Pope Timothy II of Alexandria

Pope Timothy II of Alexandria (died 477), also known as Timothy Ailuros (from Greek Αἴλουρος, "cat," because of his small build or in this case probably "weasel"[1]), succeeded twice in supplanting the Chalcedonian patriarch of Alexandria.

Saint Timothy II of Alexandria
Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark
Papacy began	457
Papacy ended	31 July 477
Predecessor	Dioscorus the Great
Successor	Peter III
Personal details
Born	Egypt
Died	31 July 477
Buried	Saint Mark's Church
Nationality	Egyptian
Denomination	Coptic Orthodox Christian
Residence	Saint Mark's Church
Sainthood
Feast day	31 July Julian Calendar (7 Mesra in the Coptic Calendar)
Venerated in	Coptic Orthodox Church

10th century Armenian translation of the writings of Timothy Ailuros

Before he became a bishop, Timothy was a monk at the Eikoston. He was elected and consecrated after the death of the exiled Dioscorus of Alexandria in 454 by the Miaphysite opponents of the Council of Chalcedon and became a rival of the pro-Chalcedon bishop Proterius.

According to pro-Chalcedon sources, after Proterius of Alexandria, has been installed as patriarch after the Council of Chalcedon, he was murdered at Timothy's instigation at the baptistery during Easter,.[2] In the Anti-Chalcedon Sources, Proterius was murdered on the order of the Byzantine General in Charge of Egypt after a heated exchange [3]

In 460, the Emperor expelled him from Alexandria and installed the Chalcedonian Timothy III Salophakiolos as patriarch.

An uprising in 475 again brought Timothy II back to Alexandria, where he ruled as patriarch until his death.

References

1. Philip Jenkins,Jesus Wars (2010) pp 221
2. Philip Jenkins,Jesus Wars (2010) pp 222
3. http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/zachariah04.htm

Sources

• Meyendorff, John (1989). Imperial unity and Christian divisions: The Church 450-680 A.D. The Church in history. 2. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press.
• "Timotheos II, Ailuros (457–460)". Official web site of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa. Retrieved 2011-02-07.
• البابا تيموثاوس الثاني [Pope Timothy II] (in Arabic). Official website of St. Takla Haymanot's Church. Retrieved 2011-02-13.