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From The Lives of the Popes from the Time of our Saviour Jesus Christ to the Accession of Gregory VII. Written Originally in Latin by B. Platina, Native of Cremona, and translated into English (from an anonymous translation, first printed in 1685 by Sir Paul Rycaut), Edited by William Benham, Volume I, London: Griffith, Farran, Okeden & Welsh, [1888, undated in text]; pp. 57-58.

The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina

Volume I.


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[57]

ST  EUTYCHIANUS.

A.D. 275-283.

EUTYCHIANUS, a Tuscan, his father’s name Maximus, was in the time of the emperor Aurelianus, who being slain, was succeeded by Tacitus, a man who both for his valour and justice, was certainly very fit for government, but he was slain in Pontius in the sixth month after he came to the empire; as was also his successor Florianus in Taurus, before he had reigned three months.

Eutychianus ordained that the fruits of the earth, as beans and grapes, &c., should be blessed upon the altar; and also that no persons should bury the martyrs in any but purple 8 vestments, unless with his knowledge and leave. Some write that in his time Dorotheus the eunuch flourished, a man questionless of very great skill in the Greek and Hebrew languages, and with whose learning it is said the emperor Aurelianus was wonderfully delighted. For in the beginning of his reign he was such a favourer of the Christians that he severely censured the sect of Paulus of Samosata. But being afterwards corrupted by evil counsels, and, as hath been said, raising a persecution against the Christians, having sent despatches concerning that affair to the several governors of provinces, he was cut off by the Divine hand. Eusebius, when he was young, was an auditor of Dorotheus at his expositions of Scripture. At this time also Anatolius an Alexandrian, Bishop of Laodicæa, a man of great learning, wrote several excellent things in mathematics and divinity, and was very severe against the Manichæan heresy which then very much prevailed. These Manichees, to their other errors, brought in two substances, the one good, the other evil, and held that souls flowed from God as from a fountain. The Old Testament they altogether disowned, and received but some parts of the New.

Eutychianus, after that at several ordinations he had consecrated fourteen presbyters, five deacons, nine bishops, was crowned with martyrdom, and buried in the cemetery of Calistus, July the 25th. He sat in the chair one year, one month, one day; and by his death the see was vacant eight days. There are some who say he lived in the pontificate eight years, ten months;1 but I rather give credit to Damasus, who is the author of the former assertion.

FOOTNOTE

 1  They are correct, according to Milman (i. 15). — ED.

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Previous Pope:  22. St. Anterus. 23. St. Lucius I. Next Pope: 24. St. Stephanus I.

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Previous Pope:  27. St. Felix I. 28. St. Eutychianius. Next Pope: 29. St. Caius.

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