Thraseas

Saint Thraseas
Martyr and Bishop of Eumenia
Died	170 Smyrna
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church
Canonized	Pre-congregation
Feast	5 October

Saint Thraseas (? - 170) was a martyr under the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Prior to his death he served as Bishop of Eumenia, Phrygia, in Asia Minor.

Background

Eumenia was a titular see of Phrygia Pacatiana in Asia Minor. The city was founded by Attalus II Philadelphus (159-138 B.C.) at the sources of the Cludrus, near the Glaucus, and named after his brother Eumenes. Numerous inscriptions and many coins remain to show that Eumenia was an important and prosperous city under Roman rule. As early as the third century its population was in great part Christian, and it seems to have suffered much during the persecution of Diocletian.^[1]

History

In a synodal letter written by Polycrates of Ephesus about the year 190, he speaks of seven of his relatives who had been bishops before him. Besides these he mentions Polycarp and Papirius of Smyrna, Thraseas of Eumenea, Sagaris of Laodicea and Melito of Sardes (Eusebius, "Hist. Eccles.", v, 24, 2 sq.)^[2]

Thraseas was a Quartodeciman Christian leader, in Asia Minor in the second century. Quartodecimans kept Passover on the 14th of Ahib (also known as Nisan), in spite of the preferences of Roman Bishops who preferred a Sunday date which ultimately became Easter Sunday. Eusebius recorded that around 195 A.D. Polycrates of Ephesus, a letter of Polycrates to Pope Victor regarding the dating of Easter. In the letter Thraseas is mentioned chronologically between Polycarp (155) and Sagaris (under Sergius Paulus, 166-7). The date of Thraseas is therefore about 160.^[3] Polycrates mentions that Thraseas was among those who observed the Passover on the date that was handed down from scriptures and the Apostle John, and thus, that he did not change to Sunday when some in Rome did.^[4][5]

Eusebius also wrote that Apollonius of Ephesus spoke in his work of Zoticus, who had tried to exorcise Maximilla, but had been prevented by Themison; and of the martyr-Bishop Thraseas, another adversary of Montanism.^[6][7]

Although he was from Eumenia, Thraseas was, according to Polycrates and Jerome, martyred in Smyrna.^[8]

The Life of Polycarp, attributed to St. Pionius, lists Thraseas of Eumenia, as a martyr who was buried at Smyrna. ^[9] Mention is made of a burial at the cemetery in Smyrna to the cemetery in front of the Ephesian Royal gate, that took place near where recently a myrtle tree sprung up after the burial of the body of Thraseas the martyr.^[10]

See also

• Easter controversy

References

1. Pétridès, Sophrone. "Eumenia." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 17 Jan. 2014
2. Dunin-Borkowski, Stanislaus de. "Hierarchy of the Early Church." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 17 Jan. 2014
3. Chapman, John. "Montanists." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 17 Jan. 2014
4. Eusebius. Church History, Book V, Chapter 24. Translated by Arthur Cushman McGiffert. Excerpted from Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series Two, Volume 1. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. American Edition, 1890. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight
5. Wace, Henry. "Victor, bishop of Rome", Dictionary of Christian Biography, John Murray, London, 1911
6. Eusebius. Church History, Book V, Chapter 1
7. Grey, Francis. "Apollonius of Ephesus." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 17 Jan. 2014
8. De Viris Illustribus (Jerome) (On Illustrious Men). Excerpted from Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Volume 3. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. American Edition, 1892. Online Edition Copyright © 2005 by K. Knight)
9. Vailhé, Siméon. "Smyrna." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 17 Jan. 2014
10. Pionius, Life of Polycarp, Chapter 20. Translated by J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 3.2, 1889, pp.488–506