Facundus of Hermiana was a 6th-century Christian author, and bishop of Hermiana in

North Africa North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...

. About his career little is known. His place in history is due entirely to the opposition which he offered to the condemnation (by the edict of

Justinian Justinian I (; la, Iustinianus, ; grc-gre, Ἰουστινιανός ; 48214 November 565), also known as Justinian the Great, was the Byzantine emperor from 527 to 565. His reign is marked by the ambitious but only partly realized ''renovat ...

in 543 or 544) of the " Three Chapters". At the instance of Theodore Ascidas, and with the ostensible purpose of reuniting to the Church the

Acephali In church history, the term ' (from Ancient Greek: ', "headless", singular ' from ', "without", and ', "head") has been applied to several sects that supposedly had no leader. E. Cobham Brewer wrote, in ''Dictionary of Phrase and Fable'', t ...

, a sect of

Monophysites Monophysitism ( or ) or monophysism () is a Christological term derived from the Greek (, "alone, solitary") and (, a word that has many meanings but in this context means "nature"). It is defined as "a doctrine that in the person of the incar ...

, Justinian was induced to censure the "Three Chapters". By this act certain writings of the fifth-century

Theodore of Mopsuestia Theodore of Mopsuestia (c. 350 – 428) was a Christian theologian, and Bishop of Mopsuestia (as Theodore II) from 392 to 428 AD. He is also known as Theodore of Antioch, from the place of his birth and presbyterate. He is the best know ...

Theodoret of Cyrus Theodoret of Cyrus or Cyrrhus ( grc-gre, Θεοδώρητος Κύρρου; AD 393 – 458/466) was an influential theologian of the School of Antioch, biblical commentator, and Christian bishop of Cyrrhus (423–457). He played a pi ...

, and

Ibas of Edessa Ibas ( syc, ܗܝܒܐ ܐܘܪܗܝܐ, ''Ihiba'' or ''Hiba''; October 28, 457) was bishop of Edessa (–457) and was born in Syria. His name is the Syriac equivalent of "Donatus". He is frequently associated with the growth of Nestorianism, althou ...

were condemned. Facundus was in

Constantinople la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه , alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth (Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya ( Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis ( ...

when this censure was pronounced, and shortly after its publication he and several other western bishops refused to subscribe to the decree, alleging that it was an attack on the

Council of Chalcedon The Council of Chalcedon (; la, Concilium Chalcedonense), ''Synodos tēs Chalkēdonos'' was the fourth ecumenical council of the Christian Church. It was convoked by the Roman emperor Marcian. The council convened in the city of Chalcedon, Bi ...

, which had accepted at least the letter of Ibas to the Persian Maris. This document was especially aimed at the decree of the emperor. Facundus also drew up a memorial in protest, but was prevented from presenting it by the arrival of

Pope Vigilius Pope Vigilius (died 7 June 555) was the bishop of Rome from 29 March 537 to his death. He is considered the first pope of the Byzantine papacy. Born into Roman aristocracy, Vigilius served as a deacon and papal ''apocrisiarius'' in Constantino ...

. The conduct of the pontiff and his acquiescence in the condemnation of the "Three Chapters" spurred Facundus to complete this work, which he entitled ''Pro Defensione Trium Capitulorum''. It is not known when the work was completed nor when it was presented to the emperor, so that nothing can be said of its immediate effect on the controversy. After its publication Facundus was compelled to fly from Constantinople and find safety in concealment. Because of the attitude of Vigilius in acceding to the emperor's insistence that he subscribe to the censure of the "Three Chapters", Facundus and many African bishops cut themselves off from communion with him. This schism lasted for many years, and during that time Facundus wrote two other works at the request of his fellow-bishops, in response to reproaches of insubordination (''Liber contra Mocianum Scholasticum'' and ''Epistola Fidei Catholicae in defensione trium capitulorum'').

References

The works of Facundus are in '' Patrologia Latina'', LXVII, 527–878; see Hefele, ''History of the Church Councils'', tr., IV, 229–286. * Facundus d'Hermiane, ''Defense des trois chapitres (A Justinien).'' Critical text by J.-M. Clement, OSB and R. Vander Plaetse. Introduction, translation, and notes by Anne Fraisse-Betoulieres. Paris, Cerf, 2002,2003,2003,2004,2006.( Sources Chretiennes, 471,478,479,484,499).

External links

''Catholic Encyclopedia'' article
{{DEFAULTSORT:Facundus Of Hermiane 6th-century Byzantine bishops Church Fathers African Christians Byzantine North Africa 6th-century Latin writers 6th-century Byzantine writers