The Date of the Council of Gangra Reconsidered (358)
The discussion about the date of the Council of Gangra began in 1703 and has never reached the point of certainty and general agreement. Scholars have proposed dates between 340 and 376. I propose the year 358 for the Council of Gangra on the basis of the following assumptions: Eustathius of Sebaste...
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| Published in: | Journal of early Christian studies 2022-06, Vol.30 (2), p.223-243 |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | eng |
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| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | The discussion about the date of the Council of Gangra began in 1703 and has never reached the point of certainty and general agreement. Scholars have proposed dates between 340 and 376. I propose the year 358 for the Council of Gangra on the basis of the following assumptions: Eustathius of Sebastea came from Caesarea of Cappadocia, just as Basil did; he started to practice his unique asceticism in the early 340s; the deposition by his father Eulalius was the first one based on the charges connected to his asceticism; it was only after Eustathius became bishop of Sebastea (357) that his habits riveted the attention of the bishops of Pontus. In 358, three councils in the diocese of Pontus examined his asceticism, namely those of Melitene, Neocaesarea, and Gangra. Sozomen states that Eustathius was deposed from the bishopric in Gangra. Since Eustathius came from Caesarea in Cappadocia and was ordained priest there, the fact that the synodical letter of bishops gathered in Gangra was addressed specifically to the clergy of Armenia proves that at the time of the Council of Gangra, Eustathius was already bishop of Sebastea (since 357). The Council of Gangra must have been held before the Council of Constantinople (359/360) as it appears in the charges brought against Eustathius during the latter. |
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| ISSN: | 1086-3184 1067-6341 1086-3184 |