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Saint Euloge d'Alexandrie
Patriarche
d'Alexandrie (✝ 607)
Patriarche
d'Alexandrie, il était syrien de naissance. Ses connaissances théologiques et
philosophiques étaient fort grandes, ce pourquoi il fut choisi comme
patriarche. Il se lia d'amitié avec le pape saint Grégoire le Grand et lutta avec vigueur
contre la propagation des doctrines monophysites.
À Alexandrie, vers 607, saint Euloge, évêque, illustre par sa
science, au temps de saint Grégoire le Grand qui lui envoya plusieurs lettres
et écrivit de lui: ”Il n’est pas loin de moi, car il ne fait qu’un avec moi”.
Martyrologe
romain
Euloge d’Alexandrine
Patriarche, Saint
† 608
Saint Euloge était
Syrien de naissance. Etant encore jeune, il embrassa la vie monastique dans sa
pairie. Les eutychiens, comme il arrive toujours à ceux qui ont abandonné le
centre de l'union, se trouvaient alors divisés en plusieurs sectes. La fureur
et l'animosité de leurs contestations avaient jeté les églises de Syrie et
d'Egypte dans la plus grande confusion, et la plupart des moines syriens
étaient devenus fameux par la corruption de leurs mœurs et par leur attachement
à l'hérésie. Euloge apprit de leur chute à veiller sur lui-même, et il ne se
distingua pas moins par l'innocence de sa vie, que par la pureté de sa
doctrine.
Après avoir acquis une grande connaissance des
belles-lettres, il se mit à étudier la théologie dans les vraies sources de
cette science, dans l'Ecriture, dans les conciles et dans les ouvrages des
Pères. Comme il joignait à une application infatigable, un esprit pénétrant,
une conception vive et un jugement solide, ses progrès furent très-rapides. Il
fut bientôt en état de combattre pour la vérité ; il mérita d'être compté parmi
les Grégoire-le-Grand et les Eutychius. 11 devint en un mot une des plus
brillantes lumières de l'Eglise dans le siècle où il vécut. Sa science reçut un
nouvel éclat de son humilité, ainsi que de son amour pour la pénitence et pour
la prière.
Les besoins de l'Eglise le firent tirer de sa
solitude, et il fut fait prêtre par saint Anastase, patriarche d’Antioche, qui
mourut en 598, et qui fut remplacé par Anastase-le-Jeune. Tant qu'Euloge
demeura dans cette ville, il fut toujours étroitement lié avec saint Eutychius,
patriarche de Constantinople, et il se réunit avec lui contre les ennemis de la
vérité.
Tibère-Constantin, prince vertueux, n'eut pas plus
tôt été élevé à l'empire, qu'il s'occupa des moyens de réparer les maux que
Justinien et Justin-le-Jeune, ses prédécesseurs, avaient faits à l'Eglise et à
l'Etat. Il ouvrit ses trésors pour assister tous ceux de ses sujets qui étaient
dans le besoin. Son zèle pour l'orthodoxie lui faisait chercher de bons
pasteurs pour les églises particulières qui avaient le plus souffert des
ravages de l'eutychianisme. Ce fut ce qui le détermina à demander que l'on
donnât saint Euloge pour successeur à Jean, patriarche d'Alexandrie. On le
sacra sur la fin de l'année 583.
Ayant été obligé de faire un voyage à
Constantinople, environ deux ans après son installation, il y trouva saint
Grégoire-le-Grand, et se lia avec lui d'une amitié fort étroite. Ils n'eurent
plus tous deux dans la suite qu'un cœur et qu'une âme. Parmi les lettres de
saint Grégoire, il y en a plusieurs qui sont adressées au saint patriarche.
