Lentorama 2025: Perfunctory Popes

Day 38: Achillas the Great

Another Coptic pope before we wrap things up. Achillas was born in Alexandria, and was appointed to head up the city's catechetical school.  His work there likely led to his honorific "the Great," which referred to his achievements in the study of theology and Greek philosophy.

Pope Peter picked Achillas to be his successor shortly before he was martyred in 312 as part of Diocletian's persecution of Christians. Not the most auspicious way to start. 

Achillas only served six months, and his one notable action was to allow Arius to return to his ministry after Peter had condemned him. Arias is attributed as the founder of Arianism, a theological teaching that rejects the Trinity and holds that Jesus, as a creation of God, is distinct from God. Proving that if you have him an inch he'd take a mile, Arius tried to get himself named as successor to Achillas, but was unsuccessful.