FIRMILIANO of CAESAREA. — One of the most eminent figures of his time, he was bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia from 230. He maintained cordial relations with Origen, of whom he was a disciple and protector; he condemned with the bishops of the East the Novatian heresy, presided over the First and Second Synods of Antioch (264-266) against Paul of Samosata; he died at Tarsus in Cilicia while traveling to the Third Synod in 268-69.
St. Basil refers to a work (ἀγῶς) in which F. professed the orthodox faith regarding the Holy Spirit (De Spir. S., 39, 74). A history of the persecutions is attributed to him by Moses of Khorene, but the report is of doubtful reliability. He is best known, however, for his role in the controversy over the Baptism of heretics. In a letter, probably from the end of 256, to St. Cyprian—which Cyprian had to translate from the Greek (the 75th of the Cyprianic collection)—he seeks to demonstrate, against Pope Stephen, that he strongly condemns the invalidity of Baptism administered by heretics.