The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Julius I of Rome
d. 352 · Bishop of Rome · Defender of Athanasius · Rome
The Nicene Age
Who Julius I of Rome was
Bishop of Rome (337–352) who threw the weight of the Western church behind the exiled Athanasius and Marcellus, holding a Roman synod in 340 that acquitted them and writing to the Eastern bishops a sharp letter asserting that grave cases touching a great see should be referred to Rome — an early and much-cited claim of Roman appellate authority. His diplomacy helped procure the Council of Serdica (343), which reaffirmed Nicaea in the West. The pope who made Rome the refuge and advocate of the Nicene exiles.
Also listed in the bishops of Rome.
Common questions
When did Julius I die?
Julius I of Rome is dated d. 352 in the archive, which places Julius I in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400).
Which early sources mention Julius I?
Julius I of Rome is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Julius I, via Athanasius, The chronographer of 354 and Socrates Scholasticus. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Julius I from?
The archive associates Julius I of Rome with Rome.
Who were Julius I’s contemporaries?
The archive links Julius I of Rome to 6 other figures, including Athanasius of Alexandria, Marcellus of Ancyra, Liberius of Rome and Hosius of Cordova. 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.
Apology against the Arians 21–35 (Julius’ letter)
c. AD 341Are you ignorant that the custom has been to write first to us, and then for a just decision to be passed from this place?… For what we have received from the blessed Apostle Peter, that I signify to you.Julius I, via Athanasius · source text
Liberian Catalogue & Depositio episcoporum
c. AD 354Ecclesiastical History II.15–17 (his letter for Athanasius retold)
c. AD 440The ecclesiastical canon declares that the churches ought not to make any ordinances against the opinion of the bishop of Rome.Socrates Scholasticus · Ecclesiastical History II.15 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
- Athanasius of Alexandria
- Marcellus of Ancyra
- Liberius of Rome
- Hosius of Cordova
- Marcellinus of Rome
- Sylvester I of Rome
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
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Julius I.
- 1Rome