Church Fathers
Patrologia · 388 articles · Principal contributors · All subjects-
Hesychius of Alexandria (ESICHIO DI ALESSANDRIA)
HESYCHIUS OF ALEXANDRIA. - Greek lexicographer, of whom nothing is available but the scanty information contained in the title of his work… -
Hesychius of Jerusalem (ESICHIO DI GERUSALEMME)
HESYCHIUS OF JERUSALEM. - Monk and priest, who filled the first half of the 5th century with his activity as preacher and writer; the dates… -
Hesychius of Miletus (ESICHIO DI MILETO)
HESYCHIUS OF MILETUS. - Also called "Illustris", of c. 550, perhaps a Christian, author of a Universal History, with additions down to the… -
Hieraca (IERACA)
HIERACAS. - An ascetic in Egypt (near Leontopolis), who lived in the 3rd century. The principal source of current knowledge is Epiphanius… -
Hilarianus (ILARIANO)
HILARIANUS. - Bishop in Africa Proconsularis, who published in the year 397 two writings: De ratione Paschae et mensis and De cursu… -
Hilary of Arles (ILARIO DI ARLES)
HILARY OF ARLES. - Monk of Lérins, semi-Pelagian, d. 444. Metropolitan of Arles, he came into conflict with Pope Leo the Great (L.… -
Hilary of Poitiers (ILARIO DI POITIERS)
HILARY OF POITIERS. - Born between 310 and 320 at Poitiers into a noble pagan family. After a restless wandering among pagan philosophies… -
Hilary of Rome (ILARIO DI ROMA)
HILARY OF ROME. - Deacon, adherent of Lucifer of Cagliari. According to St. Jerome (Altercatio Luciferiani, 27) he published "libellos de… -
Honoratus of Lérins (ONORATO DI LÉRINS)
HONORATUS OF LÉRINS. - Monk, b. toward the end of the 4th century, d. at Arles in 429. Returning from a journey to the East, undertaken… -
Ibas (Hibā)
IBAS (Hibā). - Bishop of Edessa, d. 28 Oct. 457. He was head of the school of Edessa (v.) under Bishop Rabbūlā, together with whom he… -
Idacius (IDACIO)
IDACIUS. - Chronicler, b. at Lemica, in Galicia (today Jinzo de Lima, in Portugal), ca. 395, d. ca. 468. Bishop of Aquae Flaviae (today… -
Ildefonsus Of Toledo, Saint (ILDEFONSO DA TOLEDO, SANTO)
ILDEFONSUS OF TOLEDO, Saint. - Archbishop of Toledo, b. at Toledo in 617, d. there on 23 January 667. He was called El Capellán de la… -
Innocent I, Pope, Saint (INNOCENZO I, PAPA, SANTO)
INNOCENT I, Pope, Saint. - According to the Liber Pontificalis he was a native of Albano, and he succeeded Pope Anastasius I in 401. His… -
Irenaeus, Saint (IRENEO, SANTO)
IRENAEUS, Saint. - Bishop of Lyon, b. ca. 135-40, d. ca. 200; feast on 28 June. I. LIFE. - The historically certain data of the life of St.… -
Isaac of Amida (ISACCO DI AMIDA)
ISAAC OF AMIDA. - Syriac writer of the 4th or 5th century, of whom it is not known whether he is the same as Isaac of Antioch or different… -
Isaac of Antioch (ISACCO DI ANTIOCHIA)
ISAAC OF ANTIOCH. - Also called the Great, who according to some would be identical with Isaac of Amida. It is known from Gennadius that he… -
Isaac of Edessa (ISACCO DI EDESSA)
ISAAC OF EDESSA. - According to James of Edessa there would be two I. of E., one a Monophysite of the second half of the 5th century and… -
Isaac of Nineveh (ISACCO DI NINIVE)
ISAAC OF NINEVEH. - Syriac spiritual author of the 7th century, born at Bēth Qatrāyē and later consecrated bishop of Nineveh by the… -
Isidore of Pelusium, Saint (ISIDORO DI PELUSIO, SANTO)
ISIDORE OF PELUSIUM, Saint. - Ecclesiastical writer, born, according to a notice reported by Photius, in Alexandria in the 2nd half of the… -
ISIDORE THE GNOSTIC (ISIDORO GNOSTICO)
ISIDORE THE GNOSTIC. - Son and disciple of Basilides. He wrote the following books: On the Growing Soul (Περὶ προφανῶς ψυχῆς; cf. Clement… -
Istanzio
ISTANZIO. - Among the disciples of Priscillian, the bishop I. deserves special attention because the 11 treatises discovered by G. Schepss… -
Iwannis, Metropolitan of Dara (Syria) (IWANNIS, METROPOLITA DI DĀRĀ (SIRIA))
IWANNIS, Metropolitan of Dara (Syria). - Syriac Monophysite writer, who lived in the 9th century. Most of his works are still unpublished.… -
James of Serug (Sarug) (GIACOMO DI SÉRUG (SARUG))
JAMES OF SERUG (Sarug). - Monophysite bishop of Baṭnā near Edessa, b. ca. 451 at Kürtām on the Euphrates, and d. at Baṭnā in 520-21.… -
John of Biclaro (GIOVANNI DI BICLARO)
