The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Hymenaeus of Jerusalem
d. c. 298 · Bishop of Jerusalem · Jerusalem
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Hymenaeus of Jerusalem was
Bishop of Jerusalem in the later third century, who headed the roster of bishops in the first synod of Antioch against Paul of Samosata (c. 264) — his name stands first in the synodal letter Eusebius preserves, marking the prestige the mother-city’s see still carried. He governed the Jerusalem church through the long peace before Diocletian. His name closes the pre-persecution Jerusalem succession begun again after the Gentile refounding.
Also listed in the bishops of Jerusalem.
Common questions
When did Hymenaeus die?
Hymenaeus of Jerusalem is dated d. c. 298 in the archive, which places Hymenaeus in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313). 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 Hymenaeus?
Hymenaeus of Jerusalem is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea and Epiphanius of Salamis. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Hymenaeus from?
The archive associates Hymenaeus of Jerusalem with Jerusalem.
Who were Hymenaeus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Hymenaeus of Jerusalem to 10 other figures, including Alexander of Jerusalem, Firmilian of Caesarea, Gregory Thaumaturgus and Paul of Samosata. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History VII.28, 30
c. AD 325The most eminent of the bishops who then assembled… were Firmilianus of Caesarea in Cappadocia; the brothers Gregory and Athenodorus; Helenus of Tarsus; and Hymenaeus of Jerusalem.Eusebius of Caesarea · 30 · source text
Ecclesiastical History VII.30.2
c. AD 325[Helenus, Hymenaeus, Theophilus, Theotecnus, Maximus, Proclus, Nicomas, Aelianus, Paul, Bolanus, Protogenes, Hierax, Eutychius, Theodorus, Malchion and Lucius, to Dionysius and Maximus and to all our fellow-ministers throughout the world.]Eusebius of Caesarea · Ecclesiastical History VII.30.2 · source text
Panarion 66.20 (the Jerusalem succession, continued past the Fifteen)
c. AD 375Connected in the archive
People
- Alexander of Jerusalem
- Firmilian of Caesarea
- Gregory Thaumaturgus
- Paul of Samosata
- Athenodorus of Pontus
- Helenus of Tarsus
- Theotecnus of Caesarea
- Mazabanes of Jerusalem
- Protogenes
- Philetus
Events in this lifetime
- AD 235 · Maximinus Thrax targets the clergy, AD 235
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
- AD 251 · The Novatianist schism, AD 251
- AD 257 · The Valerian persecution, AD 257
- AD 260 · Gallienus’ edict of toleration, AD 260
- AD 268 · Antioch deposes Paul of Samosata, AD 268
- AD 272 · Aurelian awards the Antioch church, AD 272
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Hymenaeus.