Timothy Aelurus was the episcopal successor in Alexandria to the luminaries Cyril (412–444) and Dioscorus (444–451). The sobriquet “Aelurus” has been variously interpreted as “the Cat” or “the Weasel,” and it was purportedly bestowed by enemies on account of his ascetical emaciation. A monk in his youth, he was ordained presbyter by Cyril and was in the entourage of Dioscorus at the second Council of Ephesus in 449. After the latter’s deposition at the Council of Chalcedon in 451, Proterius, a Chalcedonian, was installed as bishop of Alexandria. Timothy, however, remained loyal to Dioscorus. When news of Emperor Marcian’s death (on January 26, 457) reached Alexandria in early February, this sparked the anti-Chalcedonian faction to find at long last a replacement for Dioscorus. They chose Timothy, who was consecrated as a rival bishop on March 16, 457, possibly by only two bishops and thus irregularly (since three bishops were required for a canonical ordination as bishop).