Eleutherus
Eleutherus | |
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Depiction of Eleutherus in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls |
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Born | 2nd century ( Nicopolis , Greece ) |
Deceased | May 24, 189 ( Rome ) |
Holiday | May 26 |
Attributes | Tiara , cross staff , book |
Eleutherus or Eleutherius (* according to Liber pontificalis in Nicopolis , Greece; † May 24, 189 in Rome , buried on the Vatican Hill ) was bishop of Rome from around 175 to 189 .
The earliest list of the bishops of Rome by Irenaeus of Lyons ends with this Greek . References to him can also be found in Eusebius of Caesarea and in other documents of the time. Like his predecessors, he struggled with montanism . According to his contemporary Hegesippus , Eleutherus is said to have been a deacon during the term of office of the Roman bishop Anicetus .
The Liber Pontificalis from the beginning of the 6th century reports that he had relations with the British King Lucius, who had a desire to convert to Christianity . This legend - of Roman, not British origin - probably has its origins in the parallel literary tradition of King Abgar IX. from Edessa to do.
pontificate
In contrast to the professing Christians in Asia Minor and Gaul , the Roman community lived without persecution during the time of his pontificate . Eleutherus turned against the heresies of the Marcionites , Montanists and Valentinians , who wanted to explain the secrets of the Christian faith or to prophesy the imminent end of the world through philosophical speculations - according to their self- image.
Death and adoration
Eleutherus is said to have died of natural causes in Rome around 189 , not a martyr . He is shown in pictures in papal robes with a tiara and cross staff , as well as with a book. The holy day of remembrance of Eleutherius is May 26th, his name means: "the free" or "the liberator".
Individual evidence
- ↑ Eleutherius on heiligenlexikon.de. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
- ↑ Cf. Georg Schwaiger: Eleutherus . In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape 3 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1995, Sp. 586 .
- ^ Lexicon of the Saints (page 157), Weltbild Publishing Group , Augsburg, 2005, ISBN 3-8289-4980-0
literature
- Georg Schwaiger : Eleutherus . In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape 3 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1995, Sp. 586 .
- Adolf Jülicher : Eleutheros 5 . In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume V, 2, Stuttgart 1905, Col. 2355.
- Friedrich Wilhelm Bautz: ELEUTHERUS. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 1, Bautz, Hamm 1975. 2nd, unchanged edition Hamm 1990, ISBN 3-88309-013-1 , Sp. 1488.
- Johann Peter Kirsch : Pope St. Eleutherius (Eleutheros) . In: Catholic Encyclopedia , Volume 5, Robert Appleton Company, New York 1909.
Web links
predecessor | Office | successor |
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Soterus |
Bishop of Rome (the term Pope was first used after 384) around 175–189 |
Viktor I. |
personal data | |
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SURNAME | Eleutherus |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Eleutherius |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Bishop of Rome |
DATE OF BIRTH | 2nd century |
PLACE OF BIRTH | uncertain: Nicopolis , Greece |
DATE OF DEATH | May 24th 189 |
Place of death | buried Vatican Hill |