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[[image:Eusebius.jpg|right|thumb|Eusebius, who has been called "The Father of Church History."]]
'''Eusebius of Caesarea''' was the [[bishop]] of Caesarea in Palestine during the early fourth century. He was a prominent personality during the period when Christianity was recognized by [[Constantine the Great]], ending the persecutions, and he participated in the [[First Council of Nicea]]. He is famous for his writings, particularly his ''Church History'' or ''Ecclesiastical History (Historia Ecclesiastica)''. He is often referred to as ''Eusebius Pamphili'' because of his close friendship with Pamphilius, the founder of the major library in [[Caesarea]].
==Life==
However, their friendship was cut short when Pamphilius was arrested in 307 and martyred in 309. It is assumed, as the persecutions relaxed, that Eusebius succeeded Pamphilius as head of his school and may have been ordained to the [[priest]]hood during this time. He was already consecrated a bishop by 315 when he took part in the dedication of a new [[basilica]] in Tyre. He had succeeded Agapius as bishop of Caesarea Palaestina. The next that is known of Eusebius is when he participated, as a prominent member, in the [[First Ecumenical Council|Council of Nicea]]. He was not naturally a spiritual leader or theologian. Nevertheless, as a very learned man and a famous author who enjoyed the special favor of the emperor, he came to the fore among the 300 members of the council. The confession which he proposed became the basis of the Nicene Creed.
Eusebius was involved in the Arian controversies. For instance, he disputed with [[Eustathius of Antioch]], who opposed the growing influence of [[Origen]] and his practice of an allegorical exegesis of scripture and saw in Origen's theology the roots of [[Arianism]]. Eusebius, an admirer of Origen, was reproached by Eustathius for deviating from the Nicene faith. Eustathius in turn was charged with [[Sabellianism]]. Eustathius was accused, condemned, and deposed at a council in Antioch. While the people of Antioch rebelled against this action, the anti-Eustathians proposed Eusebius as the new bishop, but he declined.
After Eustathius had been deposed, the [[Semi-Arianism|Eusebians ]] proceeded against [[Athanasius of Alexandria]], a much more dangerous opponent. In 334, Athanasius was summoned before a council in Caesarea which he did not attend. In the following year, he was again summoned before a council in Tyre at which Eusebius presided. Athanasius, foreseeing the result, went to Constantinople to bring his cause before the emperor. Constantine called the bishops to his court, among them Eusebius. However, Athanasius was condemned and exiled at the end of 335. At the same council, another opponent was successfully attacked: Marcellus of Ancyra had long opposed the Eusebians and had protested against the reinstitution of Arius. He was accused of Sabellianism and deposed in 336. Constantine died the next year, and Eusebius did not long survive him. Eusebius had died (probably at Caesarea) by 340 at the latest, but probably on [[May 30]], 339.
==Works==
The limitations of Eusebius could be said to flow from his position as the first court-appointed Christian theologian in the service of the Roman Empire. Notwithstanding the great influence of his works on others, Eusebius was not himself a great historian. His treatment of [[heresy]], for example, is inadequate, and he knew very little about the Western church. His historical works are really apologetics. In his Ecclesiastical History, Vol. 8, chapter 2, he points out, "We shall introduce into this history in general only those events which may be useful first to ourselves and afterwards to posterity."
In his ''Praeparatio evangelica'' (xii, 31), Eusebius has a section on the use of fictions (''pseudos'') as a "medicine", which may be "lawful and fitting" to use. With that in mind, it is still difficult to assess Eusebius' conclusions and veracity by confronting him with his predecessors and contemporaries because the texts of previous chroniclers, notably [[Papiasof Hierapolis]], whom he denigrated, and Hegesippus, on whom he relied, have disappeared; they survive largely in the form of the quotes of their work that Eusebius selected, and thus they are to be seen only through the lens of Eusebius.
These and other issues have invited controversy. For example, Jocab Burckhardt dismissed Eusebius as "the first thoroughly dishonest historian of antiquity". Burckhardt is not alone in holding such a view. However, Professor Michael J. Hollerich thinks such criticisms go too far. Writing in "Church History" (Vol. 59, 1990), he says that ever since Burckhardt, "Eusebius has been an inviting target for students of the Constantinian era. At one time or another they have characterized him as a political propagandist, a good courtier, the shrewd and worldly adviser of the Emperor Constantine, the great publicist of the first Christian emperor, the first in a long succession of ecclesiastical politicians, the herald of Byzantinism, a political theologian, a political metaphysician, and a caesaropapist. It is obvious that these are not, in the main, neutral descriptions. Much traditional scholarship, sometimes with barely suppressed disdain, has regarded Eusebius as one who risked his orthodoxy and perhaps his character because of his zeal for the Constantinian establishment." He concludes that "the standard assessment has exaggerated the importance of political themes and political motives in Eusebius's life and writings and has failed to do justice to him as a churchman and a scholar".
While many have shared Burckhartdt's assessment, others, while not pretending to extol his merits, have acknowledged the irreplaceable value of his works.
{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=Agapius|
title=Bishop of Caesarea|
years= 312-339|
after=[[Acacius of Caesarea|Acacius]]}}
{{end box}}
==External links==
[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:4th-century bishops]]
[[Category:Historians]]
[[Category:Church History]]
[[Category:Heretics]]
[[ar:أوسابيوس القيصري]]
[[ro:Eusebiu de Cezareea]]