The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Neon of Laranda
fl. c. AD 216 (death unrecorded) · Bishop of Laranda · Laranda, Lycaonia
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Neon of Laranda was
One of two bishops who let a layman preach in church in their presence — the precedent Alexander of Jerusalem and Theoctistus of Caesarea cited when Demetrius of Alexandria attacked them for letting Origen do the same. A minor bishop who exists in the record only because a much larger quarrel needed him.
Named once in Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History; no other ancient source names him.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees.
Common questions
When was Neon active?
Neon of Laranda is dated fl. c. AD 216 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Neon 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 Neon?
Neon of Laranda is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Neon from?
The archive associates Neon of Laranda with Laranda, Lycaonia. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Neon’s contemporaries?
The archive links Neon of Laranda to 4 other figures, including Atticus of Synada, Origen of Alexandria, Alexander of Jerusalem and Theoctistus of Caesarea. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History VI.19.18
c. AD 325[Neon at Laranda permitted Euelpis to preach, as Atticus at Synada permitted Theodorus.]Eusebius of Caesarea · Ecclesiastical History VI.19.18 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 156 · The New Prophecy erupts, AD 156
- AD 177 · Persecution at Lyon and Vienne, AD 177
- AD 180 · The Scillitan martyrs, AD 180
- AD 190 · The Quartodeciman controversy, AD 190
- AD 202 · Perpetua and Felicity martyred, AD 202
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Neon, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.