Arsenius, Bishop of Ypseli

ARSENIUS, Bishop of Ypseli. - In the 4th century he was bishop of this city in Egypt, on the western bank of the Nile, near Lycopolis; and he is known only for the part he allowed himself to be forced into by the leader of the Meletians, John Arcaph (v.), in the campaign against St. Athanasius. A. was made to hide in a monastery of the Thebaid at Ptemencyris, and once he had disappeared, the Meletians accused Athanasius of having killed him. The affair was brought before Constantine, who instructed his brother, the Caesar Dalmatius, to institute an inquiry. St. Athanasius set about defending himself, and through one of his deacons, sent in search of A., he discovered the deception. The superior of the monastery, Pinnes, brought before the judge, had to confess that A. was alive. The following year the rumor of A.'s murder began to circulate again; but he, who in the meantime had fled from Ptemencyris toward lower Egypt, unaware of what had happened, appeared at Tyre during the synod. Discovered, he asked Athanasius for forgiveness, promising obedience to the Church over which he presided; a promise he kept.

Mario Scaduto