Theophilus

Theophilus (d. 412) was patriarch of Alexandria and one of the most controversial churchmen of the late fourth and early fifth centuries. He is best known for his ruthless suppression of paganism in Alexandria — including the destruction of the Serapeum in 391 — and for his role in the deposition of John Chrysostom at the Synod of the Oak in 403, an act of ecclesiastical power politics that shocked even those accustomed to rough church politics. He appears 8 times in this collection, primarily as a recipient of Jerome's letters. Jerome and Theophilus were allies in the Origenist controversy — both opposed the theology of Origen, and their correspondence reflects this shared cause as well as the broader ecclesiastical politics of the Eastern Mediterranean. Theophilus matters as a reminder that the early church was not always edifying — it was also a world of ambition, faction, and the ruthless exercise of institutional power. His career, glimpsed through these letters, shows the darker side of episcopal authority in late antiquity.
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Letters sent
17
Letters received
17
Total letters
3
Correspondents

Top correspondents

All letters (17)

From Basil of Caesareac. 371

It is some time since I received your letter, but I waited to be able to reply by some fit person; that so the bearer of my answer might supply whatever might be wanting in it. Now there has arrived our much beloved and very reverend brother Strategius, and I have judged it well to make use of his services, both as knowing my mind and able to co...

basil caesarea #245
From Jeromec. 391

When the dispute arose between Jerome and Epiphanius on the one side and Rufinus and John of Jerusalem on the other (see Letter LI.), Theophilus bishop of Alexandria, being appealed to by the latter sent the presbyter Isidore to report to him on the matter. Isidore reported against Jerome and consequently Theophilus refused to answer several of ...

jerome #63
From Jeromec. 397

Two years after his former attempt (see Letter LXIII.) Theophilus again wrote to Jerome urging him to be reconciled with John of Jerusalem. Jerome replies that there is nothing he desires more earnestly than peace but that this must be real and not a hollow truce. He speaks very bitterly of John who has, he alleges, intrigued to procure his bani...

jerome #82
From Jeromec. 399

Jerome congratulates Theophilus on the success of his crusade against Origenism, and speaks of the good work done in Palestine by his emissaries Priscus and Eubulus. He then (by a singular change in his sentiments) asks Theophilus to forgive John of Jerusalem for having unwittingly received an excommunicated Egyptian. The date of the Letter is 4...

jerome #86
From Jeromec. 399

Replying to the preceding letter Jerome again congratulates Theophilus on the success of his efforts to put down Origenism, and informs him that they have already borne fruit as far west as Italy. He then asks him for the decrees of his council (held recently at Alexandria). The date of the letter is 400 A.D.

jerome #88
From Jeromec. 401

The synodical letter of the council of Jerusalem sent to Theophilus in reply to the preceding. The translation as before is due to Jerome. The following is an epitome: We have done all that you wished, and Palestine is almost wholly free from the taint of heresy.

jerome #93
From Jeromec. 401

In this letter (translated into Latin by Jerome) Dionysius, bishop of Lydda, praises Theophilus for his signal victories over Origenism and urges him to continue his efforts against that heresy. Written in 400 A.D. About this page Source.

jerome #94
From Jeromec. 403

Jerome forwards to Theophilus a translation of the latter's paschal letter for 404 A.D. and apologizes for his delay in sending it, on the ground that ill-health and grief for the death of Paula have prevented him from doing literary work. The date of the letter is 404 A.D.

jerome #99
From Jeromec. 408

Jerome writes to Theophilus to apologize for his delay in sending Latin versions of the latter's letter (CXIII.) and invective against John Chrysostom. Possibly, however, the allusion may be not to these but to some other work of Theophilus (e.g. a paschal letter.) This delay he attributes to the disturbed state of Palestine, the severity of the...

jerome #114
From Synesius of Cyrenec. 411
synesius cyrene #9
From Synesius of Cyrenec. 411
synesius cyrene #66
From Synesius of Cyrenec. 411
synesius cyrene #67
From Synesius of Cyrenec. 411
synesius cyrene #68
From Synesius of Cyrenec. 411
synesius cyrene #76
From Synesius of Cyrenec. 411
synesius cyrene #90
From Synesius of Cyrenec. 412
synesius cyrene #69
From Synesius of Cyrenec. 412
synesius cyrene #80