Photius, Library 59.18b18-33
created: This entry is taken from Library 59.18b18-33 written by Photius in 845-855 C.E..
edition published: 2023-06-30-05:00
language: grc; grc
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https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/348

Καισαρείᾳ τῆς Παλαιστίνης

, and

Caesarea Palestinae

are directly attested at Photius, Library 59.18b18-33. This passage was written ca. 845-855 C.E. possibly in Constantinople. Photius I was ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople in 858-867 and 877-886, as well as an unparalleled intellectual luminary for his age. Apart from his distinguished ecclesiastical career, he engaged in polymathic teaching and research, supported by his vast personal library. Photius wrote an expansive compendium of classical writings in 280 volumes or codices, his Library (Βιβλιοθήκη) or Thousandsfold Book (Μυριόβιβλον), which included epitomes, excerpts, and commentaries mainly on historical, rhetorical, and theological works, many of which are otherwise lost. Several passages discuss the renowned leaders of the Church at Caesarea in Palestine. In the lengthy codex 59, Photius narrates the events of the Synod of the Oak held in July, 403 near Constantinople, which ultimately removed John Chrysostom as Patriarch of Constantinople. In this passage concerning the wide-ranging assault by Chrysostom’s enemies, a certain monk John on the side of the prosecution pressed the case again Heracleides, bishop of Ephesus, a former attendant to Chrysostom. Heracleides, it was claimed, was not only an Origenist but also a thief at Caesarea.

Ἐξήτασαν δέ, ὡς ἐνόμισαν, ἐκ τῶν κεφαλαίων τούτων τὸ πρῶτον καὶ τὸ δεύτερον, εἶτα ἤρξαντο περὶ ῾Ηρακλείδου καὶ Παλλαδίου τοῦ ῾Ελενεπόλεως τῶν ἐπισκόπων ἐξετάζειν· καὶ ἐπέδωκε λίβελλον πάλιν ὁ μοναχὸς Ἰωάννης, οὗ ὁ διάκoνος ᾽Ιωάννης ἐν ταῖς κατὰ τοῦ Χρυσοστόμου κατηγορίαις ἐμνήσθη, ἐγκαλῶν κατὰ ῾Ηρακλείδεου ὅτι ᾽Ωριγενειάστης ἐστι, καὶ ὅτι κλέπτης ἐφωράθη ὲν Καισαρείᾳ τῆς Παλαιστίνης, ἱμάτια τοῦ διακόνοῦ Ἀκυλίνου κλέπτων, καὶ ὅτι αὐτόν, φησίν, ὁ ἐπίσκοπος Ιωάννης τοιούτoν ὄντα εἰς Ἔφεσον ἐχειροτόνησεν. ἐνεκάλει δὲ καὶ κατὰ αὐτοῦ Χρυσοστόμου ὡς πολλὰ κακὰ παθὼν χάριν τῶν Ὠριγενειαστῶν διὰ Σαραπίωνος καὶ παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐκείνου. εἶτα τούτων ἐξετασθέντων, ἐξητάσθη πάλιν τὸ ἔννατον κεφάλαιον τῶν ἐγκλημάτων, εἶτα τὸ εἰκοστὸν ἕβδομον.

[Ed. Bekker 1924 with ref. Henry 1959]

The first and second counts were then investigated, after which the synod proceeded to investigate the case of the bishops Heracleides and Palladius of Helenopolis. The monk John, mentioned by the deacon John in the second charge against Chrysostom, again delivered a writ of accusation against Heracleides, asserting that he was a follower of Origen and that he was arrested at Caesarea Palestinae for the theft of the clothes of Aquilinus the deacon. Notwithstanding this, he claimed, the bishop John [Chrysostom] had appointed him bishop of Ephesus. He further accused Chrysostom himself, claiming that he had suffered great evils thanks to the Origenists, at the hands of Serapion and Chrysostom himself. After this inquiry, the ninth and then the twenty-seventh charges were investigated.

[Adapted from Freese 1920 with ref. to Henry 1959]

Works Cited

[...] 59 18
[...] 57

Additional Bibliography

[...] 59 18b18-33

[Ephesus

Helenopolis]

[Aquilinus the Deacon

Heracleides, bishop

John the Deacon

John the Monk

Origen

Palladius

Serapion

St. John Chrysostom]

[Christianity

Education (sacred)

Government and Law]