JOHN OF BICLARO. - Of Gothic parents, but Catholic, born ca. 540 at Scallabis in Lusitania. He was exiled from Barcelona by Leovigild for… -
John of Carpatho (GIOVANNI DI CARPATO)
JOHN OF CARPATHO. - Probably a bishop in the 7th century. A collection of Capita hortatoria for the monks in India is attributed to him (PG… -
John of Damascus, Saint (GIOVANNI DAMASCENO, SANTO)
JOHN OF DAMASCUS, Saint. - Doctor of the Church. SUMMARY: I. Life. - II. Works. - III. Doctrine. - IV. Influence. I. LIFE. - It is known… -
John of Euboea (GIOVANNI DI EUBEA)
JOHN OF EUBOEA. - Presbyter and bishop, it is not known whether of a bishopric on the island of Euboea or of another place, probably of the… -
John of Maiuma (GIOVANNI DI MAIUMA)
JOHN OF MAIUMA. - He wrote around 515 the Plerophoriai, a collection of anecdotes, prophecies and visions of the Monophysites in their… -
John of Tellá (Bar Kûrsős) (GIOVANNI DI TELLÁ (BAR KŮRSŐS))
JOHN OF TELLÁ (BAR KÛRSŐS). - Monophysite writer (483-558). He became a monk after having been a soldier. Consecrated bishop of Tellá in… -
John, Patriarch of Antioch (GIOVANNI, PATRIARCA DI ANTIOCHIA)
JOHN, Patriarch of Antioch. - Died in 441-42. Educated in the Christian religion from childhood, he acquired a great knowledge of theology… -
Julian of Eclanum (GIULIANO DI ECLANO)
JULIAN OF ECLANUM. - So called from his episcopal see (now vanished; ruins near present-day Mirabella Eclano, east of Benevento), he was… -
Junilius Africanus (GIUNILIO AFRICANO)
JUNILIUS AFRICANUS. - Writer, d. 248-49. His real name is Junilius (Iunillus): cf. Procopius, Anecd., 20, 17. He was quaestor sacri palatii… -
Justin, Saint, Martyr (GIUSTINO, SANTO, MARTIRE)
JUSTIN, Saint, Martyr. - Apologist and philosopher, d. ca. 165. SUMMARY: I. Life. - II. Works. - III. Thought. I. LIFE. - St. J. himself… -
Justus of Urgell (GIUSTO DI URGEL)
JUSTUS OF URGELL. - Flourished around 546, a prominent figure at the Councils of Lerida and Valencia of 546. According to the testimony of… -
La Bigne, Marguerin de
LA BIGNE, MARGUERIN de. - Patrologist, b. in 1546 or 1547 at Bernières-le-Patry (Normandy), d. in Paris in 1589. He studied theology at… -
Lactantius (LATTANZIO)
LACTANTIUS. - Christian writer (3rd-4th century). I. Life. - The sources for L.'s life are certain passages of his works, especially Inst.,… -
Laudes Domini
LAUDES DOMINI. - Anonymous short poem from the beginning of the 4th century, the work of a rhetorician of Flavia Aeduorum (= Autun) who in… -
Leandro of Seville, Saint (LEANDRO DI SIVIGLIA, SANTO)
LEANDRO OF SEVILLE, Saint. - Born in Cartagena, to a Roman family, before 549, died in Seville on 13 March 600 or 601. First a Benedictine… -
Leontius (LEONZIO)
LEONTIUS. - Armenian priest and historian who lived in the period 725-90, author of the History of the Apparition of Muhammad, written at… -
Leontius of Byzantium (LEONZIO DI BISANZIO)
LEONTIUS OF BYZANTIUM. - Anti-monophysite theologian of the 6th century. Almost nothing is known of his life. He is not the same as the… -
Liberatus, Deacon of Carthage (LIBERATO, DIACONO DI CARTAGINE)
LIBERATUS, Deacon of Carthage. - Famous for his Breviarium causae Nestorianorum Eutychianorum. In 535 he was a member of an African embassy… -
Liber Generationis
LIBER GENERATIONIS. - A Latin chronicle, with data taken from Sacred Scripture; a list of rulers, ending in the year 234. Mommsen… -
Liciniano of Cartagena (LICINIANO DI CARTAGENA)
LICINIANO of CARTAGENA. - He flourished in the years 582-602. According to the scanty information gathered from St. Isidore and from the… -
Lucian of Antioch, Saint (LUCIANO DI ANTIOCHIA, SANTO)
LUCIAN OF ANTIOCH, Saint. - Priest of the Church of Antioch, killed out of hatred of the faith at Nicomedia on 7 January 312. The sources… -
Lucifer of Cagliari (LUCIFERO DI CAGLIARI)
LUCIFER OF CAGLIARI. - Bishop of Cagliari, died according to St. Jerome (De viris ill., 95) around 370-71. Nothing is known of his life and… -
Lucius Destro, Pseudo (LUCIO DESTRO, PSEUDO)
LUCIUS DESTRO, PSEUDO. - The Chronicum Flavii Lucii Dextri, published by the Spaniard Hieronymus Romanus de la Higuera (d. 1619), for the… -
Macarius of Alexandria (MACARIO D'ALESSANDRIA)
