The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Valens of Mursa
d. c. AD 378 · Illyrian Arian bishop · Court theologian of Constantius · Mursa, Pannonia
The Nicene Age
Who Valens of Mursa was
The sharper half of the Ursacius-and-Valens partnership, and the Arian West's one genius of timing: stationed at Mursa during the great battle of 351, he had 'an angel's word' of Magnentius's defeat ready for the anxious Constantius hours before the couriers — and owned the emperor's ear ever after. He drafted the Sirmium 'Blasphemy,' bullied Rimini into surrender, and co-signed, in the retraction of 347, a written confession that his charges against Athanasius had been lies. Not Emperor Valens, and not Valens of Philippi: this Valens burned no incense and needed none — he had the court.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees and heretics & schismatics.
Common questions
When did Valens die?
Valens of Mursa is dated d. c. AD 378 in the archive, which places Valens 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.
What did Valens write?
Valens of Mursa has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: The 'Blasphemy' of Sirmium (357), with Ursacius.
Which early sources mention Valens?
Valens of Mursa is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Athanasius of Alexandria. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Valens from?
The archive associates Valens of Mursa with Mursa, Pannonia. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Writings (1)
The 'Blasphemy' of Sirmium (357), with Ursacius
The manifesto that forbade 'substance' — drafted by the court bishops, preserved by its enemies[Hilary prints the text entire in order to burn it slowly]Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Apology Against the Arians 58
c. AD 350We lied against the bishop Athanasius, and what we alleged we cannot maintain: wherefore we embrace the communion of the church, and anathematize Arius. — the letter of Valens and Ursacius, which they afterwards unsaid.Athanasius of Alexandria · 58 · source text
On the Councils (De Synodis) 1–2
c. AD 350At Ariminum, Valens and his fellows pressed the fathers, wearied with delay, to subscribe the creed dated by the consuls — faith, as men mocked, with a birthday.Athanasius of Alexandria · 1 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
- Ursacius of Singidunum
- Emperor Constantius II
- Athanasius of Alexandria
- Potamius of Lisbon
- Phoebadius of Agen
Events in this lifetime
- 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
- AD 361 · Julian’s pagan restoration, AD 361
- AD 366 · Damasus and the catacomb epigrams, AD 366
- AD 367 · Athanasius lists the 27 NT books, AD 367
- AD 372 · The martyrdom of Sabbas the Goth, AD 372
- AD 378 · Queen Mavia’s revolt, AD 378
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Valens.
- 1Pannoniaprovince only