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Saint Quadratus of Athens | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Martyrdom of Saint Quadratus depicted in the 11th-centuryMenologion of Basil II. | |
| Bishop of Athens, Apologist | |
| Born | Late 1st century LikelyAsia Minor |
| Died | 129 CE Athens,Roman Greece |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church,Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Feast | 26 May (Catholic Church),21 September (Eastern Orthodox Church) |
| Patronage | Apologists |
Quadratus of Athens (Ancient Greek:Κοδρᾶτος; fl. 2nd century) was an earlyChristian apologist, traditionally regarded as a disciple of the Apostles and one of theSeventy Disciples. He is celebrated as one of the earliest Christian apologists, best known for presenting an apology toEmperor Hadrian during his visit to Athens around 124–125 CE. His work, which defended the Christian faith against its critics, highlighted what he saw as the enduring impact ofJesus' miracles. Quadratus is also associated with the apostolic tradition and is recognized as theBishop of Athens, succeeding Saint Publius. His feast day is observed on May 26 in theCatholic Church and September 21 in theEastern Orthodox Church.
Quadratus was born near the end of thefirst century CE, likely in the region ofAsia Minor.[1] According to Wallace, J. W. (2017), inForensic Faith, the birth year is estimated to be around 60 CE.[2]
Quadratus was part of the second generation of Christians. According to the early church historianEusebius of Caesarea, Quadratus was a disciple of the Apostles (auditor apostolorum), as noted inChronicon. In his early years, he traveled as anitinerant preacher, spreading theGospel and journeying through regions such asAsia Minor. Later, after settling inAthens, Quadratus, much like other Athenian apologists such asAristides andAthenagoras, did not hold a formal position within the Church hierarchy. Instead, he was an independent teacher, freely sharing his knowledge and faith.[3] Writing in 1754, HistorianJohn A. Giles refers to Quadratus and Aristides as formerphilosophers.[4]
Eusebius records that Quadratus presented a discourse toEmperor Hadrian during the emperor's visit to Athens in 124 or 125 CE, his discourse was titledApology. As detailed in Eusebius'sEcclesiastical History (Book IV, Chapter 3), the apology aimed to defend Christianity against its critics and was widely circulated among early Christian communities. Eusebius praised the work as a demonstration of Quadratus's intellectual rigor and his dedication to upholding apostolic teachings. The surviving fragment of the discourse shares Quadratus's reflections on the enduring impact ofJesus's miracles, asserting their authenticity and lasting significance. The excerpt reads:[5][6]
"But the works of our Saviour were always present, for they were genuine:—those that were healed, and those that were raised from the dead, who were seen not only when they were healed and when they were raised, but were also always present; and not merely while the Saviour was on earth, but also after his death, they were alive for quite a while, so that some of them lived even to our day."
According toDionysius, Bishop of Corinth, Quadratus was appointed Bishop of Athens following the martyrdom ofSaint Publius. The letter states that through Quadratus' zeal, theAthenian Christians were reunited, and their faith was revitalized.[7] He became the third Bishop of Athens sometime during the first half of the second century.[8][1] Although this claim is disputed as the third office Bishop was held around 180 CE, surpassing his approximate death year of 130 CE.[9][10]
The identity and attribution of work relating to Quadratus of Athens has been a subject of scholarly debate.
In 1947, P. Andriessen proposed that Quadratus' Apology might be the work known as theEpistle to Diognetus,[11] a theory thatMichael W. Holmes later described as "intriguing". Holmes noted that, although theEpistle to Diognetus does not contain the sole known quotation from Quadratus' address, there exists a gap between chapters 7.6 and 7.7 where it could potentially fit.[12] However,Edgar J. Goodspeed found this theory improbable, stating that the fragment does not align with the gap.[13]
TheologianOtto Bardenhewer, inPatrology (1908), proposed that Quadratus the Apologist might be the same person as Quadratus, a prophet mentioned by Eusebius inHistoria Ecclesiastica (3.37). However, this identification has been questioned, with theCatholic Encyclopedia (1913) dismissing the evidence as insufficient.[14] Efforts to associate Quadratus' Apology with theLetter to Diognetus, martyr accounts, or theBarlaam and Josaphat legend have similarly failed to yield convincing evidence.[15]
The identification of Quadratus the Apologist with Quadratus, the Bishop of Athens, remains uncertain due to chronological inconsistencies. While TheOxford Dictionary of the Christian Church suggests the possibility of this link, Jerome erroneously conflated the Apologist with the Bishop who served duringMarcus Aurelius' reign (161–180). Eusebius' claim that Quadratus was a prophet and apostolic disciple is also considered improbable.[10]
Similarly, attempts to link Quadratus the Apologist with Quadratus, the Bishop of Athens, who served around 180 CE, face challenges due to chronological discrepancies. Nonetheless,The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church argues that "there is perhaps no compelling reason to reject his identification with the Bishop of Athens."[10][15]
Quadratus' language suggests that Christ's time on earth was a temporary sojourn, indicating his divine pre-existence before incarnation. He emphasized the lasting testimony of individuals said to be healed or raised from the dead by Jesus, framing these miracles as genuine and enduring evidence of Christ's divine power. Quadratus applied the title "Soter" to Jesus, a term with divine connotations in both Jewish and Hellenistic traditions, suggesting Christ's superiority to pagan deities. Eusebius praised Quadratus' orthodoxy, aligning hisChristological views with apostolic teachings, including the deity and miraculous works of Jesus.[16] Theologian Dr. John H. Roller contends that he aligns withChristian conditionalism.[1]
His preaching to pagans resulted in imprisonment where he died of starvation around the year 129 CE.[2][17][9]
Quadratus' legacy lies in his role as one of the earliest Christian apologists, presenting a defense of the Christian faith during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. HisApology attests to the early efforts of Christians to engage with Roman authorities and intellectuals to justify their beliefs. He is noted for emphasizingapostolic tradition, a foundation that Eusebius regarded as proof of hisorthodoxy. Eusebius described him as both intelligent and orthodox, likely seeing the alignment of Quadratus' teachings with those of the apostles as a measure of his credibility. This orthodoxy was seen as rooted in both his adherence to apostolic tradition and the strength of his arguments.[18]
Quadratus is recognized as one of the early saints of theOrthodox Christian Church and one of theSeventy Apostles. His feast day is celebrated annually on September 21st, and he is also commemorated on January 4th alongside the other Seventy Apostles.[19] According toBritannica, his feast day forCatholic Church is May 26.[15]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Quadratus".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.| Catholic Church Titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Bishop of Athens 125–129 | Succeeded by Leonidas |
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