MACARIUS OF ALEXANDRIA. - C. Butler (The Lausiac history of Palladius, II [Texts and Studies, 6, 11], Cambridge 1904, p. 193 ff.) has… -
Macarius of Magnesia (MACARIO DI MAGNESIA)
MACARIUS OF MAGNESIA. - At the "Synod of the Oak" (403) a bishop M. of Magnesia accused Heraclides of Ephesus, a friend of St. John… -
Macarius the Great (MACARIO IL GRANDE)
MACARIUS THE GREAT. - Also called the Egyptian or the Elder. Palladius speaks of him (Hist. Laus., 17; ed. C. Butler, I, Cambridge 1899,… -
Malchione
MALCHIONE. - According to Eusebius (Hist. eccl., VII, 29, 2), he was head of the school of Greek rhetoric and grammar at Antioch.… -
Mannucci, Ubaldo
MANNUCCI, UBALDO. - Patrologist and canonist, b. at Montagano (Campobasso) on 8 Nov. 1883, d. at Rome on 20 May 1935. He studied at the… -
Mar Aba I (MĀR ĀBĀ I)
MAR ABA I. - Nestorian patriarch, b. at Ḥālè near the Tigris, ordained at the beginning of 540 and d. 29 February 552. Converted to… -
Maran, Prudence
MARAN, PRUDENCE. - Benedictine patrologist and theologian of the Congregation of St. Maur, b. at Sézanne (Marne) on 14 Oct. 1683, d. at… -
Marcellino, Count (MARCELLINO, CONTE)
MARCELLINO, COUNT. - Born into a noble family in Illyria, chancellor of the heir apparent Justinian under the emperor Justin I (518-27). In… -
Marcellinus, Priest (MARCELLINO, PRETE)
MARCELLINUS, PRIEST. - Together with Faustinus he wrote the so-called Libellus precum. The original title is De confessione verae fidei,… -
Marcellus of Ancyra (MARCELLO DI ANCIRA)
MARCELLUS OF ANCYRA. - Bishop of Ancyra (Ankara), d. c. 374, known in the history of the 4th century for having, in the struggle against… -
Marcion, Heretic (MARCIONE, ERETICO)
MARCION, HERETIC. - Born in Pontus ca. 85, died in Rome in the second half of the 2nd century. Nothing certain is known about his private… -
Mario D'Aventicum (Di Losanna)
MARIO D'AVENTICUM (DI LOSANNA). - Bishop of Avenches (western Switzerland) from 574 to 594, he transferred his episcopal see to Lausanne… -
Mario Vittore, Claudio
MARIO VITTORE, CLAUDIO. - Ecclesiastical writer who lived in the 5th century, author of the work Alethia, identical with the Victorinus (in… -
Mark the Hermit (MARCO L'EREMITA)
MARK THE HERMIT. - Ascetic and dogmatic writer. Photius (Bibl., cod. 200) knew nine writings by M., not to mention his person. Nicephorus… -
Martianay, Jean
MARTIANAY, JEAN. - Benedictine exegete and patrologist, b. at St-Sever-Cap (Gascony) on 30 Dec. 1647, d. at St-Germain-des-Près (Paris) on… -
Martin of Braga, Saint (MARTINO DI BRAGA, SANTO)
MARTIN OF BRAGA, Saint. - He lived between c. 515 and 580, a native of Pannonia and a monk in Palestine. Having moved to Galicia, he… -
Maruthas, Bishop of Martyropolis (Majferqat), Saint (MĂRŪTĂ, VESCOVO DI MARTIROPOLIS (MAJFERQAT), SANTO)
MARUTHAS, Bishop of Martyropolis (Majferqat), Saint. - Born around the middle of the 4th century to the prefect of the province of Sophene,… -
Massenzio, Giovanni
MASSENZIO, GIOVANNI. - Among the anti-Monophysite monks of Tomi (province of Scythia) who appeared in 519 at Rome and Constantinople,… -
Maurists (Maurini) (MAURINI (MAURISTI))
MAURISTS (MAURINI). - This name was given to the Benedictines of the French Congregation of St. Maur, which arose between the end of the… -
Maximin, Bishop of the Goths (MASSIMINO, VESCOVO DEI GOTTI)
MAXIMIN, Bishop of the Goths. - He lived at the end of the 4th century and the beginning of the 5th; of origin, as it seems, Danubian. A… -
Maximus the Confessor, Saint (MASSIMO IL CONFESSORE, SANTO)
MAXIMUS THE CONFESSOR, Saint. - Born in Constantinople in 580, died in exile on 13 Aug. 662. He is also called Maximus of Chrysopolis, from… -
Melito of Sardis (MELITONE DI SARDI)
MELITO OF SARDIS. - Polycrates of Ephesus, in a letter to Pope Victor, names M. among "the great luminaries" of the Church in Asia Minor,… -
Methodius of Olympus, Saint (METODIO DI OLIMPO, SANTO)
METHODIUS OF OLYMPUS, Saint. - Of his person and his life it can be said with certainty only that he lived in Lycia and that he died a… -
Migne, Jacques-Paul
MIGNE, JACQUES-PAUL. - Priest, b. at St-Flour (Auvergne) on 25 Oct. 1800, d. at Paris on 24 Oct. 1875. Ordained in 1824, he was first a… -
