Vigilius, Bishop of Tapso

VIGILIO, bishop of TAPSO. — This African bishop (province of Byzacena) took part in the religious dispute that Unnericus had convened in Carthage in 484. Nothing else is known of his life.

He was the author of a work Contra Eutychetem (PL 62, 95–154). Catholic doctrine, says V., keeps the proper middle way between Monophysitism and Nestorianism. The last two books (the work consists of 5 books), a defense of Pope Leo’s epistle ad Flavianum and a defense of the Council of Chalcedon, were added by the author himself (cf. book III, 13). V. Eutyches. In this work V. refers to earlier writings. This concerns the book: Contra Arianos, Sabellianos et Photinianos dialogus, Athanasio, Ario, Sabellio, Photino et Probo iudice interlocutoribus (PL 62, 179–238; a Contra Arianos dialogus: PL 62, 155–86, is only a later excerpt from the preceding book). From the dialogue it is known that V. had previously published two anti-Arian writings (2, 45). One was against the Arian deacon Maribadus, who is known to have stood in favor with King Unnericus (Victor Vit., Hist. persecut. Afric. prov., I, 18), while the other was directed against the Arian bishop Palladius of Rataria (Illyria), who had been the theological adversary of s. Ambrose (Dial., II, 50). These two anti-Arian writings of V. have not been preserved (PL 62, 433–68 is not a work by V.). It cannot be ruled out that Ps. Augustine, Contra Felicianum arianum de unitate Trinitatis (PL 62, 333–52; also PL 42, 1157–72), is a work by V. According to Cassiodorus, an African bishop named V. wrote on the doctrine of the thousand years in the Apocalypse (Instit. div., I, IX). It is unlikely that this author is identical with our V. The name was very widespread. Other writings are wrongly attributed to V., for example, Ps. Athanasius, De Trinitate (PL 62, 237–334), etc.

(phot. Gab. fot. naz.)

VIGILIO, bishop of TRENTO, saint, martyr — Translation of the body of s. V. Embroidery in silk and gold from the 15th century — Trento, Cathedral.