Hieromartyr Alexander, Bishop of Comana (3rd century) — August 12 / August 25 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, August 12 according to the Julian Calendar (August 25 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Hieromartyr Alexander, Bishop of Comana.

The hieromartyr Alexander, Bishop of Comana, lived in the third century in the city of Comana near Neocaesarea. He received a thorough education, mastered many branches of learning, and was deeply versed in the Holy Scriptures. Had he displayed his gifts, the blessed one would undoubtedly have won great earthly honor; but for the love of the Lord he chose to live in humility and poverty. He sold charcoal in the city square and always went about blackened with soot, so that many looked upon him with contempt and the children mocked him. Everyone in the city called the saint “Alexander the Charcoal-Burner.”

When the bishop of Comana reposed, some proposed for the widowed see a candidate from among the clergy of noble birth, while others gave preference to a learned man, to one renowned for eloquence, or to a rich man. Then Saint Gregory of Neocaesarea (commemorated 17 November), who had been invited to consecrate the new bishop, reminded the assembly how the Lord had chosen David the Psalmist to be king, and said: “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the heart” (1 Kingdoms 16:7); let us also not fix our attention upon outward appearance, but seek the one prepared by God.

These words displeased some, and they said to one another in mockery that if appearance and noble descent were counted for nothing, then Alexander the charcoal-burner would do for a bishop. The hierarch Gregory judged that this name had not been spoken apart from the providence of God, and he ordered the charcoal-burner to be brought. The saint’s appearance among the assembly provoked general laughter, but Alexander stood humbly before the bishop and paid no attention to the ridicule.

The hierarch conversed with the blessed one, and he was compelled to disclose that he had formerly been a philosopher and had taken up poverty and humility willingly, for the sake of God. Then Gregory of Neocaesarea took Alexander to his house, had him made presentable and clothed him in clean garments. Returning to the church, he examined the chosen one of the Lord publicly, putting questions to him from Holy Scripture, to which the blessed one answered like a learned and wise teacher. Astonished at Alexander’s grace and poverty of spirit, the assembly unanimously elected him bishop. Bishop Gregory first ordained the saint a presbyter, and then laid hands upon him as a hierarch.

Alexander of Comana governed his flock wisely. His sermons were simple and filled with divine wisdom. The blessed one took no care for beauty of phrase, but strove to explain the commandments of Christ to the people in language they could grasp.

During the reign of the Emperor Diocletian (284–305) the holy hierarch was cruelly tortured and cast into the fire. The hieromartyr commended his soul to the Lord in prayer. According to some accounts, Bishop Alexander was martyred in the time of the Emperor Decius (249–251).