NARCISSO, Arian bishop of NERONIADE. - He was already bishop in 325; in that year he took part in the Synod of Antioch for the election of Bishop Eustazio, but refused to subscribe to the formula of faith against the Arian errors already current.
He also took part in the Council of Nicaea in the same year, where he openly supported Ario and defended him. He was one of the recipients of the letter that Pope Giulio wrote to the Orientals after the Roman Synod of 340, reproaching them for their duplicity and bad faith against St. Atanasio. He attended the Councils of Jerusalem (335) and Antioch (341), and in 342 he headed the delegation sent to Emperor Costante. He was deposed by the Council of Sardica (343), but, protected by Emperor Costanto II, he remained in his see. In 351 he was at the Council of Sirmium against Fotino, and in 356 he consecrated the Arian bishop Giorgio of Alexandria. In 358, together with Patrofilo of Scitopoli, he persuaded Costanto to have the two Councils of Rimini and Seleucia convened separately, in order more effectively to impose Arian doctrine. He seems to have died shortly afterwards.