May 6th - St. Evodius of Antioch
The first Bishop of Antioch after St. Peter. Eusebius mentions him thus in
his
"History": "And Evodius having been established the first [bishop] of the
Antiochians, Ignatius flourished at this time" (III, 22). The time
referred to
is that of Clement of Rome and Trajan, of whom Eusebius has just spoken.
Harnack
has shown (after discarding an earlier theory of his own) Eusebius
possessed a
list of the bishops of Antioch which did not give their dates, and that he
was
obliged to synchronize them roughly with the popes. It seems certain that
he
took the three episcopal lists of Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch from the
"Chronography" which Julius Africanus published in 221. The "Chronicle of
Eusebius" is lost; but in Jerome's translation of it we find in three
successive
years the three entries
that Peter, having founded the Church of Antioch, is sent to Rome,
where he
perseveres as bishop for 25 years;
that Mark, the interpreter of Peter, preaches Christ in Egypt and
Alexandria; and
that Evodius is ordained first Bishop of Antioch.
This last year is given as Claudius III by the Codex Freherianus, but by
the
fifth-century Bodleian Codex (not used in Schoene's edition) and the rest
as
Claudius IV (A.D. 44). The Armenian translation has Claudius II. We have
no
mention of Evodius earlier than that by Africanus; but the latter is
confirmed
by his contem****ary, Origen, who calls Ignatius the second bishop after
Peter
(Hom. IV, in Luc., III, 938A). It is curious that the ordination of
Evodius
should not have been given in the "Chronography" in the same year as the
founding of the Antiochian Church by Peter, and Hort supposed that the
three
entries must have belonged to a single year in Eusebius. But the evidence
is not
in favour of this simplification. The year of the accession of Ignatius,
that is
of the death of Evodius, was unknown to Eusebius, for he merely places it
in the
"Chronicle" together with the death of Peter and the accession of Linus at
Rome
(Nero 14-68), while in the "History" he mentions it at the beginning of
Trajan's
reign.
The fame of Ignatius has caused later writers, such as Athanasius and
Chrysostom, to speak of him as though he were the immediate successor of
the
Apostles. Jerome (De viris ill., 16) and Socrates (H.E. VI, 8) call him
the
"third" bishop after St. Peter, but this is only because they illogically
include Peter among his own successors. Theodoret and Pseudo-Ignatius
represent
Ignatius as consecrated by Peter. The difficulty which thus arose about
Evodius
was solved in the Apostolic Constitutions by stating that Evodius was
ordained
by Peter and Ignatius by Paul. The Byzantine chronographer, John Malalas
(X,
252), relates that as Peter went to Rome, and passed through the great
city of
Antioch, it happened that Evodus (sic), the bishop and patriarch, died,
and
Ignatius succeeded him, he attributes to Evodius the invention of the name
Christian. Salmon does not seem to be justified in supposing that Malalas
ascribes any of this information to Theophilus, the second century Bishop
of
Antioch. We may be sure that Evodius is an historical personage, and
really the
predecessor of St. Ignatius. But the dates of his ordination and death are
quite
uncertain. No early witness makes him a martyr.
The Greeks commemorate together "Evodus" and Onesiphorus (II Tim., i, 16)
as of
the seventy disciples and as martyrs on 29 April, and also on 7 September.
Evodius was unknown to the earlier Western martyrologies the Hieronymian,
and
those of Bede and Florus; but Ado introduced him into the so-called
"Martyrologium Romanum parvum" (which he forged not long before 860) and
into
his own work, on 6 May. His source was Pseudo-Ignatius, whom he quotes in
the
"Libellus de fest. Apost.", prefixed to the martyrology proper. From him
the
notice came to Usuard and the rest, and to the present Roman Martyrology.
This Version Taken From:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05653a.htm
Saint Quote:
Make a little cell in your heart for Jesus of the Agony; take refuge
there, when
you hear Him outraged by men, try to make reparation; you, at least, love
Him
and keep your heart quite pure for Him. Oh! If you only knew how the good
God
loves pure hearts! It is there that He loves to reign.
--Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity
Bible Quote:
The just shall stand with great constancy against those that have
afflicted
them, and taken away their labors. These seeing it, shall be troubled with
terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected
salvation, saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish
of
spirit. These are they whom we had some time in derision, and for a
parable of
reproach. We fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without
honor.
Behold how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is
among
the saints (Wisdom 5:1-5)
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Imitate Christ
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live
a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a
fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But among you there must not be even a hint of ***ual immorality,
or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, becasue these are improper for
God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse
joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you
can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person - such a man is an
idolater - has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no
one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath
comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with
them.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all
goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
Have nothing to do with fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose
them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in
secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is
light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will ****ne on you.'
Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise,
making the most of every op****tunity, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do
not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with
the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God
the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:1-21
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