# Saint Archellides

Source: https://coptic-lore-forge.lovable.app/wiki/saint-archellides — Coptic Orthodox Wiki (updated 2026-10-02)

Saint Archellides is described as a Roman noble who became a monk in Palestine; his life survives in Sahidic Coptic narrative and poetry. Sources differ on his feast day.[^1][^4][^6][^7]

## Overview

Saint Archellides was a Roman noble who became a monk in Palestine. His surviving life is a fictitious religious narrative, apparently composed directly in Coptic around the seventh century, rather than an established historical biography.[^1][^4]

## The Account of His Life

According to the narrative, Archellides came from a noble and devout family in Rome. Educated by philosophers, he was sent to continue his studies in Athens and Beirut. Encountering a corpse during his journey moved him to vow virginity and enter the Palestinian monastery of Saint Romanus, where he became respected for his asceticism and wisdom.[^2]

His mother, left without news of him, opened a hostel for travelers. After twelve years, she learned his whereabouts from passing merchants, gave her possessions to the poor, and traveled to the monastery. Archellides refused to meet her and, when she persisted, prayed for death. In the story, she finally saw him after he had died; she then prayed to die herself, and her prayer was granted.[^3]

## Literary Transmission

The life survives in Sahidic Coptic in a complete codex, Pierpont Morgan Library M 579.1, and in fragments from Dayr Anba Shinudah. It is attributed to a historian named Eusebius, whom the composer apparently identified with Eusebius of Caesarea; this attribution lacks an apparent basis.[^1]

Archellides and his mother also appear in a Sahidic semidramatic composition consisting of the principal characters’ speeches. This version explicitly explains his refusal to see his mother by a vow never again to look upon a woman’s face. The source considers possible accompanying mimic action but leaves the question unresolved.[^7]

## Commemoration

Archellides’ feast day is disputed. It is given as **13 Tubah**, but also as **14 Tubah**. He is likewise commemorated on **14 Tubah** as an ascetic of Saint Romanos Monastery.[^1][^5][^6]

## Sources
[^1]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 1, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 496)
[^2]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 1, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 496)
[^3]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 1, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 496)
[^4]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 1, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 496)
[^5]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 7, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 121)
[^6]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 7, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 362)
[^7]: The Coptic Encyclopedia, Volume 6, Aziz S. Atiya (Editor in Chief) (p. 723)