Pope Timothy II of Alexandria (died 477), also known as Timothy Ailuros or Timotheus Ælurus (from Greek Αἴλουρος, "cat", because of his small build or in this case probably "weasel"), succeeded twice in supplanting the Chalcedonian

patriarch of Alexandria The Patriarch of Alexandria is the archbishop of Alexandria, Egypt. Historically, this office has included the designation "pope" (etymologically "Father", like "Abbot"). The Alexandrian episcopate was revered as one of the three major epi ...

. Before he became a bishop, Timothy was a monk at the Eikoston. He was elected and consecrated after the death of the exiled Dioscorus of Alexandria in 454 by the

Miaphysite Miaphysitism () is the Christological doctrine that holds Jesus, the Incarnate Word, is fully divine and fully human, in one nature (''physis'', ). It is a position held by the Oriental Orthodox Churches. It differs from the Dyophysitism of the ...

opponents of the

Council of Chalcedon The Council of Chalcedon (; ) was the fourth ecumenical council of the Christian Church. It was convoked by the Roman emperor Marcian. The council convened in the city of Chalcedon, Bithynia (modern-day Kadıköy, Istanbul, Turkey) from 8 Oct ...

and became a rival of the pro-Chalcedon bishop Proterius. According to pro-Chalcedon sources, after

Proterius of Alexandria Pope Proterius of Alexandria (died 457) was Patriarch of Alexandria from 451 to 457. He had been appointed by the Council of Chalcedon to replace the deposed Dioscorus. He regarded as hieromartyr by the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic ...

, has been installed as patriarch after the Council of Chalcedon, he was murdered at Timothy's instigation at the baptistery during Easter. In the Anti-Chalcedon Sources, Proterius was murdered on the order of the Byzantine General in Charge of Egypt after a heated exchange In 460, Emperor Leo I expelled him from Alexandria and installed the Chalcedonian Timothy III Salophakiolos as patriarch. In 475, Timothy was brought back to Alexandria by

Basiliscus Basiliscus (; died 476/477) was Eastern Roman emperor from 9 January 475 to August 476. He became in 464, under his brother-in-law, Emperor Leo I (457–474). Basiliscus commanded the army for an invasion of the Vandal Kingdom in 468, which ...

, where he ruled as patriarch until his death. According to John of Nikiu, the emperor

Zeno Zeno may refer to: People * Zeno (name), including a list of people and characters with the given name * Zeno (surname) Philosophers * Zeno of Elea (), philosopher, follower of Parmenides, known for his paradoxes * Zeno of Citium (333 – 264 B ...

sent an officer to summon him, but when the officer arrived, Timothy told him "The emperor will not see my face" and immediately fell ill and died. Timothy gave his name to the sect of Christians who came to be known as the Timotheans, or alternatively, the sect of Ælurus.

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* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Timothy 02 Of Alexandria, Pope Timothy II Aelurus of Alexandria 5th-century popes and patriarchs of Alexandria Year of birth unknown