The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Mazabanes of Jerusalem
d. c. AD 260 · Bishop of Aelia (Jerusalem) · Aelia (Jerusalem)
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Mazabanes of Jerusalem was
Successor of Alexander of Jerusalem, who had died in prison at Caesarea in the Decian persecution. Dionysius of Alexandria names him among the bishops addressed in his peace-letter over the baptism controversy, so he is attested both in the succession and as a correspondent.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees.
Common questions
When did Mazabanes die?
Mazabanes of Jerusalem is dated d. c. AD 260 in the archive, which places Mazabanes 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 Mazabanes?
Mazabanes of Jerusalem is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Mazabanes from?
The archive associates Mazabanes of Jerusalem with Aelia (Jerusalem).
Who were Mazabanes’ contemporaries?
The archive links Mazabanes of Jerusalem to 3 other figures, including Alexander of Jerusalem, Dionysius the Great and Theoctistus of Caesarea. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History VI.39.3
c. AD 325[Mazabanes succeeds Alexander in the see of Jerusalem.]Eusebius of Caesarea · Ecclesiastical History VI.39.3 · source text
Ecclesiastical History VII.5.1
c. AD 325[Named among the bishops of the East in Dionysius’ letter on the peace of the churches.]Eusebius of Caesarea · Ecclesiastical History VII.5.1 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Named alongside Mazabanes in the sources
These figures are placed with Mazabanes by the record — in a council roll, a martyr-act, a letter or a history — without Mazabanes naming them in return.
Events in this lifetime
- AD 190 · The Quartodeciman controversy, AD 190
- AD 202 · Perpetua and Felicity martyred, AD 202
- 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
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Mazabanes.