ASTERIO of PETRA in ARABIA, saint. - He took part, together with the 80 Eastern bishops, in the Council of Sardica (autumn 343); but, along with Ario, bishop of Petra in Palestine, he broke away from them in order to join the group of Westerners (Atanasio, Apolog. pro vita sua, 48). The emperor Costanzo exiled him to Upper Libya (Atanasio, Hist. Arian. ad monachos, 8). In the spring of 362 he was recalled from exile and, passing through Alessandria, took part in the Synod convened by Atanasio; indeed, together with Eusebio di Vercelli, he was charged with bringing to Antiochia the synodal letter, signed by him, by which an attempt was made to restore the fortunes of the Nicene party in that city (Tom. ad Antioch.; PG 26, 795-810). The mission failed because the precipitate action of Lucifero di Cagliari had compromised the situation. Baronio introduced him into the Martyr. Rom. under 10 June.
Asterius of Petra in Arabia, Saint
BIBL.: Martyr. Romanum, p. 232; G. Bardy, in Storia della Chiesa, ed. by A. Fliche and V. Martin, Ital. trans., III, Torino 1940, pp. 129, 137, 248-52. Ireneo Daniele
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“ASTERIO DI PETRA NELL'ARABIA, SANTO.” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. II (1949), p. 153. Azione Romana digital edition, https://azioneromana.com/article/asterio-di-petra-nell-arabia-santo.