Amphilochius, St

Amphilochius, St.

bishop of Iconium, was born in Cappadocia, and studied for the bar; but, after discharging for some time the office of advocate and judge, he retired into a solitude, where he led a self-denying life. In 374 he was consecrated bishop of Iconium, the metropolitan see of Lycaonia. He attended the second ecumenical council in 381, and in 383 held a synod at Side against the Messalians. The time of his death is unknown, but Jerome speaks of him as still living in 392. He opposed Arianism (Sozomen, Hist. Ec. 7, 6). Jerome also mentions a treatise concerning the Holy Spirit, written by Amphilochius, in which he proved the godhead of the Holy Ghost. Theodoret, in his dialogues, cites some passages of certain homilies of Amphilochius on the words of our Savior, "My Father is greater than I," and "The Son can do nothing of Himself," etc. All these fragments were collected and published by Combefis (fol. Paris, 1644). Among them are:

1. A Discourse on the Birth of Jesus Christ: — 2. A Discourse on the Circumcision: — 3. Another on the Meeting with the Lord: — 4. Three Homilies — on Lazarus, on the Woman that was a Sinner, and on Holy Saturday.

The fourth, given by Combefis, on Penance, certainly is not his; neither is the life of Basil, and some other pieces which that father has inserted in his collection as the works of Amplilochius. Both Greeks and Latins commemorate him as a saint on the 23d of November. — Theodoret, Ch. Hist. lib. 5, cap. 16; Cave, Hist. Lit. anno 370; Coteler. Mon. Eccl. Gr. 2.