Miltiades (MILZIADE)
MILTIADES. - Christian writer of the 2nd century from Asia Minor. Literary opponent of the Valentinians (Tertullian, Adv., 5) and of the… -
Mingarelli, Giovanni Luigi
MINGARELLI, GIOVANNI LUIGI. - Orientalist and patrologist, b. at Grizzana (Bologna) on 27 Feb. 1722 and d. at Bologna on 10 March 1793. He… -
Modestus of Jerusalem (MODESTO DI GERUSALEMME)
MODESTUS OF JERUSALEM. - Patriarch of Jerusalem, d. 634. Rebuilder of the holy places in Jerusalem after the Persian invasion (614).… -
Montfaucon, Bernard de
MONTFAUCON, BERNARD de. - Born on January 16, 1655 in southern France, of a noble family, he served as a soldier in 1672 in Turenne's… -
Moricca, Umberto
MORICCA, UMBERTO. - Professor of Latin language and literature; descended from a noble family of Tropea, born at Filandari (Catanzaro) on… -
Morin, Léopold-Germain
MORIN, LÉOPOLD-GERMAIN. - Benedictine, b. at Caen (Normandy) on 16 Nov. 1861, d. at Orselina "al Sasso" (Locarno) on 12 Feb. 1946. He… -
Moses of Khoren (of Corene) detto anche Khoranatsi (MOSÈ DI KHOREN (DI CORENE) DETTO ANCHE KHORANATSI)
MOSES OF KHOREN (of Corene) detto anche Khoranatsi. - Famous Armenian historian, author of a monumental Armenian History divided into three… -
Muratorian Canon (MURATORIANO, CANONE)
MURATORIAN CANON. - Fragment discovered by L. A. Muratori in a Latin codex of the 8th century, coming from Bobbio, preserved in the… -
Narsai the Leper (NARSAJ IL LEBBROSO)
NARSAI THE LEPER. - Syriac Nestorian writer, b. ca. 410 at 'Ajn Dulbà, d. shortly after 503. He taught for a long time in the catechetical… -
Nau, François-Nicolas
NAU, FRANÇOIS-NICOLAS. - Noted French orientalist, b. at Thil (Moselle) on 15 May 1864, d. at Paris on 2 Sept. 1931. Having received the… -
Nemesius, Bishop of Emesa (NEMESIO, VESCOVO DI EMESA)
NEMESIUS, Bishop of Emesa. - He lived in the 4th-5th century; author of a book De natura hominis, of Neoplatonic inspiration (Porphyry is… -
Nestorius and Nestorianism (NESTORIO E NESTORIANESIMO)
NESTORIUS AND NESTORIANISM. - I. LIFE OF N. - Little is known of N. before his episcopate at Constantinople, because legend has embroidered… -
Nicetas of Remesiana (NICETA DI REMESIANA)
NICETAS OF REMESIANA. - So called from the city to the east of Niš in Serbia. Bishop and friend of Paulinus of Nola (v. P. Fabre, St Paulin… -
Nicetas the Byzantine (NICETA BIZANTINO)
BYZANTINE NICETAS - Refutatio epistolae regis Armeniae, copied by Emanuel Greco (16th century) - Vatican Library, cod. Vat. gr. 388, f.… -
Nilus the Ascetic (of Ancyra), Saint (NILO L'ASCETA (D'ANCIRA), SANTO)
NILUS THE ASCETIC (of Ancyra), Saint. - Writer on ascetic subjects from the early 5th century. Leo Allatius lists 21 writers of this name;… -
Odes of Solomon (ODI DI SALOMONE)
ODES OF SOLOMON. - This is the title of 42 hymns written in Greek in the 2nd century and inspired by a very hazy mysticism. The very lack… -
Olympiodorus (OLIMPIODORO)
OLYMPIODORUS. - Deacon of Alexandria, a contemporary of Procopius of Gaza (6th century); he wrote commentaries on the Old Testament,… -
Optatus of Milevi in Numidia (Optatus Miletianus), Saint (OTTATO DI MILEVI IN NUMIDIA (OPTATUS MILETIANUS), SANTO)
OPTATUS OF MILEVI IN NUMIDIA (Optatus Miletianus), Saint. - Bishop of this city, in the 4th century, known for his polemical work against… -
Orienzio (ORIEZIO)
ORIENZIO. - A poet of Gaul (Aquitaine) from the first half of the 5th century, probably identical with St. Orens, bishop of Auch. Shortly… -
Origen and Origenism (ORIGENE E ORIGENISMO)
ORIGEN AND ORIGENISM. - Ecclesiastical writer, b. ca. 185 in Egypt, probably at Alexandria, d. 253-54 at Tyre. I. LIFE. - Born into a… -
Orosius, Paul (OROSIO, PAOLO)
OROSIUS, PAUL. - Spanish priest from Braga, in ancient Galicia (Braulio, Epist., 44), a disciple of Augustine, "of practiced intellect,… -
Ossius (Ossius) of Córdoba (OSIO (OSSIUS) DI CORDOVA)
OSSIUS (Ossius) of Córdoba. - B. ca. 257, d. ca. 358. He appears for the first time at the Council of Elvira (ca. 300), bishop of Cordova… -
Ottaziano, Porfirio
OTTAZIANO, PORFIRIO. - When the emperor Constantine celebrated the vicennalia in 325, he received as a gift from an exile, Publius… -
