Tag: stachillas

Saint of the Day – 7 November – Saint Achillas (Died 313) Bishop of Alexandria, Egypt, Confessor, Scholar particularly in Philosophy and Theology. St Theonas had Ordained him to the Priesthood and appointed Achillas as the Head of the Catechetical School of Alexandria upon the departure of St Pierius, whom we celebrated on 4 November. Born in Alexandria, Egypt and died there in 313 of natural causes. Also known as – Archelaus, Achillas of Alexandria, … of Egypt, “Achillas the Great.”

The Roman Martyrology states of him today: “At Alexandria, blessed Achillas, a Bishop renowned for erudition, faith and purity of life.”

Achillas is less well-known than his contemporary, Arius. But, while one has gone down in history as one of the most notorious of all heretics, the other is honoured, as one who kept the True Faith to the end.

Achillas was, a complete Alexandrian, where he was born some time in the 3rd Century. The City was one of the theological centres of Christendom – which made it an attractive target for heretics. Sabellius came to Alexandria in the early 3rd Century, teaching the heresy that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit were all just different modes of one Divine person.

St Theonas, excommunicated Sabellius. His successor, Peter, had to contend with Meletius, who preached that those who had fallen away in persecution would have to be re-Baptised. Peter also had to discipline Arius. Before Peter was Martyred he nominated Achillas to succeed him.

As a former Head of Alexandria’s Catechetical School, Achillas was unlikely to be deceived by theological error. But, he was able to be deceived by his own kindness and merciful gentleness towards repentant sinners and by such a clever and wily man as Arius. Arius seems to have convinced Achillas that he, Arius, had changed and should be allowed back into the fold of the Church. Achillas eventually realised his mistake and started to oppose Arius publicly. He died without seeing the final victory of orthodoxy. After his death, Arius nominated himself to become Bishop of Alexandria but the clergy and the people, chose Alexander.

St Jerome lamented that “because, as a spark in Alexandria, he was not extinguished, Arius became a conflagration which laid waste the world!” But, for his efforts, Achillas has, nevertheless, been recognised as a Saint. St Athanasius (297-373), later the Archbishop of Alexandria and, the Doctor of the Church, described our St Achillas by the honourific “Achillas the Great.”