The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Maternus of Cologne
fl. AD 313–314 (death unrecorded) · First documented bishop of Cologne · Judge of the Donatist appeal · Colonia Agrippina (Cologne)
The Nicene Age
Who Maternus of Cologne was
The first historically certain bishop of Cologne — one of the three Gaulish bishops Constantine personally summoned to sit with Miltiades at the Lateran hearing of the Donatist case in 313, and a subscriber at Arles the next year. Later legend made him a disciple of Peter; the documents make him something rarer, a Rhineland bishop the emperor knew by name.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees and heretics & schismatics.
Common questions
When was Maternus active?
Maternus of Cologne is dated fl. AD 313–314 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Maternus in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400).
What did Maternus write?
Maternus of Cologne has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: The Synodal Letter of the Council of Arles to Sylvester of Rome.
Which early sources mention Maternus?
Maternus of Cologne is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from The bishops at Arles, The Council of Arles and Optatus of Milevis. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Maternus from?
The archive associates Maternus of Cologne with Colonia Agrippina (Cologne).
Writings (1)
The Synodal Letter of the Council of Arles to Sylvester of Rome
AD 314Being united by the common tie of charity… we have been brought to the City of Arles by the wish of the most pious Emperor.Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Council of Arles subscription list (314); Eusebius, HE X.5 (Constantine's letter)
c. AD 314…that Maternus of Cologne, Reticius of Autun, and Marinus of Arles should sit at Rome with Miltiades, and hear the cause of Caecilian.The bishops at Arles · source text
The Synodal Letter of the Council of Arles to Pope Sylvester — the subscription list
c. AD 314To the most beloved Pope Silvester: Marinus, Acratius, Natalis, Theodore, Proterius, Vocius, Verus, Probatius, Caecilian, Faustinus, Surgentius, Gregory, Reticius, Ambitausus, Termatius, Merocles, Pardus, Adelfius, Hibernius, Fortunatus, Aristasius, Lampadius, Vitalis, Maternus, Liberius, Gregory, Crescens, Avitianus, Dafnus, Orantalis, Quintasius, Victor, Epictetus, eternal health in the Lord!The Council of Arles · Letter of the Council of Arles to Sylvester · source text
Against Parmenian I.23 (named among the Lateran judges of 313)
c. AD 367Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- 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
- 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
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Maternus.