Apollonius of Ephesus

Apollonius of Ephesus

Apollonius of Ephesus (fl. 180-210) was an anti-Montanist Greek ecclesiastical writer, probably from Asia Minor.

He was thoroughly acquainted with the Christian history of Ephesus and the doings of the Phrygian Montanists. The unknown author of "Praedestinatus" says he was a Bishop of Ephesus. [Unknown Author. "Praedestinatus". I, 26, 27, 28; P.L., LIII, 596.] However, the lack of support from other Christian writers makes this testimony doubtful. He undertook the defense of the Church against Montanus, and followed in the footsteps of Zoticus of Comanus, Julian of Apamaea, Sotas of Anchialus, and Apollinaris of Hierapolis.

His work is cited by Eusebius ["Church History", V, 18.] , and is praised by St. Jerome, [De Viris Illustribus 40] but has been lost, and not even its title is known. It most likely showed the falsity of the Montanist prophecies, recounted the unedifying lives of Montanus and his prophetesses. It also gave currency to the report of their suicide by hanging, and threw light on some of the adepts of the sect, including the apostate Themison, and the pseudo-martyr Alexander.

Themison, having evaded martyrdom by means of money, posed as an innovator, addressing a letter to his partisans after the manner of the Apostles, and finally blasphemed Christ and the Church. Alexander, a notorious thief, publicly condemned at Ephesus, had himself adored as a god.

Based on Eusebius, it is known that Apollonius spoke in his work of Zoticus, who had tried to exorcise Maximilla, but had been prevented by Themison, and of the martyr-Bishop Thraseas, another adversary of Montanism. He likely gave the signal in it for the movement of opposition to Montanism which the reunion of the first synods developed.

At all events, he recalls the tradition according to which Jesus had advised the Apostles not to go far from Jerusalem during the twelve years immediately following His Ascension, a tradition known to Clement of Alexandria from the apocryphal "Praedicatio Petri". Moreover, he recounts the restoration to life of a dead man at Ephesus by the Apostle St. John, whose Apocalypse he knew and quotes.

He takes rank among the opponents of Montanism with the "Anonymous" of Eusebius, [Hist. Eccl., V, 16, 17] with Miltiades and with Apollinaris. Eusebius says his work constituted "an abundant and excellent refutation of Montanism". St. Jerome qualified it as "a lengthy and remarkable volume". It did not therefore pass unnoticed, and roused some feeling among the Montanists since Tertullian felt it necessary to reply to it.

After his six books "peri ekstaseos", in which he apologized for the ecstasies into which the Montanist prophetesses fell before prophesying, Tertullian composed a seventh especially to refute Apollonius; he wrote it also in Greek for the use of the Asiatic Montanists.

ource

*catholic
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01617d.htm Apollonius of Ephesus] at Catholic Encyclopedia

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Apollonius of Ephesus — • Anti Montanist Greek ecclesiastical writer, between 180 and 210 Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Apollonius of Ephesus     Apollonius of Ephesus      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Apollonius — may be:;Historical people:* Apollonius Cronus (fl. 4th century BC), philosopher of the Megarian school * Apollonius Dyscolus (fl. 2nd century), grammarian * Apollonius Molon (fl. 70 BC), rhetorician * Apollonius of Athens (fl. 1st century BC),… …   Wikipedia

  • Apollonius of Tyre — is the subject of an ancient short novella, popular during medieval times. Existing in numerous forms in many languages, the text is thought to be translated from an ancient Greek manuscript, now lost.In most versions, the eponymous hero is… …   Wikipedia

  • Apollonius [3] — Apollonĭus von Tyăna (in Kappadozien), neupythagoreischer Philosoph und Zeitgenosse von Christus, gest., fast 100 J. alt, zu Ephesus, durchreiste als Sittenlehrer viele Länder und behauptete weissagen und Wunder verrichten zu können. Aus den… …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Apollonius of Tyana — Infobox Philosopher region = Western Philosophy era = Ancient philosophy color = #B0C4DE |thumb image size = 200px image caption = Apollonius of Tyana name = Apollonius of Tyana birth = ca. 40 AD death = ca. 120 AD school tradition = Hellenistic… …   Wikipedia

  • Apollonius of Perga — born с 240 BC, Perga, Anatolia died с 190 BC, Alexandria, Egypt Mathematician known as The Great Geometer. His Conics was one of the greatest scientific treatises of the ancient world. In it he introduced the terms parabola, ellipse, and… …   Universalium

  • Life of Apollonius of Tyana — is a book written in Ancient Greece by Philostratus (c. 170–c. 245 AD). It tells the story of Apollonius of Tyana (ca. 40 ca. 120 AD), a Pythagorean philosopher and teacher.ContentsThe book describes extensively alleged travels of Apollonius to… …   Wikipedia

  • Patrologia Graeca — The Patrologia Graeca (or Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Series Graeca) is an edited collection of writings by the Christian Church Fathers and various secular writers, in the ancient Koine or medieval variants of the Greek language. It consists… …   Wikipedia

  • biblical literature — Introduction       four bodies of written works: the Old Testament writings according to the Hebrew canon; intertestamental works, including the Old Testament Apocrypha; the New Testament writings; and the New Testament Apocrypha.       The Old… …   Universalium

  • Hellenistic Age — In the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, the period between the death of Alexander the Great (323 BC) and the conquest of Egypt by Rome (30 BC). Alexander and his successors established Greek monarchies that controlled the area from… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”