Pacomius, Saint (PACOMIO, SANTO)
PACOMIUS, Saint. - I. LIFE. - Founder of cenobitism, born in the Upper Thebaid to pagan parents around 290-92. A soldier at Esneh, he came… -
Palladius, Bishop of Helenopolis (PALLADIO, VESCOVO DI ELENOPOLI)
PALLADIUS, Bishop of Helenopolis. - Born in Galatia, he lived as a disciple of Evagrius Ponticus in Egypt and Palestine and became bishop… -
Pamphilus, Saint (PANFILO, SANTO)
PAMPHILUS, Saint. - Born in Berytus (Phoenicia), a disciple of Pierius of Alexandria, presbyter in Caesarea, died a martyr on 16 February… -
Pantenus (PANTENO)
PANTENUS. - Eusebius (Hist. eccl., V, 10) relates that, in the time of Commodus, P. was the head of the school for biblical studies at… -
Papias Of Hierapolis (PAPIA DI GERAPOLI)
PAPIAS OF HIERAPOLIS. - Lived around 130; author of a work in 5 books that also bore the title: 5 books of exposition of the words of the… -
Parmenian (PARMENIANO)
PARMENIAN. - Donatist bishop of Carthage. St. Optatus (I, 5; III, 3) calls him a "foreigner" (peregrinus) and therefore not well informed… -
Patrology And Patristics (PATROLOGIA E PATRISTICA)
PATROLOGY AND PATRISTICS. — Terms of Protestant origin. In 17th-century Lutheran theology people began to speak of a "theologia patristica"… -
Paulinus, Bishop of Béziers (PAOLINO, VESCOVO DI BÉZIERS)
PAULINUS, Bishop of Béziers. - He occupied the see of this city in the first quarter of the 5th century (cf. L. Duchesne, Fastes épiscopaux… -
Petau (Petavius), Denys
PETAU (Petavius), Denys. - Jesuit, theologian and patrologist, b. at Orléans on 21 Aug. 1583, d. at Paris on 11 Dec. 1652. At the age of 16… -
Peter Chrysologus, Saint (PIETRO CRISOLOGO, SANTO)
PETER CHRYSOLOGUS, Saint. - Bishop of Ravenna from 425 to about 451. Doctor of the Church. I. LIFE. - Agnellus (Liber Pontif. Ecclesiae… -
Peter of Alexandria, Martyr (PIETRO D'ALESSANDRIA, MARTIRE)
PETER OF ALEXANDRIA, Martyr. - Head of the catechetical school of Alexandria, he became bishop of that city in 300. His flight during the… -
Petilianus (PETILIANO)
PETILIANUS. - Donatist bishop of Cirta (Constantine); he was a Catholic catechumen; but it is perhaps excessive to interpret the abreptum… -
Philip of Side (FILIPPO DI SIDE)
PHILIP OF SIDE. - Christian historian of the 5th century, born at Side, in Pamphylia. There he was a disciple of Rhodon, and later the… -
Philo Of Carpasia (FILONE DI CARPASIA)
PHILO OF CARPASIA. - From Carpasium, in Cyprus, or from Carpathos, an island between Crete and Rhodes, he lived in the first half of the… -
Philoponus, John (FILOPONO, GIOVANNI)
PHILOPONUS, JOHN. - Monophysite philosopher and theologian of the 6th century, also called John the Grammarian, b. in Alexandria toward the… -
Philoxenus Of Mabbug (FILOSSENO DI MABBÙG)
PHILOXENUS OF MABBUG. - Syriac Monophysite theologian of the 5th-6th centuries. A native of Persia, he studied at the school of the… -
Physiologus
PHYSIOLOGUS. - Name of a Christian work that gives an allegorical interpretation of the facts (or supposed facts) of the life of animals… -
Pierio
PIERIO. - Presbyter in Alexandria, d. ca. 300. Head of the catechetical school. His place in the succession of teachers is not clear. It is… -
Pionius (PIONIO)
PIONIUS. - He suffered martyrdom at Smyrna on the day of the feast (natale) of Polycarp, according to the Martyrdom of P. in the… -
Pisides, George (Γεώργιος ὁ Πισίδης) (PISIDES, GIORGIO (ΓΕΏΡΓΙΟΣ Ὁ ΠΙΣΊΔΗΣ))
PISIDES, George (Γεώργιος ὁ Πισίδης). - A native of Pisidia, deacon and skeuophylax of Hagia Sophia, he lived under the emperor Heraclius… -
Pistis Sophia
PISTIS SOPHIA. - It is the title given by Schwartz to a Gnostic writing of the 3rd century in the Coptic language, contained in the Codex… -
Pitra, Jean-Baptiste
PITRA, JEAN-BAPTISTE. - Benedictine, cardinal, librarian of the Holy Roman Church, b. at Champforgeuil (dept. of Saône-et-Loire) on 1 Aug.… -
Polycrates of Ephesus (POLICRATE DI EFESO)
POLYCRATES OF EPHESUS. - In a letter of reply to Pope Victor (189-99) and to the Church of Rome, he defended the Quartodeciman tradition of… -
Polycronius (POLICRONIO)
POLYCRONIUS. - Bishop of Apamea in Syria, d. c. 430. He was the brother of Theodore of Mopsuestia and by Theodoret, who indeed ends his… -
