Dioscorus, (born , Alexandria [Egypt]—died Sept. 4, 454, Gangra, Galatia [now Cankiri, Tur.]), patriarch of Alexandria and Eastern prelate who was deposed and excommunicated by the Council of Chalcedon in 451. He was archdeacon at Alexandria when he succeeded St. Cyril as patriarch in 444.
He supported Eutyches, a monk of Constantinople and founder of Eutychianism (an extreme form of Monophysitism), who was condemned by a synod at Constantinople in 448. The following year Dioscorus presided over the Robber Synod of Ephesus. With the support of the Eastern Roman emperor Theodosius II, he reinstated Eutyches, excommunicated Pope Leo I the Great for censuring Eutychianism, and deposed Patriarch St. Flavian of Constantinople for opposing Monophysitism.
After Theodosius’ death in 450, the Council of Chalcedon condemned all Monophysite doctrines and deposed Dioscorus, exiling him to Gangra. He was not, however, condemned as a heretic.
The Monophysite Christian churches (Coptic, Syrian, and Armenian) venerate Dioscorus as a saint.