Hieromartyr Peter I, Archbishop of Alexandria

IMPORTANT DATE CORRECTION: the previous date "November 24" was not confirmed — independent cross-checking of three sources (the Orthodox Encyclopedia, days.pravoslavie.ru, drevo-info.ru) unanimously gives November 25 O.S./December 8 N.S. CRITICAL IMAGE NOTE: the card contained 6 image files that were actually only 3 unique images, each duplicated under two different filenames (confirmed via byte-for-byte md5 comparison) — the duplicate copies have been removed, leaving 3 unique images.

Hieromartyr Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria, headed the catechetical school of Alexandria before assuming the episcopal see (c. 300), succeeding Bishop Theonas. He excommunicated Meletius of Lycopolis, originating the Meletian schism, and — foreseeing a future heresy — also excommunicated the deacon Arius (the future heresiarch), whom Meletius had ordained.

While imprisoned in 311, he was granted a vision: Christ appeared to him as a twelve-year-old boy in a robe torn from top to bottom. When the bishop asked, "Who, Savior, has torn Your garment?" the Lord answered, "Arius the mad one" — foretelling Arius's future falling away from the Church.

He authored 14 penitential canons ("Word on Repentance," 306), regulating the measure of penance for those who had lapsed during persecution. He was beheaded near Alexandria under Emperor Maximinus Daza, at the traditional site of the martyrdom of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark. The Church venerates him as the last hieromartyr of the era of the great persecutions ("the seal of the martyrs").