Alexander, (St.) Carbonarius
(the charcoal-burner), a man of good family and wealth, left everything to embrace the lowly occupation of a charcoal-burner. The faithful in Comana having need, about A.D. 248, of a bishop, applied to St. Gregory of Neo- Caesarea, called Thaumaturgus; he came to the city and rejected all the candidates who were presented to him. Upon this, a person present jeeringly named "Alexander the charcoal-burner" as a man such as the bishop desired. He sent for, conversed with him, and was so charmed with his singular fitness for the sacred office that he appointed him to the bishopric. It is believed that he suffered martyrdom under the emperor Decius; and the modern martyrology marks his festival on Aug. 11. See Gregorius Nyssenus, Life of St. Greg. Thaum.; Baillet, Aug. 11.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More