Eusebius of Cremona was a 5th-centurymonk,pre-congregational saint,[1] and disciple ofJerome.
He was born inCremona. As a young man he travelled toRome where he became an associate ofJerome, who was asecretary forPope Damascus. Like Jerome he was a student of ardent and ascetic religion. He also formed at this time an informal asceticfraternity in Rome withMarcella, Oceanus andPammachius.[2]
Jerome wrote a commentary on theBook of Jeremiah for him.[3]
He travelled with Jerome to theHoly Land, where he metSaint Paula and SaintEustochium. They travelled toJerusalem, after which Eusebius founded a monastery inBethlehem and acted as its abbot for a time, until returning to Cremona in 400. From Jerusalem, he may have travelled to Egypt with Jerome at about this time.
InAD 400 Eusebius returned toItaly viaDalmatia to raise funds for apilgrim hostel.[4] It was then that he represented Jerome to the Pope, and convinced the Pope of the error of Origen.[5]
He succeeded Jerome as the head of his monastery,[6] in Italy.
A tradition credits him with foundingGuadalupe Abbey inSpain in latter life.Another late traditions credits him with raising three men from the dead,[7] an event painted twice byRaphael Sanzio.[8]
He lived until 423AD and is remembered with afeast day on May 5. It is unknown where he died. One tradition holds he is buried next to Jerome inBethlehem, and the crypt there is dedicated to him, however a second tradition holds he is buried in Italy.
During theOrigen Disputes he was a vigorous[3] and active supporter of Jerome,[9] and is believed to have persuadedPopeAnastasius to condemn Origen's writings.[2]
During the controversy, a letter formJohn,Bishop of Jerusalem to Eusebius, was stolen,[10] and Jerome accused thethief of being in the service ofRufinus,[11] who had until this time been on fairly good relations with Eusebius. Jerome made this claim because Rufinius sent the document to the Pope, accusing Jerome of having falsified the original. The pope eventually sides with Jerome. Rufinius accused Eusebius of being "evil in this matter"[12] and of conspiring withMarcella.[13][14]
There is apseudepigraphical letter from Eusebius toPope Damascus.[15][16]
Eusebius also sided with Jerome in the disputes withPelagius.[2][12]
