Isidore of Alexandria

Isidore of Alexandria was a hermit, then a priest and hospitaller of the Church of Alexandria, who reposed in 403. According to Alban Butler, Saint Athanasius took him from the cell in which he had spent many years in the desert, ordained him a priest and made him hospitaller. He lived in the great city as a model of meekness, patience, self-⁠denial and prayer; at table he often burst into tears, saying that he, a rational creature made to enjoy God, was eating the food of beasts instead of feeding on the bread of angels.

Palladius, later bishop of Helenopolis, coming to Egypt to embrace the ascetic life, addressed himself first to him, and the skilful guide sent him to practise self-⁠denial for a time and then to return. Isidore suffered many persecutions, first from Lucius, the Arian usurper bishop, and then from Theophilus, who unjustly accused him of Origenism. He publicly condemned that heresy at Constantinople, where he died in 403, under the protection of Saint John Chrysostom. He is venerated as a saint in the Western Church; the source gives no day of commemoration.