Anianus

ON SAINT ANIANUS,

BISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA.

ABOUT THE YEAR 86.

Anianus, Bishop of Alexandria (St.)

G. H.

There is joined to Saint Mark the Evangelist on this day Saint Anianus in the present Roman Martyrology, in these words: "At Alexandria, Saint Anianus the Bishop, who, a disciple of Blessed Mark and his successor in the bishopric, illustrious in virtues, rested in the Lord." A somewhat larger eulogy has Galesinius in his Martyrology in this manner: Memory in the sacred calendars 25 April, "At Alexandria in Egypt, of Saint Anianus Bishop. This one, a citizen of Alexandria, born of a noble family, disciple of Blessed Mark, made Bishop in his place, presided for twenty-two years over the Church committed to him, having divinely fulfilled which Episcopal office, illustrious in the glory of holily done deeds, under the Emperor Domitian he rested in the Lord." Nearly the same Ghinius has in the Nativities of Canonical Saints, adding that he rested about the year of Salvation 85. But how is a noble family ascribed to him whom all believe to have been Cerdo from the Acts of Saint Mark? Eusebius in book 2 of the Ecclesiastical History, chapter 24, and the succession from Eusebius: hands down this about him: "When Nero was spending the eighth year of his reign, first after Mark the Evangelist the administration of the Alexandrian Church was undertaken by Anianus, a man acceptable to God and in every way admirable." Then in book 3 chapter 14, he writes this: "In the fourth year of Domitian, the first Bishop of the Church of the Alexandrians, Anianus, having completed 22 years, departed from life: to whom in second place succeeded Abilius." He to the Alexandrians is called Melianus, Melius, and Milius, whence Amilius and Abilius: concerning whom with the Roman Martyrology we treated on 22 February. Eusebius confirms the same things in the Chronicle.

[2] Of the time of the life and martyrdom of Saint Mark we treated above

many things, He seems to have been put in place of Saint Mark in the year 68, and with the ancient traditions of the Church of Alexandria, indeed even with the ancient Latin Acts of Saint Mark, we showed that it seems more likely that he was crowned in the fourteenth and last year of the reign of Nero, the 68th of Christ. In the ancient History of the Patriarchs of Alexandria, published by Abraham Ecchellensis along with the Eastern Chronicle, this is handed down: "Second, Anianus. This man Saint Mark the Evangelist ordained, and he is that cobbler who mended his shoes. He died on the Lord's day, the twentieth of Hathur: he held the seat after the divine Mark the Apostle for eighteen years and two hundred and sixteen days." So there. The twentieth day of the month Hathur falls on 16 November: having sat for 18 years, on which day in the Calendar of feasts of the Copts and Egyptians in Selden is noted the feast of Asasius — is it corruptly for Anianus? Who will say? But then from 25 April and the death of Saint Mark there would not be two hundred and sixteen days, but only two hundred and six. How by mending Saint Mark's shoes he came to know him, and having been instructed by him in the Christian faith, and baptized with his whole household, was finally ordained a Bishop, is recounted at length in the Acts of Saint Mark, nos. 3, 4, and 5. After these Acts we gave an Appendix from the life of Saint Peter of Alexandria, Bishop and Martyr, in which some successors of Saint Mark are enumerated, and with a singular title Blessed Anianus is given as his Successor, died in the year 86. in Greek "ho makarios Anianos ton thronon ekdechetai" (the blessed Anianus receives the throne). Now he died according to this tradition in the year of Christ 86, the 6th year of Domitian.

[3] Peter de Natalibus in book 9 of the Catalogue, chapter 19, offers a long eulogy of Saint Anianus, and gathers together many miracles, which are by no means proven to us, and may be read in him. Galesinius ascribed to Saint Anianus from this Catalogue the nobility that is by no means proven to us: The body is said to have been translated to Venice. for Peter says that he came from Africa, most noble and rich, and at the end has this: "Himself illustrious in virtues, he rested in peace on the 5th day before the Nones of October, and was buried next to the body of Blessed Mark in the place of Buculi. Whose body in the course of time was thence translated to Venice, and is preserved buried in the monastery of Saint Clement." The same concerning the body translated to Venice is handed down by Ughelli in volume 5 of Italia Sacra, column 1260, where he enumerates the bodies of the Saints and sacred relics of the Venetian city. On the cited day of 4 October, Greven, Maurolicus, Canisius, and others refer Saint Anianus, veneration on 4 and 1 October, following Peter de Natalibus. In the MS Florary he is mentioned on the very Kalends of October. a church at Alexandria. That there was a church at Alexandria under the name of Saint Anianus, Baronius hands down from Epiphanius in his Notes to this day.

[4] Eutychius the Egyptian, Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria, in the tenth century of Christ, wrote the Origins of his Alexandrian Church, Testimony of the Patriarch Eutychius. edited by John Selden at London in Arabic and Latin: in which concerning Saint Anianus, whom he calls Hananias, he has this: "Mark the Evangelist dwelt in the city of Alexandria, that thence faith in Christ our Lord might be propagated among men. But as he was walking through the city, the strap of his shoe was broken: which, to mend, he went to a cobbler named Hananias: who having taken an awl to pierce the shoe, pierced his own finger, so that much blood flowed, not without great pain. When therefore he was murmuring against Mark, Mark said to him: 'If you will believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God, your finger will be healed.' Taking hold therefore of his finger, he said: 'In the name of Jesus Christ, let your finger be sound': which in the same moment was restored to health, the blood no longer flowing. And from that time Hananias believed in Christ, whence Mark baptized him, and made him Patriarch of Alexandria." Namely, he was the first Patriarch appointed at Alexandria. Likewise Mark the Evangelist appointed twelve Presbyters with Hananias, who were to remain with the Patriarch; so that, when the Patriarchate was vacant, the Presbyters should choose one of the twelve, on whose head the rest would all lay hands, bless him, and create him Patriarch: and then should choose some distinguished man, and make him Presbyter with themselves in place of him who was thus made Patriarch, so that there might always be twelve. So Eutychius from Selden's version, who adds his own Commentary, and in it treats of these words, that "they should create a Patriarch"; and he adds that in Arabic that word "create" signifies the same as in Greek "katartizein," to render absolute or complete: namely, that a perfect and suitable man was to be chosen by the Presbyters, but created or ordained by the Bishops.