Biography
Alexander of Constantinople
About Alexander of Constantinople
Socrates Scholasticus and Sozomen, writing in the fifth century, preserve accounts of Alexander, bishop of Constantinople. Socrates places his ministry amid the dispute over Arius and describes him as resisting pressure to reconcile with Arius. Sozomen likewise recounts Alexander’s refusal to restore Arius to communion. These are later church histories rather than contemporary records, and their theological framing should be kept in view.Socrates says Alexander considered the succession to the see before his death and named Paul or Macedonius as possible successors. The OCA later church account places Alexander’s death in 340 and commemorates him on August 30; that year remains part of the church tradition rather than a securely established date. This account distinguishes him from Alexander, bishop of Alexandria, whose role in the controversy was separate.
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