Saint Who?
Saints Who Were Scientists
Saint Anatolius of Laodicea
Bishop († 283) Feast: July 3
Anatolius was born and raised in Alexandria in Egypt during the 3rd century. A polymath, he wrote at least ten works on mathematics, and another on the dating of Easter. He was an expert on the natural sciences and philosophy and head of the Aristotelian school in Alexandria.
Brucheium, the suburb of Alexandria where Anatolius lived, went into revolt against Egypt’s Roman rulers. The rebels found themselves hemmed in by the Romans, facing a hopeless siege. Anatolius negotiated an arrangement with the Romans to allow all the women, children, infirm, and elderly to leave the besieged area. This saved the innocent from destruction, and increased food for those who remained behind. In fact, many others took advantage of this chance to escape. The rebel army lost so many men that it surrendered.
It seems Anatolius lost popularity in Alexandria after this. He went to Palestine, where he became an assistant and advisor to the bishop of Caesarea. He was ordained a priest. Then he happened to pass through Laodicea in Syria, just as the local bishop, Saint Eusebius, died. The inhabitants insisted that Anatolius was the heaven-sent replacement. He became their bishop and remained so until his death fifteen years later.
Wise Father, through the prayer of Saint Anatolius,
help those who work to negotiate peace between nations.
