The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Chromatius of Aquileia
presbyter AD 381; bishop of Aquileia 388 – c. 407 · Presbyter, then Bishop of Aquileia · Aquileia
The Nicene Age
Who Chromatius of Aquileia was
A presbyter of Aquileia in 381, present at the council in his own church while Ambrose interrogated the two Arians, and bishop of the same see from 388 until his death. He corresponded with Ambrose, Jerome and Rufinus, and commissioned Jerome’s translation work; the forged preface to the Hieronymian Martyrology puts a letter in his name and Heliodorus’ asking Jerome for a list of feasts. Thirty-eight of his sermons were recovered in 1969. He is entered at the archive’s AD 400 ceiling, having been active well before it.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees.
Common questions
When did Chromatius live?
Chromatius of Aquileia is dated presbyter AD 381; bishop of Aquileia 388 – c. 407 in the archive, which places Chromatius in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
What did Chromatius write?
Chromatius of Aquileia has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: The Gesta of the Council of Aquileia against Palladius and Secundianus.
Which early sources mention Chromatius?
Chromatius of Aquileia is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from The Council of Aquileia and Jerome of Stridon. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Chromatius from?
The archive associates Chromatius of Aquileia with Aquileia.
Writings (1)
The Gesta of the Council of Aquileia against Palladius and Secundianus
3 September 381The verbatim stenographic minutes of the council — the only fourth-century council whose proceedings survive as recorded dialogue rather than as canons and a letter.Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Gesta Concilii Aquileiensis — the opening protocol and roll of the thirty-two bishops
c. AD 381In the consulship of the illustrious Syagrius and Eucherius, on the 3rd day of September, the undermentioned Bishops, sitting in council in the church at Aquileia, namely, Valerian, Bishop of Aquileia, Ambrose, Eusebius, Limenius, Anemius, Sabinus, Abundantius, Artemius, Constantius, Justus, Philaster, Constantius, Theodorus, Almachius, Domninus, Amantius, Maximus, Felix, Bassianus, Numidius, Januarius, Proculus, Heliodorus, Jovinus, Felix, Exuperantius, Diogenes, Maximus, Macedonius, Cassianus, Marcellus, and Eustathius, Bishops.The Council of Aquileia · Gesta Concilii Aquileiensis §1 · source text
On Illustrious Men (Chromatius among the Latin writers of the day)
c. AD 392[Jerome dedicates translation work to Chromatius, bishop of Aquileia, and names him among his correspondents.]Jerome of Stridon · On Illustrious Men · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 339 · The persecution of Shapur II, AD 339
- AD 343 · The Council of Serdica, AD 343
- AD 361 · Julian’s pagan restoration, AD 361
- AD 366 · Damasus and the catacomb epigrams, AD 366
- AD 367 · Athanasius lists the 27 NT books, AD 367
- AD 372 · The martyrdom of Sabbas the Goth, AD 372
- AD 378 · Queen Mavia’s revolt, AD 378
- AD 380 · The Edict of Thessalonica, AD 380
- AD 381 · The Council of Constantinople, AD 381
- AD 381 · The Council of Aquileia, AD 381
- AD 384 · The Altar of Victory petition, AD 384
- AD 390 · Thessalonica and the penance of Theodosius, AD 390
- AD 397 · Carthage confirms the canon, AD 397
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Chromatius.