Patrophilus of Scythopolis
Patrophilus was the Arian bishop of Scythopolis in the early-mid 4th century AD. He was an enemy of Athanasius who described him as a πνευματόμαχος or "fighter against the Holy Spirit".[1] When Arius was exiled to Palestine in 323 AD, Patrophilus warmly welcomed him.[2]
Philostorgius lists him among the Arian bishops.[3]
He also trained Eusebius of Emesa in biblical exegesis.[4]
In 354-5 AD he acted together with Acacius of Caesarea to depose the bishop of Jerusalem, Maximus, who supported the Nicene Creed, and replaced him with Cyril, who they thought was also an Arian.[5] He also supervised the exile of Eusebius of Vercelli to Scythopolis - Eusebius calls him his "jailer".
In 359 he was one of a delegation to the emperor Constantius II to protest the depositions of Arian clergy by Basil of Caesarea.[6]
Philostorgius mentions that after his death his body was disinterred and his bones scattered in 361 during the pagan reaction under Julian.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Athanasius, adv. Serap. iv. 7, p. 360
- ^ Sozomen, HE, i. 15
- ^ Philostorgius, Ecclesiastical History, book 1, section 8a; fragment from Nicetas, Thes. 5.7: in Philip Amidon, Philostorgius: Church History, p.11
- ^ Socrates, Church History, book 2, chapter 9
- ^ Theophanes, 60B-61B, in Philip Amidon, Philostorgius: Church History p.221; also Sozomen; and also Socrates, HE 2, ch. 38. Theodoret does not mention the incident.
- ^ Philostorgius, book 4, section 10; Amidon p.69.
- ^ Amidon, p.227
Literature
[edit]- Wace, Dictionary of Christian Biography article.
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