Polycrates of Ephesus
{{Short description|2nd century bishop of Ephesus}}
Polycrates of Ephesus ({{IPAc-en|p|ə|ˈ|l|ɪ|k|r|ə|ˌ|t|iː|z}}; {{langx|el|Πολυκράτης}}; fl. c. 130 – 196) was an Early Christian bishop at Ephesus. Polycrates convened a synod to establish Quartodecimanism as the official position on Easter.{{Cite web |title=Polycrates {{!}} bishop of Ephesus {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Polycrates-bishop-of-Ephesus |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}} His letter was written between 186 and 195 AD.{{Cite web |title=Fragments of Polycrates |url=http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/polycrates.html |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=www.earlychristianwritings.com}}
Quartodeciman controversy
When Pope Victor wanted to set an official practice of Easter on the whole Christian world, to celebrate Easter on Sunday, Polycrates writing in the name of the entire Asian church, argued that the apostles taught to celebrate the Passover (Holy Communion) on the 14th day of Nisan. In his letter, he appeals to the authority of Polycarp of Smyrna, Thraseas of Eumenia, Sagaris, Papirius and Melito, all of whom were Quartodecimans.{{Cite web |title=Polycrates of Ephesus (Wace information) |url=http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/info/polycrates-wace.html |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=www.earlychristianwritings.com}}
Despite Polycrates convening a synod in Ephesus to declare Quartodecimanism official, later the tradition died out, because Nicaea declared Easter to be celebrated on a Sunday.{{Cite web |title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Ephesus |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05490a.htm |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=www.newadvent.org}}
Notes
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/polycrates.html Entry on Polycrates at Early Christian Writings]
- [http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/biography-polycrates/532.aspx Polycrates: Unity or Truth], "Religion and Spirituality", Spring 2005.
{{Authority control}}
Category:2nd-century bishops in Roman Anatolia