Auscentius, Bishop Of Durostorum

AUSSENZIO bishop of DUROSTORO. - He lived in Moesia Secunda (Silistria, in Bulgaria) in the fourth century, and was a disciple of Ulfila, the apostle of the Goths, whose life he recounted and whose profession of faith he reported (Epist. Auxentii Durostorensis, in Dissertatio Maximi contra Ambrosium, ed. F. Kauffmann, Aus der Schule des Wulfila, [*Texte und Untersuchungen, 1], Strasbourg 1899). He certainly appears to be identifiable with the Mercurinus mentioned by St Ambrose (Sermo contra Auxentium*, c. 22: PL 16, 1056). Like his master, he professed the Arian formula of Rimini-Constantinople of 360 and the strictest subordinationism. Exiled by Theodosius (383), he came to Milan, to the court of the Arian Justina, mother of Valentinian II. From 384 to 387 he led the small Arian community of that city, which had remained without a head after the death of the first A. He was unable to wrest from Ambrose the Porziana and Nova basilicas (386). He did, however, obtain an edict of liberty for the followers of the formula of Rimini (386). He proposed a public disputation to Ambrose, with two pagans as judges; but the strange proposal was rejected. There is no further mention of him thereafter.