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Eudoxius of Antioch | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Constantinople | |
| Installed | 27 January 360 |
| Term ended | Early 370 |
| Predecessor | Macedonius I of Constantinople |
| Successor | Demophilus of Constantinople |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 370 |
| Denomination | Arian Christianity |
Eudoxius of Antioch (Greek:Εὐδόξιος; died 370) was the fiftharchibishop of Constantinople from 27 January 360 to early 370, previouslybishop of Germanicia and ofAntioch. Eudoxius was one of the most influentialArians.
Eudoxius was from Arabissos ofAsia Minor.[1] Eudoxius came toEustathius,bishop of Antioch between 324 and 331, seeking holy orders. However, Eustathius found his doctrine unsound and refused him. Nevertheless, when Eustathius was deposed, the Arians orEusebius of Nicomedia had everything their own way and admitted Eudoxius to orders and made him bishop ofGermanicia, on the confines of Syria,Cilicia, andCappadocia. This bishopric he held at least 17 years, the period of the principal intrigues againstAthanasius of Alexandria, and of the reigns ofConstantine the Great's sons.[2]
In 341 the council of the Dedication orEncaenia was held under Placillus at Antioch. Eudoxius of Antioch attended. He was an Arian pure and simple, a disciple ofAëtius of Antioch, a friend ofEunomius of Cyzicus. The council produced fourcreeds, in which theEusebian party succeeded in making their doctrine as plausible as might be, and the second of these became known as the "Creed of the Dedication". Athanasius says that Eudoxius was sent withMartyrius of Antioch andMacedonius I of Constantinople to take the new creed of Antioch to Italy. This new creed may, however, have been the Macrostich, or Long Formula, drawn up at a later council of Antioch.[2]
In 343 or 347 the rival councils ofSerdica andPhilippopolis were held. At the latter was drawn up a creed more Arian than those of Antioch, and it was signed by Eudoxius. Between 355 and 359 Eudoxius was in attendance on the emperor in the West when news came of the death of Leontius of Antioch.[3] Against the canons, he took over the see of Antioch.[1] Allegedly excusing himself on the plea that the affairs of Germanicia required his presence, Eudoxius hastened to Antioch, and, representing himself as nominated by the emperor, got himself made bishop, and sentAsphalus, apresbyter of Antioch, to make the best of the case at court.Roman emperorConstantius II wrote to the church of Antioch: "Eudoxius went to seek you without my sending him ... To what restraint will men be amenable, who impudently pass from city to city, seeking with a most unlawful appetite every occasion to enrich themselves?".[2] Nonetheless, the emperor confirmed the election.[1]
In the first year of his episcopate at Antioch, Eudoxius held a council, which received thecreed of Sirmium. An idea may be formed of theHomoiousian reception of hissermons from three different sources.Hilary of Poitiers, then in the East, heard Eudoxius in his cathedral, and wished his ears had been deaf.Theodoret andEpiphanius of Salamis reported him as boasting that he had the same knowledge aboutGod as God had about Himself.[2]
In September 359, aCouncil of Seleucia was held atSeleucia Isauria, the orthodox forming a very small minority. The majority signed the "Creed of the Dedication"; Eudoxius who was present, was deposed byBasil of Ancyra's party, and appears to have sought the shelter of the court at Constantinople. Here, by the aid of theAcacians, he secured his appointment asbishop on the deposition ofMacedonius I of Constantinople, and on 27 January 360, took possession of his throne in the presence of 72 bishops. On 15 February the great church of Constantinople,Saint Sophia, begun in 342 by the emperorConstantius II, was dedicated.[2]
Eudoxius, it is claimed, mounting his episcopal throne before the expectant multitude of courtiers, ecclesiastics, and citizens, began with the words: "The Father isasebes, the Son iseusebes." A great tumult of indignation arose on all sides in St. Sophia. The orator, unabashed, explained: "The Father isasebes because He honours nobody; the Son iseusebes because He honours the Father". The new cathedral echoed with peals of uncontrollable laughter. Thus, saysSocrates of Constantinople,[4] these tore the church to pieces by their captious subtilties.[2]
Eudoxius consecrated his friendEunomius to the see ofCyzicus, but such complaints were brought to theRoman emperor Constantius II that he ordered Eudoxius to depose him. Eudoxius acquiesced to the emperor's command and quietly persuaded Eunomius to retire.[2]
In 365 an attack was made on Eudoxius by thesemi-Arians, now called Macedonians. Holding a meeting atLampsacus, they signed the "Creed of the Dedication", cited Eudoxius and his party before them, and, as they did not come, sentenced them to deprivation; but Roman emperorValens refused to confirm the proceedings.[2]
In 367 Valens, as he was setting out for theGothic War, was induced by his wifeDomnica to receivebaptism from Eudoxius. In the same year, he issued, likely under the advice of Eudoxius, an order that such bishops as had been banished by Constantius II and had returned under Roman emperorJulian should again be exiled.[2]
The years during which Eudoxius and Valens acted together were allegedly troubled byportents, which Homoousians attributed to the anger ofHeaven at Valens' banishment of bishops who would not admit Eudoxius to their communion. Eudoxius died in 370.[2]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Sinclair, W. M. (1911). "Eudoxius, bishop of Constantinople". InWace, Henry; Piercy, William C. (eds.).Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century (3rd ed.). London: John Murray. Sinclair cites:| Titles of the Great Christian Church | ||
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| Preceded by | Archbishop of Constantinople 360 – 370 | Succeeded by |
of theChurch of Antioch before 518 | |
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