Pomerio, Giuliano
POMERIO, GIULIANO. - Priest, orator, born in Mauritania; around the middle of the 5th century he moved to Gaul (Gennadius, De viris… -
Ponzio
PONZIO. - Biographer of St. Cyprian. About thirty manuscripts have handed down a writing that narrates the life of St. Cyprian from his… -
Possidius, Saint (POSSIDIO, SANTO)
POSSIDIUS, Saint. - Biographer of St. Augustine, he was among the first disciples who gathered around the Saint in the monastery founded by… -
Potamius (POTAMIO)
POTAMIUS. - First bishop of Lisbon, d. 360. As with Priscillian, there is a critical disagreement over P.'s literary personality between… -
Praedestinatus
PRAEDESTINATUS. - An anonymous and untitled work, to which the first editor, J. Sirmond, gave this title. The first book combats 90… -
Primasius (PRIMASIO)
PRIMASIUS. - Bishop of Hadrumetum (Byzacena), who lived in the 6th century and died shortly after 552. In the "Three Chapters controversy"… -
Proba
PROBA. - Poetess, daughter of the consul Petronius Probianus (322) and wife of the praefectus urbi Adelius (351), she introduced into… -
Procopius of Gaza (PROCOPIO DI GAZA)
PROCOPIUS OF GAZA. - A notable representative of the Christian school of Gaza, d. ca. 530; author of great biblical commentaries in the… -
Prosper of Aquitaine (PROSPERO DI AQUITANIA)
PROSPER OF AQUITAINE. - Gallo-Roman theologian, b. at the end of the 4th century, d. around 455. Around 426 he composed his Carmen de… -
Pseudo-Egesippus (EGESIPPO, PSEUDO)
PSEUDO-EGESIPPUS. - Under the name of E. there is handed down a very free translation of the Jewish War of Flavius Josephus, written in the… -
Quadratus, Apologist (QUADRATO, APOLOGISTA)
QUADRATUS, APOLOGIST. - Eusebius (Hist. eccl., IV, 23, 3) knows through Dionysius of Corinth a bishop Q. of Athens, successor of the bishop… -
Quicumque Vult
«QUICUMQUE VULT». - A creed that entered the Roman Breviary under the name of the Athanasian Creed, because for some time it was held to be… -
Quodvultdeus
QUODVULTDEUS. - Friend and disciple of St. Augustine, to whom he suggested the composition of the book De haeresibus. Elected archbishop of… -
Rabbūlâ (RABBÛLÂ)
RABBŪLÂ. - Syrian bishop of Edessa, b. at Berea near Antioch in the second half of the 4th century, elected bishop ca. 415 and d. on 7 Aug.… -
Ratramnus of Corbie (RATRAMNO DI CORBIE)
RATRAMNUS of CORBIE. - Benedictine theologian, the Body and Blood of Christ, indeed he sometimes states expressly that the substance of the… -
Renaudot, Eusèbe
RENAUDOT, EUSÈBE. - Born in Paris on 22 July 1648, died there on 1 September 1720; orientalist, liturgist, journalist. R. entered the… -
Rufinus Turranius (RUFINO TURANNIO)
RUFINUS TURRANIUS. - Ecclesiastical writer, b. at Concordia in eastern Venetia ca. 345 from the Turannia family, of which local records… -
Rupert of Deutz (Rupertus Tuitiensis) (RUPERTO DI DEUTZ (RUPERTUS TUITIENSIS))
RUPERT OF DEUTZ (Rupertus Tuitiensis). - Benedictine theologian and abbot, b. at Liège ca. 1075, d. at Deutz in 1130. A monk at St.… -
Rusticus Romanus (RUSTICO ROMANO)
ROMAN RUSTIC. - Deacon, nephew of Pope Vigilius, exiled by the Emperor after the Council of 553. Opponent of the condemnation of the Three… -
Sahak (Isaac) I, the Great (SAHAK (ISAAC) I, IL GRANDE)
SAHAK (Isaac) I, the Great. - Famous Armenian katholikos, b. around the middle of the 4th century and d. probably on 7 September 439. He… -
Salonius of Geneva (SALONIO DI GINEVRA)
SALONIUS OF GENEVA. - Son of Eucherius of Lyon, brother of Veranius (bishop of Vence), St. became bishop of Geneva before 439. He wrote an… -
Salvian of Marseille (SALVIANO DI MARSIGLIA)
SALVIAN OF MARSEILLE. - Christian writer, b. around 400. After a few years of marriage, he entered the monastery of Lérins (425); having… -
Satornilo (Saturninus)
SATORNILO (Saturninus). - Gnostic of Antioch, a contemporary of Basilides. According to his doctrine the world was created by seven angels… -
Schram(m), Dominikus
SCHRAM(M), DOMINIKUS. - Benedictine theologian, b. in Bamberg on 24 Oct. 1722, d. at Banz on 21 Sept. 1797. He made his profession (1743)… -
Scitopolis, John of (GIOVANNI DI SCITOPOLI)
