Alexander

Saint Alexander, martyr, was venerated at Thessaloniki and died a martyr by beheading, in the time of the emperor Maximian. The Bulgarian source commemorates him on 14 March, while the list before us has 10 June, so the day is not the same in all sources.

The data about his birth are unclear. He appears as a petitioner before the emperor Maximian, but he refused to offer sacrifice in honour of the idols. The emperor, enraged, sentenced him to death by beheading. Then, stung by remorse for what he had done, Maximian gave the body of Alexander to the Christians of Thessalonica to bury properly. Maximian also wrote a letter to the Christians of Thessalonica in which he describes the martyrdom of Alexander.

Thanks to the letter, the martyrdom of Saint Alexander is dated between 21 July 285 and 1 August 286. Saint Alexander was buried in Thessalonica.