Feb 26th - Alexander of Alexandria

We truly never know what God has in store for those who love him. We often wonder what God has in mind for us. We sometimes even wonder why we live and others die. What is it that God wants from us?
If we are true to God then all will become plain. Alexander survived several persecutions by Roman Emperors to become the bishop/patriarch of Alexandria. So what? Alexandria was always a cosmopolitan place of learning and many ideas sprung up there. At the time he was appointed, Arius the priest was in line for the position. Alexander's appointment prevented that, which caused Arius to throw off any pretense about his positions. So in that role, he was able to excommunicate Arius and defend the Faith against heresy.
It is accepted that Alexander also wrote up the acts for the first Council of Nicaea, certainly something he was in a position to know of first-hand.
Alexander also able to appoint the great Athanasius to be his successor, thus safeguarding the Faith.
We may never fully understand all that God has in store for us, but holding to the Truth will guide us through everything to where He wants us to be, and with that foundation we will be the person we were meant to be and carry out God's will correctly.
He died on April 17th but he is celebrated today in the new calendar.

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Concerning [Christ] we thus believe, even as the Apostolic Church believes. In one Father unbegotten, who has from no one the cause of His being, who is unchangeable and immutable, who is always the same, and admits of no increase or diminution; who gave to us the Law, the prophets, and the Gospels; who is Lord of the patriarchs and apostles, and all the saints. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God; not begotten of things which are not, but of Him who is the Father;.... And besides the pious opinion concerning the Father and the Son, we confess to one Holy Spirit, as the divine Scriptures teach us; who hath inaugurated both the holy men of the Old Testament, and the divine teachers of that which is called the New. And besides, also, one only catholic and Apostolic Church, which can never be destroyed, though all the world should seek to make war with it; but it is victorious over every most impious revolt of the heretics who rise up against it. For her [head] has confirmed our minds by saying, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." After this we know of the resurrection of the dead, the first-fruits of which was our Lord Jesus Christ, who in very deed, and not in appearance merely, carried a body, of Mary Mother of God, who in the end of the world came to the human race to put away sin, was crucified and died, and yet did He not thus perceive any detriment to His divinity, being raised from the dead, taken up into heaven, seated at the right hand of majesty.
These things in part have I written in this epistle, thinking it burdensome to write out each accurately, even as I said before, because they escape not your religious diligence. Thus do we teach, thus do we preach. These are the apostolic doctrines of the Church, for which also we die, esteeming those but little who would compel us to forswear them, even if they would force us by tortures, and not casting away our hope in them.

-- 'Epistle' to Alexander, Bishop of the City of Constantinople (12, 13)