The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Fortunatianus of Aquileia
d. c. AD 370 · Bishop of Aquileia · Gospel commentator · Presser of Liberius · Africa → Aquileia
The Nicene Age
Who Fortunatianus of Aquileia was
African by birth, bishop of Aquileia under Constantius, and author of brief 'pearls' of commentary on the Gospels — rediscovered, sixteen centuries later, as the earliest surviving Latin gospel commentary. Jerome's verdict carries the sting that keeps him remembered: valued for the book, 'held detestable' because, when Pope Liberius set out for exile, it was Fortunatianus who first broke and solicited him toward the Arian communion.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees.
Common questions
When did Fortunatianus die?
Fortunatianus of Aquileia is dated d. c. AD 370 in the archive, which places Fortunatianus 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 Fortunatianus write?
Fortunatianus of Aquileia has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: Commentary on the Gospels.
Which early sources mention Fortunatianus?
Fortunatianus of Aquileia is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Jerome of Stridon and Jerome. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Fortunatianus from?
The archive associates Fortunatianus of Aquileia with Africa, Aquileia. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Writings (1)
Commentary on the Gospels
The earliest surviving Latin gospel commentary — vanished after Jerome borrowed it, identified in Cologne Dombibliothek 17 in 2012[Jerome asked for 'the commentaries of Fortunatianus' (Letter 10); fourteen centuries later, Dorfbauer found them]Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Letter 10.3 (Jerome asks for his gospel commentaries)
c. AD 374I beg you to send me the commentaries of Fortunatianus.Jerome of Stridon · Letter 10.3 · source text
On Illustrious Men 97
c. AD 393Fortunatianus, an African by birth, bishop of Aquileia under Constantius, composed brief commentaries on the gospels… and in this he is held detestable, that he first solicited and broke the spirit of Liberius on his way to exile.Jerome · 97 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
- AD 306 · The Council of Elvira, AD 306
- AD 311 · Galerius’ edict of Serdica, AD 311
- AD 313 · The Edict of Milan, AD 313
- AD 314 · The Council of Arles, AD 314
- 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
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Fortunatianus, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.