Celui-ci composa d'excellents ouvrages contre les acéphales et les autres
sectes des eutychiens. On connaît aussi de lui onze discours, dont le neuvième
est un éloge de la vie monastique, et six livres contre les novatiens
d'Alexandrie, dans le premier desquels il est prouvé qu'on doit honorer les
martyrs. Il ne nous reste plus de ces ouvrages, que des fragments qui nous ont
été conservés par Photius. Saint Euloge composa encore un autre traité, dont
Photius ne parle point. Il s'y proposait de réfuter les agnoëtes, secte
d’eutychiens, qui soutenaient que Jésus-Christ, comme homme, ignorait plusieurs
choses, et notamment le jour du jugement. Saint Grégoire-le-Grand, que l'auteur
avait prié d'examiner cet ouvrage, le lui renvoya, en lui marquant qu'il n'y
avait rien trouvé que d'admirable. Le saint patriarche d'Alexandrie mourut en
606 ou en 608. Nous admirons les actions d'éclat qui brillèrent dans les Saints
; ce n'est pourtant point dans ces sortes d'actions que consistait leur
sainteté, mais dans la disposition habituelle de vertu où était leur âme. De
bonnes actions, faites de temps à autre, ne font point l'homme vertueux ; ce
titre n'appartient qu'à celui qui s'est fait une heureuse habitude de la
pratique des divins commandements. Ce n'est point assez d'avoir reçu dans son
cœur la semence des vertus, il fa ut l'y nourrir, la développer, et l'unir
tellement à la substance de son âme, qu'elle devienne le principe de toutes nos
actions et de toutes nos affections. Par-là tout l'ensemble de conduite, tant
publique que particulière, formera une suite non interrompue d'œuvres
méritoires ; et ces œuvres tireront leur perfection de la ferveur qui les
produira. Cette ferveur, par un caractère essentiel à la vertu, est toujours
susceptible d'accroissement, et elle doit toujours croître dans une âme
véritablement pénétrée de la divinité de notre sainte Religion.
Euloge, patriarche d'Alexandrie
Le
Martyrologe romain vénère Euloge le 13 septembre. Il fut l'un des champion de
l'orthodoxie et de l'unité de l'Eglise. Moine et prêtre d'Antioche, où il fut
responsable de l'église de la Vierge, dite Justinienne, Euloge composa des
eouvres insignes. Entre 578 et 580 il fut élu patriarche d'Alexandrie. Il était
le 46e évêque à occuper le siège de Saint Marc. Pendant les 27 ans de son
épiscopat, il lutta contre les hérésies de son temps et écrivit plusieurs
livres, surtout contre les monophysites et les novatiens. Doué d'un tempérament
modéré, il combattit l'hérésie par la force de la parole et par ses écrits. Il
obtint la conversion de quelques hérétiques. A Alexandrie il bâtit une
basilique en honneur de S. Julien d'Antinoé, martyrisé pendant la persécution
de Dioclétien.
Euloge
manifesta toujours une grande dévotion au Pape saint Leon le Grand et il
écrivit des oeuvres pour sa défense. Il jouit de l'amitié du pape Grégoire le
Grand (590-604), qu'il avait rencontré à Constantinople lorsqu'il était
ambassadeur du Saint Siège. Euloge maintint avec lui une intense
corresponsance. Dans l'Epistolaire de Grégoire il y a treize lettres adressées
au patriarche alexandrin. Dans ces lettres, le pape expose ses principes
doctrinaux et pastoraux et confie à Euloge ses soucis et partage avec lui ses
joies. Des oeuvres d'Euloge on a conservé seulement quelques fragments. Il es
mort en 607.
September 13
St. Eulogius, Patriarch of Alexandria, Confessor
From Nicephorus’s Chronicle, the Paschal Chronicle,
Photius, Bibl. Cod. 181, 208, 226, 230, &c.
A.D. 608.
ST. EULOGIUS was a Syrian
by birth, and embraced young the monastic state in that country. The Eutychian
heresy was then split into various sects, as it usually happens among such as
have left the centre of union. These, by their tyranny and the fury of their
contests, had thrown the churches of Syria and Egypt into much confusion, and a
great part of the monks of Syria were at that time become remarkable for their
loose morals and errors against faith. Eulogius learned from the fall of others
to stand more watchfully and firmly upon his guard, and was not less
distinguished by the innocence and sanctity of his manners than by the purity
of his doctrine. Having, by an enlarged pursuit of learning, attained to a
great variety of useful knowledge in the different branches of literature, he
set himself to the study of divinity in the sacred sources of that science,
which are the holy scriptures, and the tradition of the church explained in its
councils, and the approved writings of its eminent pastors. From the study of
his retreat he made this his chief study, to which he directed every thing
else; and, as his industry was indefatigable, his parts quick, his
apprehensions lively, and his judgment solid, his progress was such as to
qualify him to be an illustrious champion for the truth, worthy to be ranked
with St. Gregory the Great and St. Eutychius as one of the greatest lights of
the church in the age wherein he lived. His character received still a brighter
lustre from his sincere humility and spirit of holy compunction and prayer. In
the great dangers and necessities of the church he was drawn out of his
solitude, and made priest of Antioch by the patriarch St. Anastasius, who was
promoted to that dignity in 561, and, dying in 598, was succeeded by Anastasius
the Younger. St. Eulogius, whilst he lived at Antioch, entered into the
strictest connexions with St. Eutychius, patriarch of Constantinople, and
joined his forces with that holy prelate against the enemies of the truth.
