Eusebius (3)

Eusebius bishop of Emesa, fourth century. Socrates (Hist. Ecclesiastes 2:9) gives the following account of him: "Who this person was, George, bishop of Laodicea, who was present on this occasion, informs us; for he says, in the book which he has composed on his life, that he was descended from a noble family of Edessa, in Mesopotamia, and that from a child he had studied the Holy Scriptures; that he was afterwards instructed in Greek literature by a master resident at Edessa; and finally, that the sacred books were ex pounded to him by Patrophilus and Eusebius, the latter of whom presided over the church at Caesarea, and the former over that at Scythopolis. Having afterwards gone to Antioch, about the time that Eustathius was deposed on the accusation of Cyrus of Bercea for holding the tenets of Sabellius, he lived on terms of familiar intercourse with Euphronius, that prelate's successor. When, however, a bishopric was offered him, he retired to Alexandria to avoid the intended honor, and there devoted himself to the study of philosophy. On his return to Antioch he formed an intimate acquaintance with Placitus or Flaccillus, the successor of Euphronius. At length he was ordained bishop of Alexandria by Eusebius, bishop of Constantinople, but did not go thither in consequence of the attachment of the people of that city to Athanasius. He was therefore sent to Emesa, where the inhabitants excited a sedition on account of his appointment, for they reproached him with the study and practice of judicial astrology; whereupon he fled to Laodicea and abode with George, who has given so many historical details of him. George, having taken him to Antioch, procured his being again brought back to Emesa by Flacciillus and Narcissus; but he was afterwards charged with holding the Sabellian heresy. His ordination is elaborately described by the same writer, who adds at the close that the emperor (Constantius) took him with him in his expedition against the barbarians, and that miracles were wrought by his hand" (see also Sozomen, Hist. Ecclesiast. 3:6). During the latter years of his life he lived at Antioch, devoted to study. He died at Antioch about A.D. 360. Among the numerous works of Eusebius, Jerome mentions treatises against the Jews, the Pagans, and Novatians; a Commentary, in 10 books, to the Epistle to the Galatians, and Homilies on the Gospels. Theodoret mentions works of Eusebius against the Marcionites and Manichaeans; Ebedjesu. Questions on the Old Testament; and Xenajas (Asseman. Bibl. 2, page 28) a work on faith, and other addresses. Of all these works only fragments are extant. Two homilies (against Marcellus) undoubtedly belonging to him were falsely ascribed to Eusebius of Caesarea. Some homilies are of a more recent date. SEE EUSEBIUS OF ALEXANDRIA. A biography of Eusebius, by bishop George, of Laodicea, is lost. A work on Eusebius and his writings has been written by Augusti (Euseb. Emes. opuscula quae supersunt graeca, Elberfeld, 1829); and some of the statements in this work have been refuted by Thilo (Ueber d. Schriften des Euseb. v. Alex. u. des Euseb. von Emisa (Halle, 1832). Some of the homilies ascribed to Eusebius of Caesarea are attributed to Eusebius of Emesa.