Who was the Earliest person canonized?

Question

Not the First person canonized, but the person who lived longest ago who was canonized. Was it Alexander the Great?

Answer 1

Is Alexander The Great even a saint?  I think he missed the boat for Christianity by a few centuries.

Answer 2

In fact neither Paul nor John (or any of the early Christian martyrs) were canonized - that is, no bishop confirmed them as sanctified in the eyes of the Church. All of the early martyrs (and there were hundreds as a result of the Roman persecution of christians) were automatically afforded "cultus" status by the early Church - they needed no canonization since they qualified for sainthood without it.

The earliest acknowledged instance of canonization by the pope is that of Ulric of Augsburg, who was declared a saint by John XV. in A.D. 993.

For further information on canonization see

http://www.adorers.org/canonization.aspx

Answer 3

Hold the press!  Actually...It was St. Dismas, 'the good thief!'

Jesus was crucified with two other people; one of them said he deserved his fate, and 'Please remember me when you come into your kingdom.'  Jesus replied, "Today, you will be with me in paradise."

Therefore, this person was the first saint...canonized not by the Church, but by Jesus himself.  (oddly enough, there is a church named after him in Kingston, Ont., very close to the federal prison.)

http://www.tanbooks.com/doct/good_thief....