(ABOUT A.D. 430.)
[Roman Martyrology and Greek Menaea. The life of S. Alexander,
written by a disciple of his, exists in Greek. From this the
following epitome is taken.]
S. Alexander was of Asiatic origin, and was educated at Constantinople,
where he entered the army, and was advanced to the office of eparchus,
or proctor. Being a studious reader of the Old and New Testament, he
often mused on the words of Christ, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and
sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure
in heaven; and come, follow Me." (Matt. xix. 21).
Then, moved by these words, he resolved to obey the command, and he sold
his possessions and made distribution unto those that had need; and
hastening away, into the solitudes of Syria, he became a monk for seven
years.
After that, inflamed with zeal against idolatry, he went into the
nearest city, which was Edessa, on a solemn festival of the heathen
gods, and set fire to the temple. He was at once seized and brought
before the governor, Rabbulus, who remanded him till the rage of the
populace should be abated, and he could be judged with calmness and
equity.
Rabbulus often sent for Alexander out of prison, and heard him gladly.
And Alexander unfolded to him the doctrine of Christ and the great power
of God. And as he expounded to him the Scriptures, he related the
wondrous works of Elijah, how that he had prayed, and God had withheld
the rain three years, and at his prayer had again brought a cloud and
abundance of rain upon the earth, and also how he had cried, and God had
sent fire from heaven to consume his sacrifice. Then, hearing this,
Rabbulus said, "Nay! thou speakest of marvels. If the God of whom thou
tellest wrought those wonders then, He can work them now. Cry unto Him
to send fire on earth, that I may see and believe."
Instantly, filled with confidence, the holy man, Alexander, turned to
the East and spread forth his hands, and prayed; then there fell fire
from heaven, and consumed the mats that were laid upon the ground, but
hurt nothing else. And the Governor bowed his head, and said, "The Lord
He is God, the Lord He is God!" Then he was baptized,[56] he and all his
house, and he suffered Alexander to go forth to the people, and in their
audience plead for the cause of Christ against their false gods. So they
hastened and destroyed their images, and multitudes were added to the
Church. And after that Alexander went away into the desert, where he
heard there was a band of robbers, desiring to save their souls, as
Jesus on the Cross had saved the thief. So the robbers took him, and he
exhorted them, and spake the Word to them, and they believed, they and
their chief, so that he tarried some while with them--they were thirty
in number--and he baptized them. But the robber-chief, as he was being
baptized, prayed in secret. Then said Alexander, "I saw thy lips move.
What was thy petition?" And he answered, "I have been a great sinner,
and I fear my old habits of evil resuming the mastery. I prayed God, if
it were His will, to let His servant depart in peace, now that mine eyes
have seen salvation." The prayer was heard, and the captain died within
eight days, whilst still in the white dress he wore for his baptism. But
Alexander remained with the robbers, and turned their den into a
monastery, and converted the robbers into monks, and they served God in
fasting and prayer. Now when he saw that they were established firmly in
the course of penitence, he appointed one of them to be their abbot, and
he went his way into Mesopotamia, and founded a monastery on the
Euphrates, where he dwelt twenty years, and had very many monks under
him. And after that he visited Antioch, Palmyra, and other cities,
taking with him one hundred and fifty of his monks, that they might
preach the Gospel to those who were yet in heathen darkness. The people
of Palmyra shut their gates against him, saying that such a host of
monks would devour all the produce in the market. Then Alexander and his
brethren halted outside the city for three days, and the heathen people
around brought them food, which they accepted with thanks. After that
Alexander took the Book of the Gospels, and stood in the way, and cried:
"Glory be to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards
men." This was the signal of departure, so the whole moving monastery
deserted their camp and went towards Antioch, where the brother of
Alexander, Peter by name, was superior of a large monastery. Alexander
and one companion went to the gate and knocked. Then the porter looked
forth, and said, "Wait without, till I go to the abbot, and ask
permission for you to enter and refresh yourselves." But Alexander
thrust in on the heels of the porter, and went after him to the abbot's
chamber, and there Peter knew him, and cast himself on his neck. But
Alexander said, "Our father Abraham went forth himself to receive
strangers, and invited them in, and our Lord Jesus Christ exhorted his
followers to show glad hospitality, but thou lettest a wayfaring man
stand without, and makest a favour of admitting him!" Then he turned,
and went away in a rage, and would not eat in the monastery of his
brother. And when they would enter into Antioch, the bishop, Theodotus,
being prejudiced against Alexander, ordered that he and his monks should
be refused admission. So they sat down all day in the heat outside, but
rising up to sing their psalms at midnight, they all went forward
chanting, and no man stayed them, through the streets of Antioch, and
they found an old bath-house, and lodged there. Then the Bishop feared
to disturb them, for all the people magnified them. There they stayed
some time and erected a large hospital, where they cherished the sick
and the poor.
But one Malchus, a sub-deacon, who was greatly offended with the monks,
went to the Bishop, and urged that they should be expelled. And when he
had been given license, he went with all the church sextons and drove
the monks from their lodgings, and he boxed Alexander on the ear,
saying, "Go forth, thou rascal!" But Alexander said nothing, save that
he quoted the words of S. John, "The servant's name was Malchus."
(xviii. 10.) Then the Governor of the city, finding that the people
would take part with the monks, and that a tumult would be made, came
with force, and drave the brethren without the walls. So Alexander and
his monks swarmed off to the Crithenian monastery, which he had founded,
and there he saw that the discipline was admirable.
Thence he went to Constantinople, taking with him from Crithene
twenty-four monks, and in all he was now followed by three hundred, and
they were Greeks, and Romans, and Syrians, and he settled them at Gomon,
on the Bosphorus, near Constantinople, and divided them into six choirs,
who should alternately sing the divine office, so that ceaselessly,
night and day, the praises of Christ might ascend. Thence his order was
called the Acoemeti, or the Sleepless Ones, for, in it, some were ever
watching for the coming of the Bridegroom. However, even in
Constantinople, he was not left in peace, but the civil powers
interfered and broke up the monastery, and the monks were imprisoned and
beaten, and ill-treated in divers ways, so that, for a while, the
incessant song was interrupted. But when the persecution was over, the
monks flowed together again, and the sleepless vigil recommenced.
S. Alexander died and was buried at Gomon.