Zeno (2)

Zeno a reputed bishop OF VERONA, and alleged author of ninety-three sermomns, which were published in 1508 by Jacob de Lenco and Albert Castellan under the title, S. Zenoni Episc. Vetronens. Sermones, after a very ancient manuscript found fifty years before in the episcopal library of Verona by Guarinus. These sermons were previously wholly unknown, and Zeno himself lived only in a few miracle-legends. He was represented with a fish attached to his angle or episcopal staff, because he had, while angling, delivered a drowning man from the clutches of the devil. Eleven of the sermons are certainly not by the author of the general mass. The age of the collection is variously estimated; Vogel, in Herzog (following Dorner), dating them back perhaps to the beginning of the latter half of the 3d century, Barbnius to A.D. 200, others to A.D. 450-500. It would seem that they emanated from the mind of a bishop who was endowed with earnestness and dignity of character as well as theological learning, and who presided over an established Church and a regularly organized clergy. See Fessler, Institut. Patrolog. (Oenipont, 1851), 1:73 sq.; Wetzer u. Welte, KirchenLexikon, s.v.; Jazdzewski, Zeno, Veroinensis Episc. (Ratisbon, 1862); Dorner, Enwicklungsgesch d. Lehre von d. Person Christi, 2d ed. 1:754 sq.; Herzog, Real-Encyklop. s.v.