A History of the Holy Eastern Church: The Patriarchate of Antioch 1593330456, 9781593330453

Citation preview

A

HISTORY OF THE

HOLY EASTERN

CHURCH.

€f)t patriarchate of antiocft.

A

HISTORY OF T H E

HOLY EASTERN CHURCH. €i)f patriarchate of 8nttor&. BY

THE

R E V . J O H N M A S O N N E A L E , D.D. 3LatefflJEatSenof &adbtlle College, ©art ®rmsteti, (A POSTHUMOUS

FRAGMENT)-,

TOGETHER WITH

MEMOIRS OF THE PATRIARCHS OF ANTIOCH BY CONSTANTIUS, PATRIARCH

OF

T/iAJVSLATEZ)

CONSTANTINOPLE,

FROM

THE

GREEK;

AND

THREE APPENDICES, EDITED

WITH

AN BY

REV. G E O R G E

INTRODUCTION

THE

WILLIAMS,

B.D.

VICAR OF RINGWOOD, LATE FELLOW OF KING'S COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE

GORGIAS PRESS 2003

First Gorgias Press Edition, 2003. The special contents of this edition are copyright €> 2003 by Gorgias Press LLC. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States of America by Gorgias Press LLC, New Jersey. This edition is a facsimile reprint of the original edition published by Rivingtons, London, Oxford, and Cambridge, 1873.

ISBN 1-59333-045-6

GORGIAS PRESS

46 Orris Ave., Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA www.gorgiaspress.com

Printed and bound simultaneously in the United States of America and Great Britain.

TO THE RIGHT

EDWARD

REVEREND

HAROLD,

LORD BISHOP OF WINCHESTER, I N GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF HIS UNDEVIATING

KINDNESS

FOR MANY YEARS PAST, AND

AS

A PLEDGE OF F I L I A L DUTY A N D

REVERENCE

FOR THE TIME TO COME; THIS VOLUME IS, W I T H HIS PERMISSION, INSCRIBED BY HIS FAITHFUL A N D AFFECTIONATE

THE

EDITOR.

SERVANT

ADVERTISEMENT.

I HAVE to acknowledge with gratitude the kind assistance of the following friends in preparing this Volume for publication, and in passing it through the Press. First of these is Gregory, the very learned and Most Reverend Metropolitan of Chios, who may be regarded as having contributed to the

Volume, not only the docu-

ments contained in the first Appendix from the Archives of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, of which he was once Chief Secretary, but also the continuous Catalogue of the Patriarchs of Antioch, by Constantius Patriarch of Constantinople, which forms the sequel to Dr Neale's Historical Fragment. These documents and the Third Appendix were translated for me—the former from the Greek, the latter from the Russ—by Olga, the eldest daughter of my old and valued friend Admiral Count Poutiatine. The Second Appendix was carefully revised and compared with the original Russ by the Deacon Basil Popoff, son of the Very Reverend Arch-Priest, whose name is so well known by all interested in the Russo-Greek Church. The

Rev. Dr

Lightfoot, Hulsean

Professor in

the

University of Cambridge, and Canon of S. Paul's, was so good as to read the proofs of the fragment of Dr Neale's Work, and to verify the quotations and references—often, I fear, at the sacrifice of much of his valuable time, so fully employed in the service of the Church, and in the promotion of theological learning.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION. PAGE

Dr Neale's Historical Works Discovery of this Fragment Other materials for the Volume Ecclesiology of Central Syria Ruined Cities and Churches Church of S. Syineon Stylites Modern Antioch

ix xi xiv xix xxi xlix lvii

HISTORY OF THE PATRIARCHATE OF ANTIOCH, BY THE REV. J O H N MASON NEALE, D.D. BOOK I. A. D.

S. James, Bishop of Jerusalem 33 S. Peter, Founder of the Church of Antioch . . . 40 Succeeded by Euodius S. Thomas evangelises Persia and India . . . . S. Thaddseus, one of the Seventy His disciples Achi and Mari The Martyrdom of S. James the Just S. Symeon succeeds him as Bishop of Jerusalem . . S. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch Trajan's Expedition to Parthia Martyrdom of S. Symeon Martyrdom of S. Ignatius

.

2 3 4 5 7 8 io 11 ih. 13 14 15

vi

CONTENTS.

A. D.

PAGE

His Epistles, and their teaching

17

Episcopal Succession at Antioch and Jerusalem

.

.

Revolt of the Jews under Hadrian Theophilus of Antioch, and his Writings

198

21 23

.

.

.

.

25

Episcopal Succession in Seleucia

29

Episcopal Succession in Jerusalem

30

The Paschal Controversy

31

The Council of Csesareia

32

Narcissus, Bishop of Jerusalem

34

199 Serapion, Bishop of Antioch

35

212

37

S. Alexander, Bishop of Jerusalem Episcopal Succession in Seleucia Pantsenus, his Mission to India

38 .

.

.

.

