RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
CEcolampadius CEconomus
the theologians of Strasburg had become closer. The chief merit of CEcolampadius in these controversies lies in the fact that as a theologian he defended bravely and with good reasons the doctrine of Zwingli. It was reserved for Calvin to accomplish the union not so much of the disputing parties as of the two essential factors in both theories.
After the disputation of Baden (1526) CEcolampadius stood alongside of Zwingli as a leader of the Evangelicals in Switzerland and was entrusted with the leadership of their ecclesiastical affairs. In 1531 he introduced the new Reformed church order in Ulm. In the mean time his fame had spread abroad. The oppressed Waldenses of 6. Closing France sent their ambassadors to con- Work of fer with him. His opinion was asked CEcolam- concerning the divorce of Henry VIII. padius. Negotiations with the Anabaptists and Antitrinitarians embittered the last years of his life, and under his grave responsibilities his health broke down at a comparatively early age. The proper relation between State and Church became a burning question for the new Church since it had been reproached by the Anabaptists on account of lack of discipline. Deviating from Zwingli's theory of state supervision, CEcolampadius introduced the ecclesiastical ban with the execution of which he charged the clergy and subsequently a special board consisting of members of the council and of clergymen. He tried to introduce this institution in all Reformed churches at a convention in Aarau (1530), but Bern and Strasburg as well as Zwingli were decidedly opposed to it. The introduction of the measure in Basel aroused popular opposition, but CEcolampadius did not desist from his plan. Its rigorous execution and the inconsiderate procedure against men of different opinions occasioned many a bitter comment. Tradition regards CEcolampadius as the most lenient among the Swiss Reformers. This impression was probably called forth by his efforts for union, but in reality he was firm, his rigor at times bordering on intolerance. It must not be forgotten, however, that the time of the Reformation needed sternness of character to hold with firm grip the results achieved and to subject the liberated people to the discipline of the Gospel so that the Reformation might not degenerate into a revolution. In this respect CEcolampadius manifested no mediating attitude.
(W- Hadoen.)
Bibliography: Among the sources to be noted are: Joannis (Ecolampadii et Hvld. Zwinglii Epistolce, Basel, 1536 (contains Capito's biography) ; Wurstitens Basler Chronik, ed. R. Hotz, Basel, 1883; Basler Chroniken von Hyff und Carpentaria, ed. W. Vischer and A. Stern, Leipsic, 1872; Epistolce doctorum virorum (ed. T. Bibliander?), n.p., 1548 (contains the Vitce by S. Grynseus and W. Capita immediately after the preface). Modern accounts of the life and writings are by: S. Hess, Zurich, 1791; J. J. Herzog, 2 vols., Basel, 1843; K. R. Hagenbach, Elberfeld, 1859 (treats also O. Myconius); an anonymous J CEcolampadius, Reformator von Basel, Basel, 1863; cf. Beza, Icones, in the transl. of C. G. McCrie, pp. 107-111, London, 1906; A. Burckhard, in Bilder aus der Geschichte Basels, vol. iii., Basel, 1879; Fehleisen, Weinsberg, 1882; T. Burckhardt-Biedermann, in Theologische Zeitschrift aus der Schweitz, x (1893). Further illustrative matter will be found in W. Vischer, Geschichte der Universitat Basel, Basel, 1860; A. L. Herminjard, Correspondence des reformateurs, 9 vols., Paris, 1878-97; M. XJsteri, in
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TSK, Ivi (1883), 155-174; T. Burckhardt-Biedermann, Bonifatius Amerbach und die Reformation, Basel, 1898; W. Walker, The Reformation, New York, 1900; Cambridge Modern History, vol. ii. passim, ib. 1904; Schaff, Christian Church, vol. vii. passim; and in general, works on the history of the Reformation in Switzerland.
CECONOMUS, ec"o-no'mus, CONST ANTINUS : Prominent Greek theologian; b. (according to some authorities) at Tcharitchena (60 m. s.w. of Salonika) Sept. 8, 1780; d. in Athens Mar. 20, 1857. He was educated at first by his father, who was econome (vicar-general) of the diocese of Elasson in Thessaly, and then at Ampelacia by Zeses Cabras, a physician who had studied at Jena. He was ordained at an early age, and succeeded his father as econome of Elasson. There he published his first literary work, a short defense of his Bishop Joannicius. Having taken part in an unsuccessful rising against Ali Pasha, he was obliged to become a fugitive, and, after taking refuge in a monastery under the protection of the Patriarch Gregory V., obtained from him a position in the well-known high school at Smyrna. There he worked with marked success under Constantinus Cumas, later author of the great historical work Historiai ton anthropinon praxeon (Vienna, 1838), and acquired considerable fame as a preacher. A permanent memorial of his activity there is preserved in what may be called his most important theological work, the Catechesis, e orthodoxos didaskalia tes christianikes pisteos, printed in Vienna. It is a recasting of the catechism of Platon, but so thoroughly recast as to be substantially an independent work. A striking characteristic of it is the way in which the author gives expression, as far as is possible to an " orthodox " theologian, to the Pauline interpretation of the Gospel. The great opposition of sin and grace dominates him and leads to remarkably helpful conclusions.
His stay in Smyrna was unfortunately cut short by the jealousy of the friends and supporters of the Evangelical school in Smyrna. He was summoned to Constantinople as chief econome of the patriarchal see, and had a wide field of usefulness as a preacher in the center of " orthodox " Christianity. But once more his work was interrupted, this time by the outbreak of the Greek war for freedom. He escaped to Odessa, where he delivered a notable funeral sermon over the body of his patron the Patriarch Gregory, who had fallen a victim to the fury of the Turks (published with five other orations under the title of Logoi ekklesiastikoi, Berlin, 1833).
His fame as preacher, orator in the cause of Christian freedom, and scholar attracted the notice of the czar, who summoned him to St. Petersburg. There he had leisure to complete his great philological works, Dokimion peri plesiestates suggeneias tes Slabono-Rossikes glosses pros ten Helleniken (3 vols., St. Petersburg, 1828) and Peri tes gnesias prophoras tes hellenikes glosses (1830), and increased his renown as a preacher. The Patriarch Constantius renewed his former appointment as chief econome, and he was made an assessor of the clerical academy in St. Petersburg, a member of the Royal Academy of Science, and a corresponding member of the Berlin Academy of Science. Partly, perhaps,
CEconomus Oeting-er