Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 888
Biton (Bitus) and Vincentius, presbyters from Rome, are representing the bishop of Rome at the Council of Nicaea (Asia Minor, AD 325). Account of ps.-Gelasius of Cyzicus, Ecclesiastical History, ca AD 475.
II.5.3
 
Τῶν γοῦν ἐκκλησιῶν ἁπασῶν, αἵ τὴν Εὐρώπην ἅπασαν Λιβύην τε καὶ τὴν Ἀσίαν ἐπλήρουν, ὁμοῦ συνῆκτο τῶν τοῦ θεοῦ λειτουργῶν τὰ ἀκροθίνια, εἶς τε οἶκος εὐκτἠριος. ὥσπερ ἐκ θεοῦ πλατυνόμενος, ἔνδον ἐχώρει κατὰ τὸ αὐτὸ Σύρους τε ἅμα και Κίλικας, Φοίνικάς τε καὶ Ἄραβας καὶ Παλαιστινοὺς καὶ ἐπὶ τούτοις Αἰγυπτίους, Θηβαίους, Λίβυας τούς τε ἐκ μέσης τῶν ποταμῶν ὁρμωμένους· ἤδη δὲ καὶ Πέρσης ἐπίσκοπος τῇ συνόδῳ παρῆν, οὐδὲ Σκύθης ἀπελιμπάνετο τῆς χορείας, Πόντος τε καὶ Ἀσία, Φρυγία τε καὶ Παμφυλία τοὺς παρ’αὐτοῖς παρεῖχον ἐκκριτους. ἀλλὰ καὶ Θρᾷκες καὶ Μακεδόνες Ἀχαιοί τε καὶ Ἠπειρῶται οἱ ἔτι προσωτάτω οἰκοῦντες ἀπήντων, αὐτός τε Σπάνων ὁ πάνυ βοώμενος Ὅσιος, ἐπέχων καὶ τὸν τόπον τοῦ τῆς μεγίστης Ῥώμης ἐπισκόπου Σιλβέστρου σὺν πρεσβυτέροις Ῥώμης Βίτωνι καὶ Βικεντίῳ τοῖς πολλοῖς ἅμα συνεδρεύων. [...]
 
(ed. Hansen 2002: 33)
 
 
II.5.3
 
The heads of the divinie ministry of all the Churches that filled all of Libya and Asia, gathered together in the house of prayer. As if widened by God, it has room for Syrians and Cylicians, Phoenicians and Arabs, and Palestinians and those from Egypt, Thebians, Lybians and those who are from Mesopotamia. Moreover, the bishop of Persia was present at the council, the land of Scythia was not left out, Pontos and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia had their representatives. And also Thracians and Macedonians, Achaians and Epirotes who live in the remotest parts, even from Hispaniae, Hosius, whose fame was widespread, replacing the great bishop of Rome Sylvester with presbyters from Rome, Biton and Vincentius – many prelates together sat in council. [...]
 
(trans. M. Szada)

Discussion:

The exact form of the name of the first presbyter is uncertain, as the sources give many variants (Biton, Vitus, Thitus, Betus, Verus, Citus, Victor, Bicon, Beco, Vito, Vexon, see PCBE, Italie, v. 1, BITVS 1).

Place of event:

Region
  • East
  • Rome
City
  • Nicaea

About the source:

Author: Gelasius of Cyzicus
Title: Ecclesiastical History, Kirchengeschichte, Ἐκκλησιαστικὴ ἱστορία, Historia ecclesiastica, Church History
Origin: Cyzicus (East)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian
The work has in the manuscripts a title "Collection of the acts of the council of Nicea." It has, in fact, traits of compilation, but can also be attributed to the genre of the "ecclesiastical history". The author stated in the preface of his work that he was a son of a presbyter from Kyzikos, and that he was writing in Bithynia some time after the revolt of Basiliscus (AD 475-476). The philologists of the 16th century wrongly interpreting the remarks of Photius (codex 15 and 88) invented "Gelasius of Cyzicus". Their theory cannot be upheld and now the work is considered anonymous (Hansen 2002: X-XI).
Edition:
Hansen G.Ch. ed., Anonyme Kirchengeschichte, Die griechischen christlichen Schriftsteller der ersten Jahrhunderte NF 9, Berlin 2002.
 
German translation:
Hansen G.Ch. ed. and trans., Anonymus von Cyzicus, Kirchengeschichte, Turnhout 2008.

Categories:

Travel and change of residence
Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος
Ecclesiastical administration - Participation in councils and ecclesiastical courts
Ecclesiastical administration - Ecclesiastical envoy
Relation with - Another presbyter
Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER888, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=888