Orthodox Forge

The Fathers

Serapion of Antioch

bp. 199 d. 211

Who he was

  • The eighth bishop of Antioch.
  • His episcopate corresponded more or less with the reign of Septimus Severus (b. 146 - d. 211).
  • It is interesting that a large fragment of the Apocryphal Gospel of St. Peter, discovered at Akhmim, Egypt in 1886, corresponds exactly to Serapion’s description.
  • It is on the whole Orthodox, but contains strange ideas inspired byDocetism.

What he wrote

  • His letter to Pontius and Caricus deals with the Montanistic heresy, and states that the so-called new prophecy of this false order is abominated in the whole of Christendom, throughout the world.
  • In another letter addressed to the Church of Rhossus in Cilicia he deals with the Apocryphal Gospel of St. Peter.
  • Eusebius knew of a third letter of Serapion addressed to a certain Domnus.

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