SCITOPOLIS, John of. - Bishop of the 6th century. The first commentator on the pseudo-Areopagitic works. He wrote around 530 against… -
Sedulius (SEDULIO)
SEDULIUS. - The place of birth and the period in which St. Sedulius (Caelius or Coelius Sedulius) lived are uncertain. From the… -
Seert, Chronicle of (SEERT, CRONACA DI)
SEERT, Chronicle of. - This is the name given by its editor A. Scher to an ancient chronicle written by a Nestorian in Arabic, probably in… -
Severian (SEVERIANO)
SEVERIANO. - Bishop of Gabala, d. after 408, was one of the principal enemies of John Chrysostom (Socrates, Hist. eccl., VI, 11; Sozomen,… -
Severus of Antioch (SEVERO DI ANTIOCHIA)
SEVERUS OF ANTIOCH. - Leader of the Monophysite movement of the 6th century, b. at Sozopolis in Pisidia around 465, d. at Xois (Egypt) in… -
Severus of Minorca (SEVERO DI MINORCA)
SEVERUS OF MINORCA. - Bishop. Around 417 he wrote an encyclical letter "ad omnem ecclesiam": De virtutibus ad Iudaeorum conversionem in… -
Sextus Julius Africanus (SESTO GIULIO AFRICANO)
SEXTUS JULIUS AFRICANUS. - It is very uncertain whether this figure had the praenomen of Sextus, which is attributed to him on the basis of… -
Sextus, Sentences of (SESTO, SENTENZE DI)
SEXTUS, Sentences of. - A collection of sentences that goes under the name of S. The author is mentioned for the first time by Origen… -
Sirmond, Jacques
SIRMOND, JACQUES. - Patrologist, b. at Riom (Puy-de-Dôme) on 12 Oct. 1559, d. at Paris on 7 Oct. 1651. Having entered the Society of Jesus… -
Sophronius (SOFRONIO)
SOPHRONIUS. - According to St. Jerome (De vir. illustr., 134), a certain S. wrote in his youth Laudes Bethlehem; later a book on the… -
Sophronius of Jerusalem, Saint (SOFRONIO DI GERUSALEMME, SANTO)
SOPHRONIUS OF JERUSALEM, Saint. - B. in Damascus ca. 560, d. in Jerusalem on 11 March 638. A monk in Jerusalem, he accompanied John Moschus… -
Sozomen (SOZOMENO)
SOZOMEN. - Salamanes Hermias, according to Photius (Bibl., 30). Ecclesiastical historian, born into a Christian family in the village of… -
Stephen Gobard (STEFANO GOBARDO)
STEPHEN GOBARD. - Tritheist (Monophysite), in the 6th century he wrote a book in 52 chapters (with an appendix) on controversial… -
Sulpicius Severus (SULPICIO SEVERO)
SULPICIUS SEVERUS. - Ecclesiastical writer of southern Gaul, b. in Aquitania ca. 360, d. at Primillac ca. 420. Of a noble family… -
Synesius (SINESIO)
SYNESIUS. - Born ca. 370 in the Pentapolis of Cyrenaica, died in 413, he came from an old family of Greek large landowners, who boasted of… -
Taione, Bishop of Saragossa (TAIONE, VESCOVO DI SARAGOZZA)
TAIONE, Bishop of Saragossa. - Immediate successor of St. Braulio (d. 651). His life unfolds throughout the 7th century. He took part in… -
Taziano
TAZIANO. - "Christian apologist" of the 2nd century. Very little is known of his life. He himself tells us that he was born "in the land of… -
Tertullian (TERTULLIANO)
TERTULLIAN. - Apologist and polemicist, who lived in Carthage between c. 160 and 220. He is one of the most prominent figures of Christian… -
Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur (TEXTE UND UNTERSUCHUNGEN ZUR GESCHICHTE DER ALTSCHRISTLICHEN LITERATUR)
TEXTE UND UNTERSUCHUNGEN ZUR GESCHICHTE DER ALTCHRISTLICHEN LITERATUR. - A series of texts relating to the history of ancient Christian… -
Theodore Bar Kônî (TEODORO BAR KŌNĪ)
THEODORE BAR KÔNÎ. - Nestorian writer of the 8th century, a native of Kāškat, not to be confused with Theodore, bishop of Lāšōm. He was… -
Theodore, Bishop of Mopsuestia (TEODORO, VESCOVO DI MOPSUESTIA)
THEODORE, Bishop of Mopsuestia. - Bishop of Mopsuestia in Cilicia (Asia Minor) from 392 to 428, the principal representative of the… -
Theodore of Raithu (TEODORO DI RAITHU)
THEODORE OF RAITHU. - Monk in the convent of that important port which was Raithu, in the Sinai peninsula, on the Gulf of Suez. Between 537… -
Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus (TEODORETO, VESCOVO DI CIRO)
THEODORET, Bishop of Cyrrhus. - Born around 393 in Antioch, into a wealthy family, and educated in monastic schools, he died in 458. After… -
Theodore the Reader (TEODORO IL LETTORE)