40

Martyrdom of S. Alexander of Jerusalem

251

Martyrdom of S. Babylas of Antioch

252

Council of Antioch against Novatus

44

260

Paul of Samosata—his Heresy

46

Condemned in a Council at Antioch

49

269

Deposed in a second Council

52

.

Supported by Zenobia

53 54

Episcopal Succession in Jerusalem

.

.

.

.

56

The Tenth Persecution

57

Martyrs of Syria

58

The Crimea evangelized

61

Martyrs of Tarsus and Palestine

62

S. Pamphilus, Bishop of Csesareia

69

Martyrdom of S. Lucian of Antioch

71

The Conversion of Armenia

74

Eusebius of Cœsareia—his Writings

78

S. Helena, the Mother of Constantine, in the East

.

.

Persecution under Licinius 319—325 325 331

41 42

Eusebius and Anatolius of Laodiceia 266—298

311

.

.

249

303

.

.

81 83

Episcopal Succession in Antioch

84

The Council of Nicsea

85

The Arians persecute the Church

87

Sufferings of S. Eustathius of Antioch Maximus I I . succeeds Macarius at Jerusalem

88 .

.

.

91

vii

CONTENTS.

BOOK I I . A. D.

PAGE

Episcopal Succession in Antioch Dedication of the Church at Jerusalem . 341 Council of Antioch The New Creed of the Arian Party Marcellus of Ancyra The Canons of Antioch 329 S. Hilarión of Palestine—his Miracles . 340 Persecution in Persia under Sapor The Acts of the Martyrs 338—350 Three Sieges of Nisibis Arian Mission to Arabia S. Gregory, the Illuminator, in Armenia . Episcopal Succession in Antioch 345 Stephen, the Arian—his vile plots The Catholic Leaders, Flavian and Diodorus 349 S. Athanasius at Antioch and Jerusalem . 351 S. Cyril, of Jerusalem, succeeds Maximus . The luminous Cross The Progress of Arianism c. 355 S. Cyril tried and deposed at Antioch 354 Persecution still raging in Persia Sapor invades the Roman Empire Besieges Amida THE

PATRIARCHS

OF

.

.

.

.

.

.

. . .

.

.

. . .

.

95 97 99 103 105 107 .111 114 121 131 132 133 ib. 134 . 137 .138 141 142 143 145 146 147 149

ANTIOCH,

By CONSTANTIUS, Patriarch of Constantinople .

.

153—190

Extracts from the Archives of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, relating to the Sees of Antioch and Aleppo

193—198

APPENDIX I.

viii

CONTENTS.

APPENDIX

II.

Memoir concerning the Patriarchate of Antioch, published at Moscow in A.D. 1845. (Translated from the Russ)

PAGE

199—212

APPENDIX III. State of the Patriarchate of Antioch in 1850. (Translated from the Russ.) Sketch of its History Power of the Patriarch The Bishops The Monasteries The Parochial Clergy The Schools The Orthodox people in Syria Their Number

213 215 216 218 222 224 226 228

INTRODUCTION.

BY all who are interested in the fortunes of the much-enduring portion of the Church of Christ comprehended within the limits of the four Eastern Patriarchates, the death of the gifted author of the great Work, under the general title of which this present volume appears, was regarded as an irreparable loss to this branch of Sacred Literature; at least so far as this generation is concerned. Dr Neale had devoted the best years of his laborious life to the accumulation of materials for this, which he evidently designed to be the chief monument of his industry, and a K r r j f i a es act to the Church; specially to that cause which had early engaged his warmest sympathies, and to which he consecrated his matured powers with an enthusiasm thoroughly characteristic of the man. That sacred cause was, the gradual approximation and ultimate reconciliation of the long-estranged families of Catholic Christendom, on the basis of a better mutual understanding; which he hoped might

X

DR NEALE'S

SERVICES

result in a more just appreciation of the comparative unimportance of the points of difference, when viewed in relation to the vast heritage of Divine Truth which all hold in common.

A n d although he was

not permitted to see the consummation of his ardent desires, yet his latter years were gladdened by the unmistakeable evidences of a wider and constantlyincreasing interest—both at home and abroad—in the cause of a reunited Christendom, which had been for many years the day-dream of a small and uninfluential section of Anglican Churchmen.

How

largely his indefatigable industry had contributed to this hopeful progress of opinion, was known to others better than to himself; and I can myself bear witness to the fact that, while his zeal provoked very many in our own Communion, the exhibition of it in its results, in Russia and the East, was effectual in stimulating a reciprocal interest in various parts of the Orthodox Church. His chief contribution to this cause, and to that of Sacred Literature, was undoubtedly the great Historical Work above referred t o ; two instalments of which he was permitted to complete; the first, in the History of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, published in 1847, the second in the General Introduction, published in 1850.

