Cyril of Scythopolis, Life of Euthymius 26.39.18-26.40.2
created: This entry is taken from Life of Euthymius 26.39.18-26.40.2 written by Cyril of
edition published: 2023-06-30-05:00
language: grc; grc
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https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/489

Καισάρειαν

, and

Caesarea

are directly attested at Cyril of Scythopolis, Life of Euthymius 26.39.18-26.40.2. This passage was written ca. ca. 544-558 C.E. possibly in Palestine. Cyril from Scythopolis (ca. 525-559 C.E.) was a monk who wrote detailed hagiographies of seven roughly contemporary or slightly earlier monks. His works are essential historical sources for Palestinian monasticism, theology, and political relationships during roughly the first half of the 6th century. He wrote one of his two major works about the Armenian Euthymius, at whose monastery in Jericho he served from 544 to 555 C.E. This passage records how Euthymius’ holy admirers considered him a strong opponent of Origenism, which was flourishing in his time around Caesarea.

Ὁ ἀββᾶς Ἰωάννης ὁ ἐπίσκοπος καὶ ἡσυχαστὴς καὶ ὁ ἀββᾶς Θαλλέλαιος ὁ πρεσβύτερος οἱ ἐπὶ τοῦ παρόντος ἐν τῆι λαύραι τοῦ μακαρίου Σάβα ἀγωνιζόμενοι διηγήσαντό μοι λέγοντες ὅτιπερ καὶ ὁ μακάριος Σάβας καὶ ἄλλοι πλεῖστοι γέροντες ἐθαύμαζον τοῦ μεγάλου Εὐθυμίου τὸν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἐκκλησιαστικῶν δογμάτων θερμότατον ζῆλον καίπερ αὐτοῦ πολλῆι τῆι πραότητι καὶ φρονήματος μετριότητι συζῶντος, καὶ διεβεβαιοῦντο ὅτι πᾶσαν μὲν αἵρεσιν τῶι ὀρθῶι τῆς πίστεως λὸγωι ἐναντιουμένην ἀπεστρέφετο, ἐξαιρέτως δὲ τὰς ἓξ ταύτας αἱρέσεις τέλειον μῖσος ἐμίσει. τήν τε γὰρ Μανιχαικὴν βδελυρίαν ἐμυσάττετο καὶ τοῖς τὰ Ὠριγένους φρονοῦσιν πολλοῖς τότε οὖσιν ἐν τοῖς μάλιστα περὶ Καισάρειαν τόποις καὶ σχήματι δῆθεν εὐλαβείας ἐρχομένοις πρὸς αὐτὸν διεμάχετο γενναίως τὴν παρ’ αὐτοῖς μυθευομένην τῶν νοῶν προύπαρξιν καὶ τὴν ταύτηι ἑπομένην τερατώδη ἀποκατάστασιν διασύρων παντοίως ἀνέτρεπεν καὶ τὰ ἐκ τούτων ἀναφυόμενα ἄθεα καὶ ἀσεβῆ ἐστηλίτευεν δόγματα.

[Ed. Schwatrz 1939]

Abba John, bishop and solitary, and Abba Thallelaeus, priest, who presently pursue spiritual combat in the lavra of Blessed Savas, have told me that both Blessed Savas and many other Εlders admired the burning zeal for the teachings of the Church displayed by the great Euthymius, even though he was constitutionally with great gentleness and moderation of spirit. They asserted that he rejected every heresy opposed to the correct account of the faith, and that he hated with a perfect hatred these six heresies especially. He loathed the Manichaean abomination; and when those of Origen’s persuasion, numerous at that time especially in the region around Caesarea, came to him with a show of reverence, he courageously fought their myth of a preexistence of minds, he completely and with ridicule refuted the constant monstrosity of a general restoration, and he pilloried the godless and impious teachings that grew out of these (beliefs).

[Revised from Price and Binns 1990]

Works Cited

[...] 26 39.18-40.2
[...] 36

[John, bishop

Origen

St. Euthymius

St. Savas

Thallelaius, priest]

[Christianity

Education, Sacred

Theology]