Epiphanius

c.315-403. Bishop of Salamis. After a brief visit to meet Egyptian monks, he founded at Eleutheropolis in Judea (c.335) a monastery. In 367 he was elected by the bishops of Cyprus as bishop of Constantia (Salamis) and metropolitan of the island. His qualities included orthodoxy, scholarship, linguistic ability, and austerity. His weaknesses included an unenlightened zeal for orthodoxy and an inability to understand the points of view of others. He died at sea after a visit to Constantinople on behalf of Theophilus bishop of Alexandria. In contrast with the Cappadocian Fathers,* Epiphanius denied any right or place in the church to Greek learning, theological speculation, and historical criticism. Despite his dogmatism, however, his works have importance, for in them are found extracts from earlier sources now lost. The Ancoratus is a compendium of the doctrine of the church, and includes several baptismal creeds. The Medicine Box (Panarion) was intended to heal those Christians who had been bitten by poisonous snakes (heresies). This work contains many extracts from earlier authors, Christian and pagan. Other works included a Bible encyclopedia-De mensuris et ponderibus.