St Eusebius of Vercelli (283-371) bishop and preacher against Arianism
Vercelli
is an ancient town in Piedmont, northern Italy, situated in the plain
of the river Po between Milan and Turin.
Eusebius served here first as a
lector and later bishop.
He was an indomitable defender of the divinity
of Christ against Arianism.
Which Eusebius?
In the fourth century there were
at least three other men of historical significance called Eusebius. The
other three were all Easterners by birth: Eusebius of Caesarea was a
Church historian; Eusebius of Nicomedia was an Arian bishop; and St
Eusebius of Samosata was killed by an Arian woman who threw a brick at
his head.
Bishop of Vercelli with clergy living a common life
Eusebius
of Vercelli was born in Sardinia and studied in Rome. He became a
lector (reader) and may have served at Rome first and then at Vercelli,
where he was made bishop by Pope Liberius. At Vercelli he set up a kind
of monastic rule for the clergy to live in common with other priests as
St Augustine did later at Hippo.
Struggle against Arianism
Pope Liberius sent
Eusebius to meet the emperor Constantius II (337-361) about the problem
of Arianism and the status of Athanasius of Alexandria, who was being
attacked for his strong views. This resulted in a council being held at
Milan in 355. Eusebius insisted on everyone first accepting the Nicene
Creed. But when some wanted to condemn Athanasius, Eusebius refused,
insisting that Athanasius be allowed to defend himself. Also he insisted
that the emperor should not influence Church decisions, and that there
should be a separation of powers between Church and State.
Exiled in the East
Because of this singularity of
outlook and his defence of Athanasius, Eusebius had to go into exile in
the East until the death of Constantius II in 361. During that time he
visited Palestine, Alexandria in Egypt, and Antioch.
Attended Athanasius's synod of 362
On the
accession of Julian in 362, exiled bishops were free to return to their
sees. Eusebius went with Athanasius to Alexandria and there attended
Athanasius's synod of 362 which confirmed the divinity of the Holy Ghost
and the orthodox doctrine concerning the Incarnation. The synod also
agreed both to deal mildly with repentant bishops who had become Arians
under pressure, but to sanction the Arianising leaders.
Struggle against Arian Bishop Auxentius of Milan
Back
in Vercelli, Eusebius continued along with Hilary of Poitiers to uphold
the Nicene doctrine especially against the Arian bishop Auxentius of
Milan. Although he is sometimes referred to in the middle ages as a
martyr, this was more to honour the sufferings he endured in standing up
for the true faith. There is no evidence that he was put to death, but
died naturally in 371.
Codex Vercellensis of the Vetus Latina
In
the cathedral at Vercelli there is an early manuscript (Codex
Vercellensis) of the oldest Latin Gospels before St Jerome's Vulgate,
called the Vetus Latina. It is generally agreed it was written by Eusebius.