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 [P.G. 35, 565]).
And after seizing a city Parmenion seeing him skeptical he recommend him not to feel sorry, saint Gregory Theologos reminds us how Alexander replied: ” Your characteristic Parmenion is cruelty. My characteristic is mildness and I wish the defeated city will not be in danger. ” (” σοὶ μὲν γάρ ἐστιν ὠμότης, τὸ δὲ πρᾶον ἐμόν, φυγεῖν τε τὴν πόλιν τοὺς κινδύνους ” [P.G. 37, 813]).
With the same philanthropist free mood, as Isidore of Pelusium writes, the prisoners of Sardis, satisfying the request of the Athinian political Phocion who was moral and scorned money (P.G. 78, 589). And as holy Fotious tell us, rarely their were days which no person was benefitted by him.
But if this occured, he said with sadness ” Today I did not do my duties as a king ” (P.G. 102, 933).
