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Evodius

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Evodius
Bishop of Antioch
DioceseAntioch
SeeAntioch
In officeCirca 53-66 A.D.
PredecessorPeter I
SuccessorIgnatius of Antioch
Personal details
DiedCirca 66 A.D.
Antioch, Syria, Roman Empire
Sainthood
Feast day6 May (Catholic Church)
7 September (Eastern Orthodox Church)
Venerated inCatholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Oriental Orthodoxy
Assyrian Church of the East
Ancient Church of the East
AttributesBishop

Evodius or Euodias (died c. 69) was an Early Christian bishop of Antioch, succeeding Peter. He is regarded as one of the first identifiable Christians, and is venerated as a saint.

Biography

Little is known of the life of Evodius. At the time, Antioch was an opulent and cosmopolitan city where both Hellenized Jews and pagans were influenced by monotheism. Peter became the bishop of Antioch and led the church there.

Evodius was one of the 72 disciples of Christ.[1] He eventually succeeded Peter as bishop of Antioch when Peter left for Rome.[2]

Evodius was bishop of Antioch until 66 AD, and was succeeded by Ignatius of Antioch. Catholic tradition says it is likely that Evodius died of natural causes, however, the Eastern Orthodox tradition holds that he was martyred under Emperor Nero in 66 AD.[3] As one of the first pagans to come to the new church, he is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church, as well as the Assyrian Church of the East. His feast day is 6 May in the Catholic Church and 7 September in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

It has been claimed that in one of his many writings, Evodius asserts that the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ, the Saviour, when she was fifteen. However, no known writings of Evodius survive today.

Notes

Titles of the Great Christian Church
Preceded by Bishop of Antioch
53–68
Succeeded by