He is also known from a letter[5] of George of Laodicea that was critical of the Eudoxian teaching of one Aëtius and his disciples at Antioch[6][7] Emperor Constantias, eventually ordered Aëtius and followers be brought before Cecropius to answer to the charges alleged against them.[8]
Earthquake of Nicomedia
In 358 Constantius had proposed to hold an ecumenical council in the cathedral of Nicomedia, however days before the Council was to be held an earthquake struck the city destroying the venue.[9] The earthquake struck on 24 August 358AD and the city of Nicomedia was devastated.[10][11][12] and the cathedral was destroyed. Cecropius of Nicomedia was killed in the earthquake.
Sozomen[9] held that only Cecropius and an unnamed Bishop of Bosphorus were killed.[13]Philostorgius claimed the number killed was 15.[14]
Opponents of Arianism held the earthquake to be divine judgment.[15][16] and that 15 bishops who had arrived for the Council were killed.
The Council was postponed and held instead in Seleucia in Persia. Selucia was selected as Eudoxius objected to holding it in Tarsus[17] and his opponent Basil objected to the royal city of Nicaea.[18]
It was said that the quake was predicted by Arsacius, a Persian, former soldier turned monastic philosopher.[19] The legend of Arsacius holds that as a soldier he tended the emperorsLions,[20] but following his time in the army he became a monastic. It is said he could cast out demons and once ordered a great dragon to kill itself which it did. One day he had a vision of the calamity to befall his city and going to the Clergy with his warning was not believed but ridiculed. He retired to his tower and prayed prostrate. Following the Quake (on 24 August 358) he was found dead in his undamaged tower.
References
^"Cecropius". Biblical Cyclopedia. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
^Timothy David Barnes (2001). Athanasius and Constantius: Theology and Politics in the Constantinian Empire. p. 140. ISBN9780674005495. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
^The Complete Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 Collection [14 ... - The Church Fathers. Catholic Way. 13 February 2015. ISBN9781783793945. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
cecropius, nicomedia, bishop, nicomedia, player, arian, controversy, career, editcecropius, semi, arian, been, bishop, laodicea, transferred, from, laodicea, arian, emperor, constantius, 351ad, athanasius, bishop, alexandria, critical, this, appointment, royal. Cecropius of Nicomedia was a bishop of Nicomedia and a key player in the Arian controversy Career EditCecropius a semi Arian 1 had been Bishop of Laodicea and was transferred from Laodicea 2 by the Arian emperor Constantius I in 351AD Athanasius bishop of Alexandria 3 was critical of this appointment and royal interference in the church Nicomedia a former Bithynian and for a short time under Diocletian Roman capital and short distance from Constantine s Palace at Nicaea was an influential and rich city in the early Byzantine empire and the appointment as bishop carried much influence As Bishop Cecropius attended the synod of Sirmium which deposed Photinus 4 and he attended the consecration of a new church building in Anevra in 358 He is also known from a letter 5 of George of Laodicea that was critical of the Eudoxian teaching of one Aetius and his disciples at Antioch 6 7 Emperor Constantias eventually ordered Aetius and followers be brought before Cecropius to answer to the charges alleged against them 8 Earthquake of Nicomedia EditIn 358 Constantius had proposed to hold an ecumenical council in the cathedral of Nicomedia however days before the Council was to be held an earthquake struck the city destroying the venue 9 The earthquake struck on 24 August 358AD and the city of Nicomedia was devastated 10 11 12 and the cathedral was destroyed Cecropius of Nicomedia was killed in the earthquake Sozomen 9 held that only Cecropius and an unnamed Bishop of Bosphorus were killed 13 Philostorgius claimed the number killed was 15 14 Opponents of Arianism held the earthquake to be divine judgment 15 16 and that 15 bishops who had arrived for the Council were killed The Council was postponed and held instead in Seleucia in Persia Selucia was selected as Eudoxius objected to holding it in Tarsus 17 and his opponent Basil objected to the royal city of Nicaea 18 It was said that the quake was predicted by Arsacius a Persian former soldier turned monastic philosopher 19 The legend of Arsacius holds that as a soldier he tended the emperors Lions 20 but following his time in the army he became a monastic It is said he could cast out demons and once ordered a great dragon to kill itself which it did One day he had a vision of the calamity to befall his city and going to the Clergy with his warning was not believed but ridiculed He retired to his tower and prayed prostrate Following the Quake on 24 August 358 he was found dead in his undamaged tower References Edit Cecropius Biblical Cyclopedia Retrieved 6 January 2016 Timothy David Barnes 2001 Athanasius and Constantius Theology and Politics in the Constantinian Empire p 140 ISBN 9780674005495 Retrieved 6 January 2016 Athanasius Contra Arian p 290 Athaninasius Epis ad Solit p 800 Sozomen H E 4 13 Ecclesiastical History of Philostorgius Photius Patriarch of Constantinople Aeterna Press 22 April 2015 Retrieved 6 January 2016 Timothy David Barnes Athanasius and Constantius Theology and Politics in the Constantinian Empire Harvard University Press 2001 p123 Sozomen H E 4 24 a b Sozomenus June 2007 Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers Second Series Volume II Socrates p 310 ISBN 9781602065109 Retrieved 6 January 2016 Ammianus Marcellinus History 17 7 1 8 Libanius Or 61 Jerome Chron 358 Hermias Sozomen 2012 The Sacred Writings of Hermias Sozomen Extended Annotated ed ISBN 9783849621322 Retrieved 6 January 2016 Kingdom of God The Exercise of Imperial Power During the Fourth century p 69 ISBN 9780549466536 Retrieved 6 January 2016 Ecclesiastical History of Philostorgius Sozom IV 16 Sozomen 4 16 1 Socrates Scholasticus 2 39 4 The Complete Nicene and Post Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 Collection 14 The Church Fathers Catholic Way 13 February 2015 ISBN 9781783793945 Retrieved 6 January 2016 Catholic Online St Arsacius Saints amp Angels Catholic Online Catholic org Retrieved 6 January 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cecropius of Nicomedia amp oldid 1147172792 earthquake of Nicomedia, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
