Chapter CVIII.
Phoebadius, [2538] bishop of Agen, in Gaul, published a book Against the Arians. There are said to be other works by him, which I have not yet read. He is still living, infirm with age.
[2538] Bishop 358, died about 392.
Chapter CIX.
Didymus, [2539] of Alexandria, becoming blind while very young, and therefore ignorant of the rudiments of learning, displayed such a miracle of intelligence as to learn perfectly dialectics and even geometry, sciences which especially require sight. He wrote many admirable works: Commentaries on all the Psalms, Commentaries on the Gospels of Matthew and John, On the doctrines, also two books Against the Arians, and one book On the Holy Spirit, which I translated in Latin, eighteen volumes On Isaiah, three books of commentaries On Hosea, addressed to me, and five books On Zechariah, written at my request, also commentaries On Job, and many other things, to give an account of which would be a work of itself. [2540] He is still living, and has already passed his eighty-third year.
[2539] Born about 311, flourished about 315, died 396.
[2540] itself"The titles of which are well known." Matougues.
Chapter CX.
Optatus [2541] the African, bishop of Milevis, [2542] during the reign of the Emperors Valentinianus and Valens, wrote in behalf of the Catholic party six books against the calumny of the Donatian party, in which he asserts that the crime of the Donatists is falsely charged upon the catholic party.
[2541] Flourished about 370.
[2542] Milevis or Mileum = Milah "a town of Numidia 25 miles north-west of Cirta." Phillott.
Chapter CXI.
Acilius Severus [2543] of Spain, of the family of that Severus to whom Lactantius' two books of Epistles are addressed, composed a volume of mingled poetry and prose which is a sort of guide book to his whole life. This he called Calamity or Trial. [2544] He died in the reign of Valentinianus.
[2543] Died before 376. Fabricius and Migne read Aquilus, Honorius has Achilius but the mss. read as above. This is the only source of information and the work is lost.
[2544] Trial"Vicissitudes or proofs." Matougues.
Chapter CXII.
Cyril, [2545] bishop of Jerusalem often expelled by the church, and at last received, held the episcopate for eight consecutive years, in the reign of Theodosius. Certain Catachetical lectures of his, composed while he was a young man, are extant.
[2545] Cyril of Jerusalem, born about 315, Bishop 350-7, 359-60, 362-7, 378 to his death in 386.
Chapter CXIII.
Euzoius, [2546] as a young man, together with Gregory, bishop of Nazianzan, was educated by Thespesius the rhetorician at Cæsarea, and afterwards when bishop of the same city, with great pains attempted to restore the library, collected by Origen and Pamphilus, which had already suffered injury. At last, in the reign of the Emperor Theodosian, he was expelled from the church. Many and various treatises of his are in circulation, and one may easily become acquainted with them.
[2546] Deposed about 379.
Chapter CXIV.
Epiphanius, [2547] bishop of Salamina in Cyprus, wrote books Against all heresies and many others which are eagerly read by the learned, on account of their subject matter, and also by the plain people, on account of their language. He is still living, and in his extreme old age composes various brief works.
[2547] Born about 310, bishop about 368-9, died 403.
Chapter CXV.
Ephraim, [2548] deacon of the church at Edessa, composed many works in the Syriac language, and became so distinguished that his writings are repeated publicly in some churches, after the reading of the Scriptures.
I once read in Greek a volume by him On the Holy Spirit, which some one had translated from the Syriac, and recognized even in translation, the incisive power of lofty genius. He died in the reign of Valens.
[2548] Ephrem of Nisibis = Ephrem Syrus died 378.
Chapter CXVI.
Basil, [2549] bishop of Cæsarea in Cappadocia, the city formerly called Mazaca, composed admirable carefully written books Against Eunomius, a volume On the Holy Spirit, and nine homilies On the six days of creation, also a work On asceticism and short treatises on various subjects. He died in the reign of Gratianus.
[2549] Basil the Great, born 329, bishop 370 died 379.