In both these works the

most striking features to those who had known the author as a writer of life like fiction, and the uncompromising champion of distinctive Catholic teaching,

TO SACRED LITERATURE.

xi

were, first, the complete subordination of his exuberant poetical imagination to the strict requirements of historical accuracy; and then the rigid impartiality of his estimate of moral worth, unbiassed by theological prejudices and predilections :—a rare quality it will be admitted, whether in ecclesiastical or civil historians, within the domains of religious or political controversy; but indispensable in one who would fairly represent the various phases of thought that have been developed within the Church during the long centuries of her chequered history. I t was, therefore, with no ordinary satisfaction that I learnt, some two years after the death of the author, that his literary executor had discovered among his papers a considerable fragment of what appeared to be a continuation of the " H i s t o r y of the Holy Eastern Church." This pleasing intimation was accompanied with the gratifying request that I would examine, and (if I thought it worth publishing), undertake the editorship of the manuscript; which was accordingly submitted to me for that purpose. A cursory glance at the sheets sufficed to convince me that the " H i s t o r y of the Patriarchate of Antioch" had been undertaken with the same conscientious care that had distinguished the preceding volumes; while it was natural to conclude that the experience obtained in the progress of the work would give additional value to the later production of the author. Unfortunately, however, there was no opportunity of

HISTORY OF THIS POSTHUMOUS WORK.

testing the authority of the work ; for, while the text was largely interspersed with numerals of reference, the corresponding notes were not forthcoming. On pointing out this fatal defect to Mr Haskoll, I was informed that the missing notes could nowhere be found; and it was feared that this must have been the manuscript, the accidental destruction of which D r Neale had deplored some years before his death. A s I felt that it would be impossible for anyone but the author himself to supply the verifications and references to authorities, and that the absence of these would detract seriously from the historical value of the work, I was reluctantly obliged to decline the responsibility of editing it. Many months after this unsatisfactory termination of our first negotiations, the correspondence was reopened by Mr Haskoll, informing me that he had reason to believe that the missing Notes were at last discovered, and renewing his previous request; with which I could no longer hesitate to comply. True indeed it is that any posthumous work must appear at a disadvantage; as the " limse labor" can never be regarded as complete until the last revise has left the writer's hand, and consequently the composition must not be too severely criticised. I have not felt at liberty to depart a hair's breadth from the manuscript, except where it was hopelessly illegible. Happily these exceptional instances are very rare, and are confined to a few words or phrases, which it

ITS FRAGMENTARY

X1U

CHARACTER.

was not difficult to supply conjecturally from the context. The fragmentary character of the work was not, in my opinion, any serious objection to its publication : for nothing is more common than for writers— whether of civil or ecclesiastical history—to select some portion of the wide field of study for special illustration ; as, notably, the periods of the First Three Centuries of the Church, and of the Reformation, have been frequently handled by writers of various schools. This fragment then may be regarded as a monograph of the History of the Church of Antioch during the first four centuries of its existence ; and when it is considered how very important a rôle that Church was called upon to play in the Ecclesiastical History of the early ages ; how prominently the names of some of the most distinguished Martyrs and champions of the Faith, as well as of some of its most notorious heretical impugners, are exhibited in its annals; particularly while it comprehended within its limits the Churches of Palestine, subsequently to be formed into a distinct patriarchate ; it will be seen that the History of the Patriarchate of Antioch is in fact the History of Eastern Christianity; and however we may regret that the author was not spared to complete what was to him indeed a labour of love, we shall congratulate ourselves that his masterly hand was permitted to strike off the life-like portraits of some of the most renowned of c

xiv

OTHER MATERIALS FOR THE WORK.

the Church's worthies, which will be found in the following pages. Having thus narrated the circumstances under which this work is now published, and the causes which have delayed its publication, I may be permitted to mention some motives which strongly influenced me to accept the office which Mr Haskoll was so good as to press upon me,—independently of the deep interest which I have long taken in the fortunes of the great Eastern Church, and of my high appreciation of the value of Dr Neale's Historical Researches. That interest has naturally led me to avail myself of such opportunities as have presented themselves to me of procuring information on subjects connected with the Christian East; and two visits to Russia and two to Syria, at different times and at long intervals, have placed in my hands materials which I hoped might prove serviceable for the illustration of the "History of the Patriarchate of Antioch." It has also been my good fortune to make the acquaintance of some of the best learned of the ecclesiastics of the Orthodox Church, whose aid has been very valuable in the production of the supplementary portion of this Volume; and although this cannot be said of the present Patriarch of Antioch, yet the fact that I have had a personal knowledge of him for some thirty years has given me an additional interest in the fortunes of his Church, which ought to be reflected in these pages.

NO ARCHIVES OF THE SEE,

XV

When I first became acquainted with Hierotheus in 1842 he was Bishop of Mount Tabor, but was better known by the title of o AiaSo^os—"the successor" i. e. of the Patriarch of Jerusalem ; having been nominated to that dignity by the then occupant of the see, in accordance with the prevailing practice.

On the death of the Patriarch, however, in

1845, the Porte refused to confirm the nomination of Hierotheus, who was suspected of Russian proclivities ('Po)cra-6