The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Patrophilus of Scythopolis
bishop from before AD 325; d. c. 360 · Bishop of Scythopolis · Leading Arian · Scythopolis, Palestine
The Nicene Age
Who Patrophilus of Scythopolis was
One of the most durable Arian bishops of the East: he subscribed at Nicaea, then spent thirty-five years working against its creed. He was among the group that deposed Athanasius at Tyre in 335, sat at Antioch and Sardica, and it was to his city that Eusebius of Vercelli was banished — where, on the western account, he was kept in conditions the exiles described in letters. He died about 360; his tomb was desecrated under Julian.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees and heretics & schismatics.
Common questions
When did Patrophilus live?
Patrophilus of Scythopolis is dated bishop from before AD 325; d. c. 360 in the archive, which places Patrophilus in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400). 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 Patrophilus?
Patrophilus of Scythopolis is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Subscriptions of the Council of Nicaea and Socrates Scholasticus. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Patrophilus from?
The archive associates Patrophilus of Scythopolis with Scythopolis, Palestine. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Patrophilus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Patrophilus of Scythopolis to 3 other figures, including Athanasius of Alexandria, Eusebius of Vercelli and Eusebius of Nicomedia. 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.
The Nicene subscription lists, under Palestine
c. AD 325[Patrophilus of Scythopolis subscribes the creed, and afterwards led the opposition to it in Palestine.]Subscriptions of the Council of Nicaea · Nicene subscription lists · source text
Ecclesiastical History II.8 and passim (Patrophilus among the leaders of the Arian party)
c. AD 439[Named repeatedly among the bishops who worked against Athanasius and the Nicene faith.]Socrates Scholasticus · Ecclesiastical History II.8 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
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 Patrophilus.
- 1Palestineprovince only