SAINT ALEXANDER OF SIDE

The modern Turkish city of Side is located seventy kilometers from Antalya and seven kilometers from Manavgat. The city has a very ancient history, and since 1947, archaeological excavations have been carried out there, which have revealed many ancient objects, buildings, and statues. An ancient open-air monument, Side is somewhat similar to Ostia in Rome, where Saint Augustine of Hippo had his famous vision. Like Ostia, Side is open to visitors as a museum. Nowadays, few of the many tourists realize that not only did people live in Side, but holy martyrs also suffered for Christ there, the most famous of whom was Saint Alexander the Priest. His memory is celebrated by the Church on March 28 (15).

Saint Alexander suffered for Christ during the reign of the Roman emperor Aurelian (270–275). The latter did not carry out systematic persecution of Christians. This means that the fate of local churches depended on the will of local rulers. Christians often suffered because of denunciations or as a result of sudden unrest and outbursts of anger from pagan crowds.

According to his passio, Saint Alexander was arrested upon the arrival in Side of a ruler named Antoninus. He was ordered to reveal the names of believers and make sacrifices to the gods. Since he refused, he was subjected to numerous tortures, the most cruel of which was being tested by fire in a red-hot furnace.

After much suffering, the saint was beheaded. Antoninus, who acted as a sophisticated tormentor of the Christian priest,, went mad at the sight of his steadfastness and died suddenly, apparently of a stroke. Thus, what is said in the prayers of confession, the sacrament of anointing of the sick, and the funeral service was literally fulfilled: “He brought a priestly anathema upon himself.”

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). As a priest in what was then a large Mediterranean city, Alexander undoubtedly knew many Christians. But he did not betray anyone to the pagans. Thus, he suffered himself and suffered for others, heroically fulfilling the words of the Gospel.