The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Theoctistus of Caesarea
d. c. 257 · Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine · Caesarea Maritima
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Theoctistus of Caesarea was
Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine and firm friend of Origen, who with Alexander of Jerusalem invited the layman Origen to expound the scriptures in church and later ordained him presbyter — the act that provoked Demetrius of Alexandria and shifted the centre of Origen’s life to Palestine. The two Palestinian bishops defended the propriety of a learned layman preaching before bishops as no innovation. Theoctistus thus helped make Caesarea, with its library, the great scholarly successor to Alexandria.
Eusebius only (VI.19, VI.27, VII.14) — one author, several loci.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees and roman emperors.
Common questions
When did Theoctistus die?
Theoctistus of Caesarea is dated d. c. 257 in the archive, which places Theoctistus 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 Theoctistus?
Theoctistus of Caesarea is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Alexander & Theoctistus, via Eusebius. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Theoctistus from?
The archive associates Theoctistus of Caesarea with Caesarea Maritima.
Who were Theoctistus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Theoctistus of Caesarea to 3 other figures, including Origen of Alexandria, Alexander of Jerusalem 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 VI.19, 27
c. AD 325…wherever there are found persons able to benefit the brethren, they are exhorted by the holy bishops to address the people. Thus in Laranda Euelpis was so invited by Neon, and in Iconium Paulinus by Celsus.Alexander & Theoctistus, via Eusebius · 27 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Named alongside Theoctistus in the sources
These figures are placed with Theoctistus by the record — in a council roll, a martyr-act, a letter or a history — without Theoctistus 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
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Theoctistus.