The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Valens of Aelia
d. AD 309 (martyred with Pamphilus) · Deacon of Aelia (Jerusalem) · Martyr · Aelia Capitolina → Caesarea Maritima
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Valens of Aelia was
An aged deacon of the church of Jerusalem, so learned in the scriptures — Eusebius says — that he could recite whole pages from memory, martyred at Caesarea in the company of his teacher Pamphilus with Paul of Jamnia, Seleucus, Julian, and the rest of the twelve. The gentlest scholar of the persecution's most scholarly martyrdom. Distinct from Emperor Valens and from Valens of Mursa.
Martyrs of Palestine 11 only.
Also listed in martyrs and the great persecution.
Common questions
When did Valens die?
Valens of Aelia is dated d. AD 309 (martyred with Pamphilus) in the archive, which places Valens in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313).
Which early sources mention Valens?
Valens of Aelia 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 Valens from?
The archive associates Valens of Aelia with Aelia Capitolina, Caesarea Maritima. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Valens’ contemporaries?
The archive links Valens of Aelia to 3 other figures, including Pamphilus of Caesarea, Eusebius of Caesarea and Emperor Maximinus Daza. 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.
Martyrs of Palestine 11 (with the Ecclesiastical History)
c. AD 325Valens, a deacon of the church at Aelia, an old man of venerable grey hairs… so learned in the divine scriptures that he needed not the reading of the books, but recited from memory whatever passage he wished.Eusebius of Caesarea · MP 11 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- 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
- AD 272 · Aurelian awards the Antioch church, AD 272
- 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
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Valens, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.