The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Epiphanius
The Life of Epiphanius, who flourished Anno Christi 370.
EPiphanius Bishop of Salamine in Cyprus, was born in Palestine, in an obscure Town called Besanduces, His birth and education.of poor and obscure parents; his Father dying when he was young, he was adopted, and brought up by one Tryphon a Jew, whereby he attained to an excellent knowledge in the Hebrew: His Conversion.He was converted to the Christian Faith by one Lucianus, famous for his Learning and Vertue: Lucianus put him to H…arion to learn, under whom he profited exceedingly:Hereticks seek to ensnare him. Whilest he was a boy, certain Hereticks, called the Gnosticks, cunningly sought to invegle him, and to draw him over to their opinions: but it pleased God to preserve him from the temptation, and to keep him in the Truth.His commendations. In his riper years he was famous in the Church for his Piety, Holiness of Life, and for the Sincerity of his Doctrine, and Elegancy of his Stile, as his Books witness, which shew their Author to be a man of great reading, skilful in the Tongues, well acquainted with Controversies, prudent in asserting the Truth, and acute in confuting Errors; whereupon Melancthon saith of him; We have no fuller an History of those ancient affairs of the Church then the writings of Epiphanius do contain, in which whilest he intends the Confutation of Heresies, he inserts many Historical passages: So that out of this Author may be collected almost a continued History of the ancient Church, if any would with prudence join his Narrations together: and I wish that some Prince would take care to see such a work done.
He was of a very liberal and charitable disposition, insomuch as he spent all his estate in relieving the Poor.Made Bishop of Salamine. Being afterwards chosen Bishop of Salamine in Cyprus, he at first modestly refused that dignity, but importunity prevaling with him, he so lived that Vitam doctrinâ, Preachers pattern.doctrinam vitâ comprobaret, his Doctrine approved his Life, and his Life desended his Doctrine:His zeal against Heresies. He was semper Hereticorum acerrimus oppugnator, always a sharp opposer of Hereticks: He purged all Cy…rus, defiled and slurried with divers Heresies: and having gained an Edict from Theodosius the Emperour, he cast all the Hereticks out of the Island.
About this time Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria having upon some false surmises conceived displeasure against John Chrysostom Bishop of Constantinople, he sought cunningly to thrust him out of his Bishoprick: whereupon he sent Letters to the Bishops throughout every City, concealing his principal drift,Epiphanius abused by Theophilus. and only pretending that he misliked the Books of Origen: Epiphanius also being at this time very old, Theophilus wrought upon his weakness, and prevailed with him to call a Council in Cyprus: In which Council the Bishops Decreed that thenceforth none should read the works of Origen: Origens books condemned.and by the instigation of Theophilus, they wrote also to Chrysostom, exhorting him to abstain from the perusing of those Books, and requesting him to summon a Council at Constantinople, and to ratifie that Decree with the uniform consent of all.
After this Epiphanius went to Constantinople, Epiphanius his weakness.and contrary to the Canons of the Church, Ordained some Ministers there, and administred the Sacrament: Yet Chrysostom honoured him highly, went with the rest of his Clergy to welcome him to the City; invited him to lodge at his own house, and to make use of his Church during his abode there: But Epiphanius being prepossessed with prejudice,His contests with Chrysostom. answered that he would neither lodge in his house, nor join with him in Prayer, except he would condemn the Books of Origen, and drive away Dioscorus with his associates from him, who were favourers of Origen. But Chrysostom answered, that it would be great injustice to condemn men before their cause was heard; especially considering that the time for administration of the Sacrament was now near, and with this answer he left him.
Presently after the Enemies of Chrysostom came to Epiphanius, and perswaded him publickly before all the people to condemn the Books of Origen, and also Dioscorus and his followers, and withall to tax the Bishop of the City for favouring these persons: Epiphanius being of too facile a disposition, went out the next day to perform these things, which Chrysostom hearing of, sent Serapion, who met him not far from the Church, and protested, that if he did these things, he would do that which was neither just nor equal, nor convenient for himself: For that hereby he might bring himself into danger, if any tumult should be raised amongst the people. Hereupon he desisted; yet privately he called together some Bishops that stayed in the City, and shewed them the Decrees which condemned the Books of Origen, and drew some of them to assent to the same: but the greatest part refused, and Theotymnus Bishop of Scythia blamed him to his face for it, and told him that it was altogether unlawful thus to calumniate and asperse a man that was dead long since, especially being of so great worth, and his writings approved of by their Predecessours, &c.
At last he resolved to return into Cyprus, and for a farewel to Chrysostom, he said,Two P…edictions. I hope that thou wilt not dye a Bishop: To which Chrysostom replyed, and I hope thou wilt never return into thy own Country: Both which came to pass: for a while after Chrysostom was cast out of his Bishoprick: and Epiphanius dyed upon the Sea: and when he found himself mortally sick, he called his friends, and said to them, Salvi estote filii, &c. God bless you my children, for Epiphanius shall see your faces no more in this life;His death. and …hortly after he dyed, aged 115 years, having been Bishop 55 years, his loss was exceedingly lamented at Salamine.
He used to say,His sayings. That he never let his adversary sleep; not that he disturbed him in his sleep; but because he agreed with him presently, Hatred cured.and would not let the Sun go down upon his wrath.
His Works are printed together,His works. being most of them against the Heresies of his time, the names are;
Opus contra Octuaginta Haereses. Panarium Appellatum. Compendium Fidei Christianae. Anchoratus, docens de Fide Christiana. Anacephalaeosis, sive summa totius operis Panarii appellatum. Libellus de mensuris & ponderibus. Historia de Prophetarum vita, & interitu. Epistola ad Johannem. Episc: Constantinopolitanum.