Hieromartyr 3rd century

Hieromartyr Alexander Bishop of Comana

3rd century (died c. 250-251)

Also known as Alexander the Charcoal-burner

A learned ascetic who hid his holiness by selling charcoal, was chosen Bishop of Comana, and later suffered martyrdom.

Feast Day

August 12

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Commemorated as

The Holy Hieromartyr Alexander, Bishop of Comana, the Charcoal-Burner

Life

Alexander of Comana, known by the epithet "the Charcoal-Burner" (Greek: Alexandros ho Anthrakeus, Latin: Alexander Carbonarius), was a learned man of the 3rd century who concealed his education and holiness beneath the humble trade of burning and selling charcoal. According to the tradition, he had been a philosopher schooled in Holy Scripture, but took upon himself voluntary poverty, mingling with the lowliest of laborers so as to escape worldly honors. He was raised from this obscurity to become Bishop of Comana in Pontus (Asia Minor), and later suffered martyrdom by fire.

Almost everything known of Alexander survives because his election to the episcopate is described incidentally in a discourse by St. Gregory of Nyssa on the life of St. Gregory Thaumaturgus (the Wonderworker). Without that account he would have remained historically obscure; his name appears in no ancient Greek or Roman civil calendars. The Orthodox Church commemorates him on August 12 (Roman Catholics keep his feast on August 11).

Timeline 3 moments Read Hide

3rd century A philosopher turned charcoal-burner Educated in Holy Scripture and the sciences, Alexander deliberately embraced poverty and humility, taking up the work of burning charcoal and selling it in the marketplace so as to escape worldly honors.
3rd century Chosen bishop by St. Gregory the Wonderworker When the bishop of Comana died, St. Gregory Thaumaturgus, Bishop of Neocaesarea, was summoned to oversee the election. Rejecting candidates proposed for their nobility, learning, or wealth, he insisted a bishop must above all have a pure heart and holy life. When Alexander was named mockingly, Gregory took the suggestion seriously, examined him publicly on the Scriptures, found his answers those of a wise pastor, and the assembly elected him bishop.
c. 250-251 Martyrdom by fire During a persecution of Christians, Alexander confessed Christ and refused to worship idols. After being tortured, he was cast into the fire, where he surrendered his soul to God.

Contributions & Legacy

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Election to the Episcopate

The account of Alexander's selection turns on the discernment of St. Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neocaesarea, who had been invited to preside over the choice of a new bishop for Comana after the previous bishop's death. When the candidates put forward were judged by nobility, learning, or wealth, Gregory objected that a bishop should have not only external merits but, first of all, a pure heart and a holy life.

When someone mockingly proposed Alexander the charcoal-burner, Gregory took the suggestion seriously. Summoning Alexander, he questioned him before the assembly about the Holy Scriptures; Alexander answered as a knowledgeable and wise pastor, and those present elected him their bishop. The tradition holds that Gregory recognized in the humble laborer a man of great capabilities and genuine sanctity.

Martyrdom

Alexander administered the see of Comana with wisdom before suffering martyrdom in a Roman persecution. He confessed Christ and refused to offer worship to idols; after enduring torture, he was burned to death, surrendering his soul to God.

The sources most commonly assign his martyrdom to the persecution under the emperor Decius (c. 250-251), consistent with his placement in the 3rd century. One retelling instead names the persecution under Diocletian, but the Decian dating is the tradition followed here and accords with the saint's pre-Nicene era.

Sources and Historical Record

The principal source for Alexander's life is a discourse pronounced by St. Gregory of Nyssa on the life of St. Gregory Thaumaturgus, in which the election of Alexander is described in passing. Beyond this incidental notice, little biographical detail survives, and his name is absent from the ancient Greek and Roman calendars.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints