Saint Isidore of Pelusium

Life story

He was born in Alexandria, Egypt, in the later fourth century, probably before 370. He settled near Pelusium, where he lived as a priest and, it seems, as the head of a monastic community.

What survives most clearly of him is his correspondence. More than 2,000 letters remain (the Catholic Encyclopedia counts 2,182); the historian Nicephorus claimed he wrote 10,000, but that is the word of a later author. He wrote to Cyril of Alexandria, urging him to do justice to the memory of John Chrysostom and, later, during the dispute after the Council of Ephesus, to be less obstinate.

He died not later than about 450 (other sources say around 436 or 440). All the dates for his life are estimates, and the biographical sources are thin. Almost nothing else is securely known about his life, so the letters themselves are the main source. His feast is 4 February; he is sometimes mistakenly called Isidore of Damietta.

Works and witness

• Left Alexandria for Pelusium and became a monk
• Left more than 2,000 surviving letters
• Wrote to Cyril of Alexandria urging him to end contentious disputes
• Priest and probably head of a monastic community near Pelusium

Saints from the same country

Saint Anthony of Egypt, Saint Athanasius, Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Saint Catherine of Alexandria

References

• Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), "St. Isidore of Pelusium" (newadvent.org/cathen/08185c.htm)
• Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia, "Isidore of Pelusium" (ccel.org)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.