TEONA, saint. - Patriarch of Alexandria, he succeeded Massimo; he governed for about 19 years, from 281 to 300.
The Arabic-Jacobite Synaxarion, which commemorates him on 28 Dec. (PO, XI, p. 214 ff.), states that he was a highly learned man, full of goodness and virtue. His long episcopate coincided with the peace enjoyed by the Church at the beginning of the reign of Diocletian, and T. took advantage of it to organize his Church; he converted many pagans and began the construction of a church which was later completed by his successor Alessandro (cf. s. Atanasio, Apologia ad Constantium, 15; s. Epifanio, Panarion, LXIX, 2). During his episcopate the great scholar Pierio flourished; he initiated Pietro, who later succeeded him, into Holy Orders. A letter written to Luciano, grand chamberlain of Diocletian’s court, is attributed to him, and he is said to have excommunicated the followers of Sabellio. In the Martirolgio romano he is commemorated on 23 Aug.