Theophilos the Indian (Greek: Θεόφιλος) (died 364), also called "the Ethiopian", was an Aetian or Heteroousian[1] bishop who fell alternately in and out of favor with the court of the Roman emperor Constantius II.[2] He is mentioned in the encyclopedia Suda.[3]
Originally from Socotra[4] or the island of Divus which could be the Maldive Islands in the Indian Ocean,[5] or an island near the mouth of the Indus.[6] He came to the court of Constantine I as a young man and was ordained a deacon under the Arian bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia. He was later exiled because Constantius believed him to be a supporter of Constantius' rebellious cousin Gallus. Famed for his ability as a healer, Theophilus was later recalled to court to heal Constantius' wife, the empress Eusebia, which he is reputed to have done successfully.[7] He was exiled again for his support of the disfavored theologian Aëtius whose Anomoean doctrine was an offshoot of Arianism.[8]
Theophilus was ordained a bishop [9] and around 354 AD, Emperor Constantius II sent Theophilus on a mission to south Asia via Arabia, where he is said to have converted the Himyarites and built three churches in southwest Arabia. He is also said to have found Christians in India.[10] In about 356, the Emperor Constantius II wrote to Ezana of the Kingdom of Aksum requesting him to replace the then Bishop of Aksum Frumentius with Theophilos, who supported the Arian position, as did the Emperor. This request was ultimately turned down.
On his return to the empire he settled at Antioch.[11]
One of the churches which Theophilus had founded in Arabia during the 4th century was built at Zafar, Yemen and likely destroyed in 523 by the King of Himyar Dhu Nuwas, who had shifted the state religion from Christianity to Judaism. Later in 525, Theophilus' church was restored by the Christian King Kaleb of Axum following his successful invasion on Himyar.[12]
References
^Caesarea, St Basil of (2014). Against Eunomius. CUA Press. p. 33. ISBN9780813227184.
^Elm, Susanna (2012). Sons of Hellenism, Fathers of the Church: Emperor Julian, Gregory of Nazianzus, and the Vision of Rome. University of California Press. p. 239. ISBN9780520951655.
^Strauch, Ingo, "Foreign Sailors on Socotra," Hempen Verlag, 2012.
^Philostorgius in his Ecclesiastical history (book III, chapter 4) tells that Theophilos was born in the "island of Divus", which is supposed to be the Maldive Islands or maybe Ceylon
^Philostorgius in his Ecclesiastical history (book III, chapter 4, Footnote 43 p.444 n.1) writes this island is said to lie in the Indian Ocean, near the mouth of the Indus, and to have been known also under the name of Diva, Divu, and Devu.
^Philostorgius. "Chapter 7." Ecclesiastical history/Epitome of book IV.
^Alexander Kazhdan, Leslie S. B. MacCoull. "Theophilos the Indian." The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Ed. Alexander P. Kazhdan. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Retrieved 13 December 2007
^Woods, D., "Three Notes on Aspects of the Arian Controversy, c.354 – 367 CE" in Journal of Theological Studies, New Series, Vol. 44, No. 2 (October 1993), pp. 604–619
^Tsai, Kathryn (Dr). A Timeline of Eastern Church History. Divine Ascent Press, CA, 2004. ISBN0-9714139-2-4
^Woods, D., "Three Notes on Aspects of the Arian Controversy, c.354 – 367 CE" in Journal of Theological Studies, New Series, Vol. 44, No. 2 (October 1993), pp. 604–619
^Bowersock, G.W (Dr). The Throne of Adulis: Red Sea Wars on the Eve of Islam. Oxford University Press, 2013. ISBN978-0-19-973932-5
Further reading
Andrade, Nathanael J. (2018). The Journey of Christianity to India in Late Antiquity: Networks and the Movement of Culture. Cambridge University Press.
Fiaccadori, Gianfranco (1984). "Teofilo indiano, Parte I: le origini". Studi Classici e Orientali. 33: 295–331. JSTOR 24182870.
Fiaccadori, Gianfranco (1985). "Teofilo indiano, Parte II: il viaggio". Studi Classici e Orientali. 34: 271–307. JSTOR 24182847.
