And with him they praised the nation of the Macedonian which has distinguished him that is Greek, as Alexander is Macedonian, and ” the king of the Macedonians ” but Greek and ” the king of the Greeks ” and with both titles, is named by the fathers of the church as in the Old Testament.
Without doupt, purity is the top virtue of the young commander, even bigger than his unique and insuperable bravery. The ancient writers had noted this, as Ploutarchos write that everybody admired Alexander, because he showed much purity facing the women of Persia over his bravery to the Persians.
Saint Gregory Theologos mentions that beautiful moment, when Alexander with his generosity spared the life of the defeated king of India, Porus and proceeded to the surprised remark: ” Καὶ ἦν αὐτῷ ἡ περιουσία τοῦ θαρρεῖν τὸ φιλάνθρωπον ” (= It was philanthropy that gave Alexander his unique and unlimited bravery).
Saint Gregory Palamas adressed two philosophers saying how, when a prisoner gave useful advice to Alexander, the Macedonian king obeyedwith pleasure (” ὑπήκουσε τῷ αἰχμαλώτῳ “). And not only this, but counted him amongst his friends (” τὸν εἰσηγησάμενον μετὰ τῶν φιλούντων ἠρίθμησε “) even though he was a prisoner and illiterate.
M. Basil advises: ” When we hear slander that burdens someone, we should do what Alexander did: to hear them with only one ear and the other to keep it free, so we can hear the one who is being slandered ” (” τὴν ἑτέραν τῶν ἀκοῶν ἀκεραίαν ταμιευσόμεθα τῷ διαβαλλομένῳ “.
Saint Maximus the Confessor quotes the following saying of Alexander ” Whoever promised to keep a secret and did not keep it, but revealed it, it is unjust or very intemperate (” ἄδικός ἐστιν ἢ ἀκρατής ἄγαν “). He who reveals it, to gain benefit, it is unjust. But he who reveals it without any benefits is intemperate. Both are bad equally (” ἴσως δέ γ’ εἰσὶν ἀμφότεροι κακοί “).
Timely and everlasting is the following speech of M. Alexander. Once again saint Maximus the Confessor saves it. ” When someone who showed that they loved him said your cities may pay more taxation, Alexander observed and detested the gardener who eradicates the vegetables from the roots. (” κηπουρόν μισῶ τὸν ἐκ ριζῶν ἐκτέμνοντα τὰ λάχανα “).
The leopard, which the prophet Daniel mentions, is Alexander the king of Macedonians, who flew like a bird on the universe. Because no-one was quicker and more flexible than he, but was impetuous and flexible like the wild beast. The prophet says ” The leopard had four wings of a bird on the upper part of its body “.
