Titus Flavius Clemens, known as Clement of Alexandria (Greek: Κλήμης ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς; approximately 150 – approximately 215 AD), was a Christian theologian and philosopher who lectured at the Catechetical School of Alexandria. Notable among his students were Origen and Alexander of Jerusalem. Converted to Christianity, Clement possessed a comprehensive education and was well-versed in classical Greek philosophy and literature. His principal works reflect a profound influence of Hellenistic philosophy, particularly Plato and the Stoics, making him distinct among Christian thinkers of his era. Additionally, his undisclosed writings, surviving only in fragments, suggest his acquaintance with pre-Christian Jewish esotericism and Gnosticism. In one of his treatises, he contended that Greek philosophy originated from non-Greek sources, proposing that both Plato and Pythagoras received teachings from Egyptian scholars.

 

Clement is traditionally recognized as a Church Father and is honored as a saint in Coptic Christianity, Eastern Catholicism, Ethiopian Christianity, and Anglicanism. While formerly esteemed in Western Catholicism until 1586, when Pope Sixtus V, advised by Baronius, excluded his name from the Roman Martyrology, he continues to be referred to as "Saint Clement of Alexandria" by Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic scholars.

 

Biographical details about Clement, including his birth date and place, remain uncertain. It is conjectured that he was born circa 150 AD, with conflicting claims suggesting Athens or Alexandria as his birthplace. Raised by pagan parents, Clement embraced Christianity later in life, manifesting a profound understanding of Greek and mystery religions, likely influenced by his familial background, as evidenced in his work "Protrepticus."

 

Rejecting paganism due to ethical concerns, Clement embarked on religious journeys across Greece, Asia Minor, Palestine, and Egypt. During his travels, he encountered various theologians, including Athenagoras of Athens, an Ionian thinker, and potentially Tatian, an Assyrian, along with Theophilus of Caesarea, a Jewish scholar.

 

Arriving in Alexandria around 180 AD, Clement encountered Pantaenus, a prominent figure at the Catechetical School. While the exact nature of Pantaenus's role remains debated, Clement studied under him and was ordained by Pope Julian before 189 AD. Beyond these details, little is known about Clement's personal life in Alexandria, although it is speculated that he may have been married.

 

During the Severian persecution of 202–203 AD, Clement departed from Alexandria. By 211 AD, Alexander of Jerusalem penned a letter endorsing him to the Church of Antioch, suggesting Clement's possible residence in Cappadocia or Jerusalem at that time. He passed away circa 215 AD, the exact location of his death remaining unknown.