January 06, 2023
theophilos, indian, greek, Θεόφιλος, died, also, called, ethiopian, aetian, heteroousian, bishop, fell, alternately, favor, with, court, roman, emperor, constantius, mentioned, encyclopedia, suda, originally, from, socotra, island, divus, which, could, maldive. Theophilos the Indian Greek 8eofilos died 364 also called the Ethiopian was an Aetian or Heteroousian 1 bishop who fell alternately in and out of favor with the court of the Roman emperor Constantius II 2 He is mentioned in the encyclopedia Suda 3 Originally from Socotra 4 or the island of Divus which could be the Maldive Islands in the Indian Ocean 5 or an island near the mouth of the Indus 6 He came to the court of Constantine I as a young man and was ordained a deacon under the Arian bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia He was later exiled because Constantius believed him to be a supporter of Constantius rebellious cousin Gallus Famed for his ability as a healer Theophilus was later recalled to court to heal Constantius wife the empress Eusebia which he is reputed to have done successfully 7 He was exiled again for his support of the disfavored theologian Aetius whose Anomoean doctrine was an offshoot of Arianism 8 Theophilus was ordained a bishop 9 and around 354 AD Emperor Constantius II sent Theophilus on a mission to south Asia via Arabia where he is said to have converted the Himyarites and built three churches in southwest Arabia He is also said to have found Christians in India 10 In about 356 the Emperor Constantius II wrote to Ezana of the Kingdom of Aksum requesting him to replace the then Bishop of Aksum Frumentius with Theophilos who supported the Arian position as did the Emperor This request was ultimately turned down On his return to the empire he settled at Antioch 11 One of the churches which Theophilus had founded in Arabia during the 4th century was built at Zafar Yemen and likely destroyed in 523 by the King of Himyar Dhu Nuwas who had shifted the state religion from Christianity to Judaism Later in 525 Theophilus church was restored by the Christian King Kaleb of Axum following his successful invasion on Himyar 12 References Edit Caesarea St Basil of 2014 Against Eunomius CUA Press p 33 ISBN 9780813227184 Elm Susanna 2012 Sons of Hellenism Fathers of the Church Emperor Julian Gregory of Nazianzus and the Vision of Rome University of California Press p 239 ISBN 9780520951655 Suda Encyclopedia theta 197 Strauch Ingo Foreign Sailors on Socotra Hempen Verlag 2012 Philostorgius in his Ecclesiastical history book III chapter 4 tells that Theophilos was born in the island of Divus which is supposed to be the Maldive Islands or maybe Ceylon Philostorgius in his Ecclesiastical history book III chapter 4 Footnote 43 p 444 n 1 writes this island is said to lie in the Indian Ocean near the mouth of the Indus and to have been known also under the name of Diva Divu and Devu Philostorgius Chapter 7 Ecclesiastical history Epitome of book IV Alexander Kazhdan Leslie S B MacCoull Theophilos the Indian The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium Ed Alexander P Kazhdan Oxford Oxford University Press 1991 Retrieved 13 December 2007 Woods D Three Notes on Aspects of the Arian Controversy c 354 367 CE in Journal of Theological Studies New Series Vol 44 No 2 October 1993 pp 604 619 Tsai Kathryn Dr A Timeline of Eastern Church History Divine Ascent Press CA 2004 ISBN 0 9714139 2 4 Woods D Three Notes on Aspects of the Arian Controversy c 354 367 CE in Journal of Theological Studies New Series Vol 44 No 2 October 1993 pp 604 619 Bowersock G W Dr The Throne of Adulis Red Sea Wars on the Eve of Islam Oxford University Press 2013 ISBN 978 0 19 973932 5Further reading EditAndrade Nathanael J 2018 The Journey of Christianity to India in Late Antiquity Networks and the Movement of Culture Cambridge University Press Fiaccadori Gianfranco 1984 Teofilo indiano Parte I le origini Studi Classici e Orientali 33 295 331 JSTOR 24182870 Fiaccadori Gianfranco 1985 Teofilo indiano Parte II il viaggio Studi Classici e Orientali 34 271 307 JSTOR 24182847 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Theophilos the Indian amp oldid 1087026282, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
