St. Epiphanius of Salamis +403

St. Epiphanius of Salamis +403

May 12th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Epiphanius of Salamis +403 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Mor Epiphanius was born in Besanduk village near Elethropolis, Palestine. Besanduk is in the neighbourhood of Gaza. While very young, St. Epiphanius followed a monastic life in Egypt. He was attracted to the ascetic life that followed the model & advice of St. Hilarion. He founded a monastery near Besanduk when he was in his twenties & stayed there for thirty years. He gained the ability to speak five languages; Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, Coptic & Latin. St. Jerome called him ‘a pentaglot’ on account of this. Among his literary compositions 'Ancorates' & 'Panarion' are very important. He was a close associate of Patriarch St. Paulinos of Antioch who took a stern stand against the heresies of Arius & protected the Nicene Creed. In his letter (against all heresies) to the believers in Arabia he clearly asserted his belief in ‘The virgin mother of God’. Priests & many others in Pamphilia sought his help to resist & defeat the heresies of Arius. Even though he did not attend the Synod convened at Constantinople in AD 381, the declaration of the decisions taken in that Synod was a verbatim declaration of the Creed that existed in the church of Salamis. St. Epiphanius also spoke vehemently against Origen, & described Origen as "the forefather of Arius’ heresies". His magnum opus work against various heresies is known as Panarion. Epiphanius stressed the importance of the Church in his teachings. “The Church alone, he says, has received the content of tradition, & it is in her teaching & decision that the faithful finds the truth.” He teaches thus, ‘the Church is built upon the foundation of the unshaken faith of the rock, St.Peter.’ he died enroute to Salamis returning from Constantinople. Biography Courtesy: "Martyrs, Saints, and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church" Oh Mor Epiphanius! Plead for us before God's throne of grace. Amen. RSoH