Inearly Christianheresiology, thePanarion (Koine Greek:Πανάριον, derived fromLatinpanarium, meaning "bread basket"), to which 16th-century Latin translations gave the nameAdversus Haereses (Latin: "Against Heresies"),[1] is the most important of the works ofEpiphanius of Salamis. It was written in Koine Greek beginning in 374 or 375, and issued about three years later,[2] as a treatise onheresies, with its title referring to the text as a "stock of remedies to offset the poisons of heresy."[3] It treats 80 religioussects, either organized groups or philosophies, from the time ofAdam to the latter part of the fourth century, detailing their histories, and rebutting their beliefs.[4] ThePanarion is an important source of information on theJewish–Christian gospels, theGospel of the Ebionites, and theGospel of the Hebrews.
The treatise can be considered a sequel to theAncoratus (374), which takes the form of a letter to the church ofSyedra inPamphylia, describing how the "barque" of the church can counteract the contrary winds of heretical thought, and become "anchored" (ἀγχυρωτός); hence the title of the work; theAncoratus even outlines the content of thePanarion within its text.[2]
The treatise begins with twoproems: a table of contents, and a description of Epiphanius's methods and purpose in writing. The work is divided into three books, with a total of seven volumes. It ends with what has since been calledDe Fide, a short description of the orthodox catholic faith of theGreat Church.
The number of sects covered in the work is based onSong of Songs 6:8-9, quoted below in the original Hebrew, and in the English translation fromJPS 1917:
| ח שִׁשִּׁים הֵמָּה מְלָכוֹת, וּשְׁמֹנִים פִּילַגְשִׁים; וַעֲלָמוֹת, אֵין מִסְפָּר. | 8 There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and maidens without number. |
| ט אַחַת הִיא, יוֹנָתִי תַמָּתִי | 9 My dove, my undefiled, is but one; |
Epiphanius interpreted the fourscore (80) concubines as sects, who take the name of Christ without being truly matrimonial; the threescore queens as the generations from Adam to Jesus; the one dove as the true wife, the church; and the numberless virgins as all the philosophies unrelated to Christianity.[2]
The first section of the first of the three books contains an account of 20 heretical sects before the time ofJesus; the remaining portion is occupied with the description of 60 sects ofChristianity.[4] However, the total number of sects is actually 77, because three of the first 20 are general names:Hellenism,Samaritanism, andJudaism. In the editions of thePanarion, each heresy is numbered in order; hence it is customary to quote thePanarion as follows: Epiphanius,Haer. N [the number of the heresy].
The general form, though not universal, in which Epiphanius described each sect included four parts: a brief mention of the sect's relationship to previously mentioned sects; a description of the sect's beliefs; a lengthy refutation of its doctrine, including arguments from the scriptures andreductio ad absurdum of their beliefs; a comparison of the sect to a repulsive animal, particularly a snake.[2]
Necessarily much of the information in this large compilation varies in value. ThePanarion reflects the character of Epiphanius and his method of working. Sometimes, his intense passion prevents him from inquiring carefully into the doctrines he opposes. Thus, on his own avowal (Haer., lxxi), he speaks ofApollinarianism on hearsay. AtConstantinople, he had to acknowledge to theOrigenist monks, whom he opposed, that he was not acquainted with either their school or their books, and that he only spoke from hearsay (Sozomen,Hist. eccl., VIII, xl). There is, however, much information not found elsewhere. Chapters devoted only to the doctrinal refutation of heresies are rare. As anapologist, Epiphanius appeared generally weak toPhotius.[3]
ThePanarion furnishes very valuable information concerning the religious history of the fourth century, either because the author confines himself to transcribing documents preserved by him alone, or because he writes down his personal observations. With regard toHieracas (Haer., lxvii), he makes known a curiousEgyptian sect by whomasceticism and intellectual work were equally esteemed. In connection with theMelitians of Egypt (Haer., lxviii), he has preserved important fragments of contemporary Egyptian history of this movement. With regard toArianism (Haer., lxix), he provides an apocryphal letter ofConstantine. He transcribes two letters ofArius. He is the only one to give us any information concerning theGothic sect of theAudians (Haer., lxx), as well as theArabian sect of theCollyridians. He has made use of the lost report of the discussion between Photinus (Haer., lxxi), andBasil of Ancyra. He has transcribed a very important letter from BishopMarcellus of Ancyra (Haer., lxxii) toPope Julius, and fragments of the treatise ofAcacius of Caesarea against Marcellus. With regard to theSemiarians (Haer., lxxiii), he gives in the Acts of theCouncil of Ancyra (358) a letter from Basil of Ancyra and one fromGeorge of Laodicea, and the stenographic text of a singular sermon ofMelitius at the time of his installation atAntioch. In the chapter dealing with theAnomeans (Haer., lxxvi) he has preserved amonograph ofAetius.[3]
Epiphanius also wrote theAnacephalaeoses, as an epitome, or abridged version, of hisPanarion.[4]Augustine used them as the basis for hisContra Omnes Haereses, "Against all Heresies".[2]
The original text was written inKoine Greek. Three Latin versions were published in the 16th and 17th centuries, from writers focused on ecclesiastical interests. Since then, writers have been interested in the historical content of the text itself.
AnOld Church Slavonic translation was made, probably at thePreslav school during the reign of TsarSimeon I of Bulgaria in the early 10th century. It is preserved in the 12th-centurykormchaya of Ephraim.[5] A full Russian translation was published in the 19th century. A partial translation exists in German and another in English (by Philip Amidon).
The first English translation of the entirePanarion was published in 1987 (Book I) and 1993 (Books II and III), by Frank Williams.[6][7][8] This was based on Karl Holl's edition, released in 1915 (Book I), 1922 (Book II), and 1933 (Book III), totaling 1500 pages.[2]