Philip of Alexandria

Holy Hieromartyr Philip of Alexandria was the father of Saint Eugenia of Rome. In the time of the Emperor Commodus he was appointed eparch of all Egypt. At the emperor's command he expelled the Christians from Alexandria, but allowed them to live outside the city and to practise their faith freely.

A rich woman wanted to have relations with Eugenia, who was in a men's monastery, disguised as a monk, since she did not know she was a woman. Firmly rejected, the woman went to the eparch in revenge and slandered Eugenia. The eparch ordered all the monks chained and shut in prison. When she was brought to trial, Saint Eugenia revealed herself to her father as his daughter. Then Philip was baptized with his whole family. Soon after his baptism he wrote to the Emperor Severus and his son Antoninus that it was not useful to the Roman Empire to expel Christians from cities. He received permission to allow Christians in the cities of Egypt to return to their property and confess their faith freely. Soon, however, the Roman nobility revolted, so that an order came to Philip to expel the Christians again. Being a Christian himself, he sold his property and withdrew from the office of eparch. Then he was chosen bishop of Alexandria. In the place of eparch came Terentius, who paid assassins to kill him. The assassins killed him at prayer, cutting him down with swords. Philip was buried inside the city, at the place called Isium, in the church that he himself had built. He was very much loved in Alexandria. The Serbian Church commemorates him on 24 December by the old calendar (6 January by the new).