Saint Epiphanius of Salamis

Life story

Epiphanius was born between about 310 and 320 at Besanduk, near Eleutheropolis in Judea (today Beit Guvrin in Israel). He trained as a monk in Egypt, then returned to Judea and founded a monastery at Besanduk, near Eleutheropolis. He was ordained a priest and led the monastery for many years. Jerome nicknamed him the five-tongued for his command of Hebrew, Syriac, Egyptian, Greek and Latin.

In 367 he was named bishop of Salamis in Cyprus and served nearly forty years as metropolitan of the Church of Cyprus. His earliest known work is the Ancoratus. Around 374 to 377 he wrote the Panarion, which refutes 80 heresies and is also a key source on lost early Christian and Jewish texts.

He was caught up in the controversy over Origen. Visiting Jerusalem about 394-395, he attacked Origen's followers and urged Bishop John II to condemn Origen's writings. He also ordained a priest for Jerome's monastery at Bethlehem, which intruded on John's jurisdiction and deepened the rift with Rufinus and Jerome.

In 402, at the urging of Theophilus of Alexandria, he went to Constantinople to oppose the monks suspected of Origenism and John Chrysostom himself. He left the city without achieving this, and died in 403 on the voyage back to Cyprus.

Works and witness

• Founded a monastery at Besanduk near Eleutheropolis
• Bishop of Salamis, Cyprus, from 367
• Wrote the Panarion (about 374-377) against 80 heresies
• Took part in the Origen controversy and quarrelled with Bishop John II of Jerusalem

Saints from the same country

Saint Justin Martyr, Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, Saint Hilarion, Saint Marie-Alphonsine Danil Ghattas

References

• Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), "Epiphanius of Salamis" (newadvent.org/cathen/13393b.htm)
• Britannica, "Panarion"

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.