in honor of Saturn. In it stood an enormous bronze idol called “Michael.” For twelve days each year, during the month of Hatour—equivalent to November—they, the people of Alexandria and all Egypt, celebrated a grand festival for that idol and slaughtered numerous sacrificial animals.
When Alexander became Patriarch of Alexandria and Christianity gained ascendancy, he resolved to smash the idol and put an end to the sacrifices. The Alexandrians, however, opposed him. So he resorted to guile, saying to them:
“This idol can neither benefit nor harm. If you would transfer the festival to Michael the Archangel and offer these sacrifices to him instead, it would be more pleasing to Allah and far better for you than honoring this lifeless image.”
They agreed. He then broke the idol to pieces, fashioned a cross from part of its bronze, and renamed the temple “the Church of Michael.” That church—also known as the “Caesareum”—was later burned down when the Carmathian armies from the West arrived together with the leader called