Patrophilus of Scythopolis

Patrophilus Of Scythopolis, one of the leaders of the Eusebian or semi-Arian party in the 4th century, flourished as bishop of Scythopolis until A.D. 859, when he was deposed by the Council of Seleucia for contumacy, having refused to appear before that body to answer the charges of the presbyter Dorotheus (Socrates, Hist. Eccles. 2:40; Sozomen, 4:22). He must have died soon after, for his remains were disinterred and insultingly treated (Theophanes, Chronographia) during the reaction which followed the temporary triumph of paganism (A.D. 361-363) under Julian the Apostate. SEE JULIAN. Patrophilus appears to have been eminent for Scriptural knowledge. Eusebius of Emesa is said to have derived his expositions of Scripture from the instructions of Patrophilus and Eusebius of Caesarea (Socrates, 2:9); but Sixtus Senensis is mistaken in ascribing to Patrophilus a translation of the Old Testament from Hebrew into Greek (Sixtus Senens. Biblioth. Sacra,, recensita ab A. G. Masch. pt. 2, vol. 2, div. 1, § 23; Fabricius, Biblioth. Graec. 3:716). The scanty notices of the life of Patrophilus have been collected by Tillemont, Memoires, vol. 6 and 7.