Cecropius of Nicomedia

Cecropius of Nicomedia was a bishop of Nicomedia and a key player in the Arian controversy.

Career

Cecropius, a semi-Arian,[1] had been Bishop of Laodicea, and was transferred from Laodicea[2] by the Arian emperor Constantius I in 351AD. Athanasius bishop of Alexandria,[3] was critical of this appointment and royal interference in the church.

Nicomedia, a former Bithynian and for a short time under Diocletian, Roman capital, and short distance from Constantine's Palace at Nicaea was an influential and rich city in the early Byzantine empire and the appointment as bishop carried much influence. As Bishop, Cecropius attended the synod of Sirmium which deposed Photinus[4] and he attended the consecration of a new church building in Anevra, in 358.

He is also known from a[5] a letter of George of Laodicea that was critical of the Eudoxian teaching of one Astius and his disciples at Antioch[6][7] Emperor Constantias, eventually ordered Aitius and followers be brought before Cecropius to answer to the charges alleged against them.[8]

Earthquake of Nicomedia

In 358 Constantius had proposed to hold an ecumenical council in the cathedral of Nicomedia, however days before the Council was to be held an earthquake struck the city destroying the venue.[9] The earthquake struck on 24 August 358AD and the city of Nicomedia was devastated.[10][11][12] and the cathedral was destroyed. Cecropius of Nicomedia was killed in the earthquake.

Sozoman[9] held that only Ceropius and an unnamed Bishop of Bosphorus were killed.[13] Philostorius claimed the number killed was 15.[14]

Opponents of Arianism held the earthquake to be divine judgment.[15][16] and that 15 bishops who had arrived for the Council were killed.

The Council was postponed and held instead in Seleucia in Persia. Selucia was selected as Eudoxius objected to holding it in Tarsus[17] and his opponent Basil objected to the royal city of Nicaea.[18]

It was said that the quake was predicted by Arsacius, a Persian, former soldier turned monastic philosopher.[19] The legend of Arsacius holds that as a soldier he tended the emperors Lions,[20] but following his time in the army he became a monastic. It is said he could cast out demons and once ordered a great dragon to kill itself which it did. One day he had a vision of the calamity to befall his city and going to the Clergy with his warning was not believed but ridiculed. He retired to his tower and prayed prostrate. Following the Quake (on 24 August 358) he was found dead in his undamaged tower.

gollark: 72 quadrillion dragons: Quite Hard to Get™.
gollark: Okay, probably a bit before then, but it would take a while.
gollark: With eggslots considered, you might just be able to get all 72.1 Pdragons (petadragons) before the last stars go out.
gollark: At that point, the Sun's life will have been over, and DC will probably not be around.
gollark: It would take 432 billion years or so to collect the necessary dragons at that rate.

References
  1. "Cecropius". Biblical Cyclopedia. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  2. Timothy David Barnes. "Athanasius and Constantius: Theology and Politics in the Constantinian Empire". Books.google.com.au. p. 140. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  3. Athanasius,Contra Arian. p. 290
  4. Athaninasius. Epis. ad Solit. p. 800.
  5. Sozomen, H.E. 4, 13.
  6. "Ecclesiastical History of Philostorgius - Photius Patriarch of Constantinople". Books.google.com.au. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  7. Timothy David Barnes, Athanasius and Constantius: Theology and Politics in the Constantinian Empire (Harvard University Press, 2001) p123.
  8. Sozomen, H.E. 4, 24.
  9. Sozomenus. "Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Second Series Volume II Socrates". Books.google.com.au. p. 310. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  10. Ammianus Marcellinus, History 17.7.1-8.
  11. Libanius, Or 61.
  12. Jerome Chron 358
  13. Hermias Sozomen. "The Sacred Writings of Hermias Sozomen (Extended Annotated Edition)". Books.google.com.au. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  14. "Kingdom of God: The Exercise of Imperial Power During the Fourth-century". Books.google.com.au. p. 69. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  15. Ecclesiastical History of Philostorgius
  16. Sozom. IV. 16.
  17. Sozomen 4.16.1.
  18. Socrates Scholasticus 2.39.4
  19. "The Complete Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 Collection [14 ... - The Church Fathers". Books.google.com.au. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  20. Catholic Online. "St. Arsacius - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online". Catholic.org. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
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