The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Cronius of Nitria
d. c. AD 386 · Priest of Nitria · Antony's interpreter · Nitria, Egypt
The Nicene Age
Who Cronius of Nitria was
The aged priest of Nitria who had fled a monastery in youth, walked to Antony's inner mountain, and stayed to interpret — the hermit spoke no Greek, and it was through Cronius's mouth, he told Palladius, that Antony answered the tragic Eulogius and comforted the mourners. A whole strand of the Antony tradition passed through him: the desert's translator, remembered because he repeated faithfully.
Common questions
When did Cronius die?
Cronius of Nitria is dated d. c. AD 386 in the archive, which places Cronius 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.
Which early sources mention Cronius?
Cronius of Nitria is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Palladius of Galatia and The desert tradition. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Cronius from?
The archive associates Cronius of Nitria with Nitria, Egypt. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Cronius’ contemporaries?
The archive links Cronius of Nitria to 2 other figures, including Anthony the Great and Abba Or of Nitria. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
The Lausiac History 21
c. AD 420Cronius the priest of Nitria told me: Being younger, I interpreted for the blessed Antony, for he knew not Greek — and I heard what he answered to Eulogius, for the whole speech passed through me.Palladius of Galatia · 21 · source text
Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Cronius)
c. AD 450Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 320 · Silvanus tried before Zenophilus, AD 320
- AD 325 · The Council of Nicaea, AD 325
- 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
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Cronius, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.