Saint of the Day – 4 November – St Pierius (Died c309) Priest, Confessor, Co-Director with Achilas of the Catechetical School of Alexandria in Egypt,Scholar, renowned Preacher and Exegetical Writer.. He died in Rome in c309 of natural causes which St Jerome assures us of. Also known as – Pierio, “The Younger Origen”
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “The birthday of St Pierius, Priest of Alexandria, who, being deeply versed in the Sacred Scriptures, leading a very pure life and freed from all impediments in order to apply to Christian philosophy, taught the people with great renown and published various treatise, under the Emperors Carus and Diocletian, when St Theonas governed the Church of Alexandria. After the persecutions, he spent the remainder of his life at Rome, where he rested in peace in the Lord.”
Pierius was Ordained a Priest in the late 3rd Century by St Theonas, the Bishop of Alexandria. Thereafter, Pierius served as the Director of the Catechetical School of Alexandria.
He was a gifted preacher and excelled in the fields of Scripture studies and philosophy. Pierius lived austerely and temperately, practising the Evangelical Counsel of poverty.
His known published Works are – one on the Gospel of St Luke, an Easter Sermon on Osee (Hosea); a Treatise on the Mother of God; a few other Easter Sermons and an Eulogy on St Pamphilus, who had been one of his disciples.
Only fragments of these writings are extant all the rest have been lost to us. Below is an image of this fragment.





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