. He claimed that Jesus was not truly divine. This wasn't a small disagreement. This was a heresy, a false teaching that threatened to tear Christianity apart. This heresy was called Arianism.

So, Alexander has to make a choice. Does he ignore Arius to keep the peace? Does he let his personal enemies spread lies because he's afraid of a conflict? No. Alexander stood up. He became a defender of Catholic teaching. Soon, the church had to call a massive meeting to sort it out. This was the famous Council of Nicaea in the year 325. This was the Superbowl of theology. Bishops from all over traveled to meet and decide, once and for all, what the truth was.

Alexander didn't go alone. He brought a companion with him, a young deacon named Saint Athanasius. Keep that name in mind. Athanasius is like the Robin to Alexander's Batman. At the Council of Nicaea, the tension must have been incredible. You have Alexander, the rightful bishop, and Arius, the challenger and personal enemy, in the same room. But the truth won out. Under Alexander's leadership and participation, the heresy of Arianism was condemned. The Council decided that Arius was wrong. Jesus is divine.

The result? Arius and his followers were exiled. They were sent away. Alexander had successfully defended the faith. After the council, Alexander traveled back home to Egypt. He had won a massive battle, but he didn't have much time left. He died just a few years later, in 328. Before he died, he did something very important for the future. Remember the deacon Athanasius?

Alexander named Athanasius his successor. He made sure that after he was gone, someone good would be in charge to keep fighting the good fight. Saint Alexander has a very powerful title, Defender of the Nicene Faith. His patronage is essentially the truth itself. He's the patron of standing your ground when people are trying to change the facts. But there was another side to him, too. He wasn't just a tough guy fighting heretics. The records tell us that in addition to his stalwart defense of the faith, he was also known for his charity to the poor.

Think about that combination. He was tough enough to take on a personal enemy and a global heresy, but soft-hearted enough to care for the poorest people in his city. He was a warrior for truth and a servant of the poor.

So, how does a bishop from 1700 years ago fit into your life today? We all have people in our lives who might not like us. Maybe like Arius, they are jealous because you made the team and they didn't, or you got the grade and they didn't. Saint Alexander shows us that you don't fight personal enemies with pettiness. You fight them by doing the right thing and standing up for the truth.

Look around your school or your community. Is there someone who is being left out? Someone who doesn't have spiritual wealth? Maybe no friends, or they're struggling with homework? Be a charitable leader. And secondly, value your friends. Alexander brought Athanasius with him to the big council and prepared him to take over. Who is on your team? Who supports you? Thank them this week. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.