Leontius of Naples

LEONZIO di NEAPOLI. - Bishop of Neapoli in Cyprus, d. about 650. Under the patriarch Giovanni l'Elemosiniere (d. 619), he moved from Cyprus to Alexandria. He was a friend of Giovanni Mosco and of Sofronio, later patriarch of Jerusalem.

At the Seventh Council (787), homilies by him were mentioned, and others are also attributed to him in manuscripts. The question of their authenticity has not yet been clarified. He wrote several biographies of Byzantine saints, the most famous of which is that of Giovanni l'Elemosiniere. There is also the life of S. Simeone Salos, who lived in Syria in the time of Giustiniano, whereas his life of Spiridione di Trimithus (v. P. Heseler, Byzantinisch-neugriechische Jahrbücher, IX, Atene 1933, p. 113 sg) has not survived. Only the reworking by Simeone Metafraste exists. Of his work against the Jews, some fragments remain.

BIBL.: Edition: PG 93, 1559-1748; Leben des hl. Johannes des Barnhertzen, ed. H. Gelzer (Sammlung ausgewählter kirchen- und dogmengesch. Quellenschriften, 5), Friburgo 1893. Studies: A. Ehrhard, in Krumbacher, p. 190 sg.; H. Gelzer, Ein griechischer Volksschriftsteller des 7. Jahrh., in Historische Zeitschrift, nuova serie, 25 (1880), 1 sg.; G. Graf, Geschichte der christ. arabischen Literatur, I, Città del Vaticano 1944, p. 409.

Erik Peterson

Cite this article

“LEONZIO DI NEAPOLI.” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. VII (1951), p. 709. Azione Romana digital edition, https://azioneromana.com/article/leonzio-di-neapoli.