Serapion of Antioch was a

Patriarch of Antioch The Patriarch of Antioch is a traditional title held by the bishop of Antioch (modern-day Antakya, Turkey). As the traditional "overseer" (, , from which the word ''bishop'' is derived) of the first gentile Christian community, the position has ...

( Greek: Σεραπίων; 191–211). He is known primarily through his theological writings, although all but a few fragments of his works have perished. His feast day is celebrated on 30 October.Healy, Patrick. "St. Serapion", The Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 13, New York, Robert Appleton Company, 1912, 17 January 2014
/ref> Serapion was considered one of the chief theologians of his era. Eusebius refers to three works of Serapion in his history, but admits that others probably existed: first is a private letter addressed to Caricus and Pontius against Montanism, from which Eusebius quotes an extract ('' Historia ecclesiastica'' V, 19), as well as ascriptions showing that it was circulated amongst bishops in Asia and Thrace; next is a work addressed to a certain Domninus, who in time of persecution abandoned Christianity for the error of "Jewish will-worship" (''Hist. Eccles'', VI, 12). Lastly, Eusebius quotes (vi.12.2) from a pamphlet Serapion wrote concerning the Docetic '' Gospel of Peter'', in which Serapion presents an argument to the Christian community of Rhossus in Syria against this gospel and condemns it. He recalls the permission to read this apocryphal work given in ignorance of its true character and expresses his intention of visiting the church to strengthen them in the true faith.''A Dictionary of Christian Biography'', (Henry Wace, ed.) London, 1911
/ref> Eusebius also alludes to a number of personal letters Serapion wrote to Pontius, Caricus, and others about this ''Gospel of Peter''. Serapion also acted (

Pantaenus Saint Pantaenus the Philosopher (; died c. 200) was a Sicilian theologian and a significant figure in the Catechetical School of Alexandria from around AD 180. This school was the earliest catechetical school, and became influential in the dev ...

supported him) against the influence of

Gnosticism Gnosticism (from Ancient Greek language, Ancient Greek: , Romanization of Ancient Greek, romanized: ''gnōstikós'', Koine Greek: Help:IPA/Greek, �nostiˈkos 'having knowledge') is a collection of religious ideas and systems that coalesced ...

in Osroene by consecrating Mari of Edessa as bishop of Edessa, where Mari addressed the increasingly Gnostic tendencies that the churchman Bardesanes was introducing to its Christian community. He ordained

as a priest or

bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

in Edessa. Serapion was succeeded as bishop of Antioch by Asclepiades (Eusebius ''Historia ecclesiastica'' VI, 11, 4).

Notes and references

External links

Early Christian Writings:
Fragments of Serapion of Antioch {{Authority control 211 deaths Patriarchs of Antioch Christian anti-Gnosticism 2nd-century archbishops 3rd-century archbishops 3rd-century Christian saints Year of birth unknown