The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Lucian of Antioch
d. 7 January 312 · Presbyter of Antioch · Biblical scholar · Martyr · Samosata → Antioch → Nicomedia
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Lucian of Antioch was
A learned presbyter of Antioch who produced a careful recension of the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) and the New — the “Lucianic” or Antiochene text that would dominate the Byzantine tradition — and founded the exegetical school of Antioch, with its stress on the literal and historical sense against Alexandrian allegory. Martyred at Nicomedia in 312 after long imprisonment and torture, he died a hero of the faith; yet his pupils, the “fellow-Lucianists,” included Arius and Eusebius of Nicomedia, so that the Arian party traced its scholarship to him. A martyr venerated by the church whose classroom, by irony, seeded its greatest controversy.
Also listed in martyrs and the great persecution.
Common questions
When did Lucian die?
Lucian of Antioch is dated d. 7 January 312 in the archive, which places Lucian in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
What did Lucian write?
Lucian of Antioch has 2 catalogued writings in the archive: The 'Dedication' creed of Antioch (341), attributed to Lucian and Apologia before Maximinus, and the recension of the Scriptures. 1 of these is lost, known only from later citation.
Which early sources mention Lucian?
Lucian of Antioch is named in 4 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea, John Chrysostom, Jerome of Stridon and Philostorgius. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Lucian from?
The archive associates Lucian of Antioch with Samosata, Antioch, Nicomedia. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Writings (2)
The 'Dedication' creed of Antioch (341), attributed to Lucian
Produced by the Dedication council as the martyr's own confessionWe believe, in accordance with evangelic and apostolic tradition, in one God, the Father Almighty. (via Athanasius, On the Councils 23)Read the interlinear source text →
Apologia before Maximinus, and the recension of the Scriptures
The defense speech survives only in Rufinus's Latin report; the recension survives unlabeled inside the Byzantine textCertain copies of the scriptures even now bear the name of Lucian. (Jerome, On Illustrious Men 77)Lost — known only from later citation.
Primary-source mentions (4)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History VIII.13; IX.6
c. AD 325Lucian, a presbyter of the church at Antioch, a most excellent man in every respect, temperate in life and versed in sacred learning, was carried to Nicomedia… and there sealed his confession by death.Eusebius of Caesarea · IX.6 · source text
John Chrysostom, Homily on St Lucian (preached at Antioch the day after Epiphany)
c. AD 387[Preached at Antioch on the day after Epiphany, Lucian’s feast, on the presbyter who died of thirst in prison rather than eat what was set before him.]John Chrysostom · Homily on Saint Lucian
One of John Chrysostom's occasional homilies for the feasts of the martyrs, preached at Antioch or Constantinople between c. AD 386 and 400. These are not in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. Greek: Migne, Patrologia Graeca 50. English translations by Wendy Mayer and Bronwen Neil, St John Chrysostom: The Cult of the Saints (St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2006); no public-domain English exists.
On Illustrious Men 77
c. AD 392Lucianus, a man of great talent, presbyter of the church at Antioch, so laboured in the study of the scriptures, that even now certain copies of the scriptures bear the name of Lucian.Jerome of Stridon · On Illustrious Men 77 · source text
Church History II.14–15 (the 'Collucianists' traced to his school)
c. AD 430Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- 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
- 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
Place
Places served
The 3 places the sources put Lucian, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.