THEODORE THE READER. - So surnamed from his function as lector in the church of St. Sophia in Constantinople: he lived in the 6th century.… -
Theodulus, Presbyter in Celesiria (TEODULO, PRESBITERO IN CELESIRIA)
THEODULUS, Presbyter in Celesiria. - He wrote in the times of the emperor Zeno (474-91), according to Gennadius, De viris ill., ch. 91… -
Theognostus of Alexandria (TEOGNOSTO DI ALESSANDRIA)
THEOGNOSTUS OF ALEXANDRIA. - Writer of the catechetical school of Alexandria, in the second half of the 3rd century, probably earlier than… -
Theona, Saint (TEONA, SANTO)
THEONA, Saint. - Patriarch of Alexandria, he succeeded Maximus; he governed for 19 years from 281 to c. 300. The Arabic-Jacobite… -
Theophanes the Confessor (TEOFANE CHERAMEO)
THEOPHANES THE CONFESSOR. - Under the name of T. we have the most extensive collection of Greek homilies of the Middle Ages. Some bear the… -
Theophilus, Bishop of Antioch (TEOFILO, VESCOVO DI ANTIOCHIA)
THEOPHILUS, Bishop of Antioch. - Little information is available about T.'s biography. The year of his birth, which took place near the… -
Ticonius (TICONIO)
TICONIUS. - Donatist writer, though excommunicated by his own, d. ca. 400. He had written: De bello intestino libri tres and Expositiones… -
Timothy of Constantinople (TIMOTEO DI COSTANTINOPOLI)
TIMOTHY OF CONSTANTINOPLE. - Priest and treasurer of the church of Hagia Sophia. He wrote between the 6th and 7th centuries, under the… -
Timothy of Jerusalem (TIMOTEO DI GERUSALEMME)
TIMOTHY OF JERUSALEM. - Fictitious name of a Byzantine sacred orator. To T., a presbyter of Jerusalem, there is attributed in some… -
Titus of Bostra (TITO DI BOSTRA)
TITUS OF BOSTRA. - Died before 378, author of a work in 4 books against the Manichaeans, preserved completely in Syriac and in part in… -
Ubaldi, Paolo
UBALDI, PAOLO. - Born in Parma on 30 August 1872, died in Milan on 22 July 1934. Orphaned and taken in at the age of ten by Don Bosco (v.… -
Valerian of Cimela (VALERIANO DI CEMELE)
VALERIAN OF CIMELA. - Bishop of Cimiez, near Nice. He took part in the Councils of Riez (439) and of Vaison (452) and defended, against… -
Vallarsi, Domenico
VALLARSI, DOMENICO. - Priest and scholar, b. in Verona on 13 Nov. 1702, d. there on 14 Aug. 1771. His principal work is the edition of the… -
Verecondo
VERECONDO. - Bishop of Junca in the African province of Byzacena, flourished in the 6th century, died at Chalcedon in the hospice of St.… -
Victor, Bishop of Cartenna (VITTORIO VESCOVO DI CARTENNA)
VICTOR, Bishop of Cartenna. - Flourished in the middle of the 5th century in Mauretania. According to Gennadius, he wrote homilies, a… -
Victor of Antioch (VITTORE DI ANTIOCHIA)
VICTOR OF ANTIOCH. - There exists in many Greek manuscripts a commentary on the Gospel of Mark that is attributed to a certain V. of A.,… -
Victor of Capua (VITTORE DI CAPUA)
VICTOR OF CAPUA. - Bishop from 541-54 (see his tombstone in CIL, X, 4503). He wrote, against Victor of Aquitaine, De cyclo paschali, of… -
Vigilantius (VIGILANZIO)
VIGILANTIUS. - A Gallic priest, b. at Calagurris at the foot of the Pyrenees, d. after 406. In the year 394-95 he went with a letter from… -
Vigilius, Bishop of Tapso (VIGILIO, VESCOVO DI TAPSO)
VIGILIUS, Bishop of Tapso. - This African bishop (province of Byzacena) took part in the religious disputation that Huneric had convened in… -
Vincent of Lérins, Saint (VINCENZO DI LÉRINS, SANTO)
VINCENT OF LÉRINS, Saint. - Gallic ecclesiastical writer of the monastery of Lérins, d. around 450. The information about his life is… -
Vitae Patrum
VITAE PATRUM. - A Latin collection of legends of the saints, in 10 books, formed in the 6th century, edited by H. Rosweyde, Antwerp 1615… -
Vittorino, Bishop of Poetovium (Ptuj) (VITTORINO, VESCOVO DI PETTAU (POETOVIUM))
VITTORINO, Bishop of Poetovium (Ptuj). - He occupied the see of Poetovium (in Styria, Upper Pannonia) toward the end of the 3rd century,… -
Zachary The Rhetorician (ZACCARIA IL RETORE)
ZACHARY THE RHETORICIAN. - Born ca. 465 at Majuma in Palestine and died shortly after 536. He studied in Alexandria and at Berytus. After… -
Zosimas
ZOSIMAS. - Ascetic of the 6th century, founder of a monastery near Caesarea in Palestine (Evagrius, Hist. eccl., IV, 7) cited by Dorotheus…