PRIMASIUS. — Bishop of Hadrumetum (Byzacena), who lived in the 6th century and died shortly after 552. In the "Three Chapters" controversy, he followed the conflicting decisions of Pope Vigilius of Rome, first condemning and then accepting the edict of Emperor Justinian on the Three Chapters (544). For this reason he was relegated to a monastery, but was later rewarded, upon his adherence, with the dignity of primate of Byzacena (Victor of Tunnuna, Chron. ad ann. 552, ed. Mommsen, in MGH, Chronica minora, II, p. 203). P. met in Constantinople his fellow-countryman Junilius, who aroused his interest in Greek exegesis.
Thus, through the translation made by Junilius (q.v.) of the biblical introduction by Paul of Nisibis, P. became acquainted with Antiochene exegesis. P. is the author of a commentary on the Apocalypse, which is based on the exegesis of St. Augustine and Tyconius. Alongside Beatus, his work is one of the principal sources for reconstructing the lost commentary of Tyconius (q.v.) on the Apocalypse. P. also completed the work of St. Augustine, De haeresibus (Cassiodorus, Instit. div. litt., 9; Isidore of Seville, De vir. ill., 22), but this work is not preserved.