The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Protogenes
fl. AD 268 (death unrecorded) · Bishop · Signatory at Antioch · Antioch (the synod of 268)
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Protogenes was
One of the bishops who signed the synodal letter deposing Paul of Samosata — the fullest conciliar document surviving from the third century, and the first time a council put its reasoning in writing to the whole church. Most of the signatories are named here and nowhere else in ancient literature.
Named once, in the synodal letter of Antioch (268) at Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History VII.30.2; no other ancient source names him.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees.
Common questions
When was Protogenes active?
Protogenes is dated fl. AD 268 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Protogenes in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
Which early sources mention Protogenes?
Protogenes 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 Protogenes from?
The archive associates Protogenes with Antioch (the synod of 268).
Who were Protogenes’ contemporaries?
The archive links Protogenes to 4 other figures, including Paul of Samosata, Malchion of Antioch, Domnus of Antioch and Firmilian 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 VII.30.2
c. AD 325[Helenus, Hymenaeus, Theophilus, Theotecnus, Maximus, Proclus, Nicomas, Aelianus, Paul, Bolanus, Protogenes, Hierax, Eutychius, Theodorus, Malchion and Lucius, to Dionysius and Maximus and to all our fellow-ministers throughout the world.]Eusebius of Caesarea · Ecclesiastical History VII.30.2 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Named alongside Protogenes in the sources
These figures are placed with Protogenes by the record — in a council roll, a martyr-act, a letter or a history — without Protogenes naming them in return.
Events in this lifetime
- 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
- AD 268 · Antioch deposes Paul of Samosata, AD 268
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Protogenes.