The Emperor Justinian and
his nephew and successor, Justin the Younger, had been the plunderers of their
empire, and the grievous oppressors of their subjects; the former to support
his extravagance and vanity, the latter to gratify his insatiable avarice and
scandalous lusts. Justin II., dying in 576, after a reign of ten years and ten
months, Tiberius Constantine, a Thracian, and a virtuous prince, was raised to
the throne. He applied himself to heal the wounds caused during the former
reigns, both in the church and state. His charities in all parts of the empire
were boundless, and all his treasuries were open to the poor. Amongst the evils
with which the church was then afflicted, the disorders and confusion into
which the tyranny of the Eutychians had thrown the church of Alexandria, called
aloud for a powerful remedy, and an able and zealous pastor, endued with
prudence and vigour to apply them. Upon the death of the patriarch John, St.
Eulogius was raised to that patriarchal dignity towards the close of the year
583, at the earnest desire of the emperor, who, having reigned only six years
and ten months, died the same year, leaving his son-in-law, Mauritius, his
successor in the imperial throne. Our saint was obliged to make a journey to
Constantinople about two years after his promotion, in order to concert
measures concerning certain affairs of his church. He met at court Saint
Gregory the Great, and contracted with him a holy friendship, so that, from
that time, they seemed to be one heart and one soul. Among the letters of St.
Gregory, we have several extant which he wrote to our saint. St. Eulogius
composed many excellent works against the Acephali, and other sects of
Eutychians. Photius has preserved us valuable fragments of some of these treatises;
also of eleven discourses of our saint, the ninth of which is a commendation of
a monastic life; likewise of his six books against the Novations of Alexandria,
in the fifth of which he expressly sets himself to prove that the martyrs are
to be honoured. 1 Photius makes no mention of the
treatise of St. Eulogius against the Agnoëtæ, a sect of Eutychians, who
ascribed to Christ, as man, ignorance of the day of judgment, and of many other
things. St. Gregory the Great, to whose censure the author submitted it, sent
him his approbation, with high commendations, saying: “I have not found any
thing but what is admirable in your writings,” &c. 2 Saint Eulogius did not long survive Saint
Gregory, for he died in the year 606, or, according to others, in 608.
We admire the great actions
and the glorious triumphs of the saints; yet it is not so much in these that
their sanctity consisted, as in the constant habitual heroic disposition of
their souls. There is no one who does not sometimes do good actions; but he can
never be called virtuous who does well only by humour, or by fits and starts,
not by steady habits. It is an habitual poverty of spirit, humility, meekness,
patience, purity, piety, and charity, which our Divine Master recommends to us.
We must take due pains to plant the seeds of virtues in our souls, must watch
and labour continually to improve and strengthen them, that they may be
converted into nature, and be the principle by which all the affections of our
souls, and all the actions of our lives are governed. If these pure heroic
sentiments perfectly possess and fill our hearts, the whole tenour of our
conduct, whether in private or in public life, will be an uniform train of
virtuous actions, which will derive their perfection from the degree of fervour
and purity from which they spring, and which, according to the essential
property of virtue, is always improving, and always improvable.
Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73). Volume
IX: September. The Lives of the Saints. 1866.
SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/9/131.html
St. Eulogius of Alexandria
Patriarch of that see from 580 to 607. He was a successful combatant of the heretical errors then current in Egypt, notably the various phases of Monophysitism. He was a warm friend of St. Gregory the Great, corresponded with him, and received from that pope many flattering expressions of esteem and admiration. Among other merits the pope makes special mention of his defence of the primacy of the Roman See (Baronius, Ann. Eccl., ad an. 597, no. 9). Eulogius refuted the Novatians, some communities of which ancient sect still existed in his diocese, and vindicated the hypostatic union of the two natures in Christ, against both Nestorius and Eutyches. Baronius (ad ann. 600, no. 5) says that Gregory wished Eulogius to survive him, recognizing in him the voice of truth. It has been rightly said that he restored for a brief period to the church of Alexandria that life and youthful vigour characteristic of those churches only which remain closely united to Rome. Besides the above works and a commentary against the various sects of the Monophysites (Severians, Theodosians, Cainites, Acephali) he left eleven discourses in defence of Leo I and the council of Chalcedon, also a work against the Agnoetae, submitted by him before publication to Gregory I, who after some observations authorized it unchanged. With exception of one sermon and a few fragments all the writings of Eulogius have perished.
McNeal, Mark. "St. Eulogius of Alexandria." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 13 Sept. 2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05603c.htm>.
SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05603c.htm
Saint Eulogius of
Alexandria
St. Eulogius of Alexandria
Patriarch of that see from 580 to 607. He was a successful combatant of the heretical errors then current in Egypt, notably the various phases of Monophysitism. He was a warm friend of St. Gregory the Great, corresponded with him, and received from that pope many flattering expressions of esteem and admiration. Among other merits the pope makes special mention of his defence of the primacy of the Roman See (Baronius, Ann. Eccl., ad an. 597, no. 9). Eulogius refuted the Novatians, some communities of which ancient sect still existed in his diocese, and vindicated the hypostatic union of the two natures in Christ, against both Nestorius and Eutyches. Baronius (ad ann. 600, no. 5) says that Gregory wished Eulogius to survive him, recognizing in him the voice of truth. It has been rightly said that he restored for a brief period to the church of Alexandria that life and youthful vigour characteristic of those churches only which remain closely united to Rome. Besides the above works and a commentary against the various sects of the Monophysites (Severians, Theodosians, Cainites, Acephali) he left eleven discourses in defence of Leo I and the council of Chalcedon, also a work against the Agnoetae, submitted by him before publication to Gregory I, who after some observations authorized it unchanged. With exception of one sermon and a few fragments all the writings of Eulogius have perished.
McNeal, Mark. "St. Eulogius of Alexandria." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 13 Sept. 2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05603c.htm>.
SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05603c.htm
Saint Eulogius of
Alexandria
- 13 September
- 13 June on some calendars
Profile
Monk as a young man. Well educated in the literature and science of his day, was a Biblical
scholar, and studied the writings of the great pastors. Opposed the Eutychian
and Monophysite heresies.
Patriarch of Alexandria, Egypt in 579, serving for 28 years. His correspondence with Saint
Gregory the Great has survived.
Born
- c.607 of natural causes
Saint
Eulogius, Patriarch of Alexandria
Saint Eulogius was a Syrian by birth, and while young embraced the
monastic state in that country. The Eutychian heresy had thrown the Churches of
Syria and Egypt into much confusion, and a great part of the monks of Syria
were at that time become remarkable for their loose morals and errors against
faith. Eulogius learned from the fall of others to stand more watchfully and
firmly upon his guard, and was not less distinguished by the innocence and
sanctity of his manners than by the purity of his doctrine. Having, by an
enlarged pursuit of learning, attained to a great variety of useful knowledge
in the different branches of literature, he set himself to the study of
divinity in the sacred sources of that science, which are the Holy Scriptures,
the tradition of the Church as explained in its councils, and the approved
writings of its eminent pastors. In the great dangers and necessities of the
Church he was drawn out of his solitude, and made priest of Antioch by the
patriarch Saint Anastasius. Upon the death of John, the Patriarch of
Alexandria, Saint Eulogius was raised to that patriarchal dignity toward the
close of the year 583. About two years after his promotion, our Saint was
obliged to make a journey to Constantinople, in order to concert measures
concerning certain affairs of his Church. He met at court Saint Gregory the
Great, and contracted with him a holy friendship, so that, from that time, they
seemed to be one heart and one soul. Among the letters of Saint Gregory, we
have several extant which he wrote to our Saint St. Eulogius composed many
excellent works against different heresies, and died in the year 606.
Reflection – We
admire the great actions and the glorious triumph of the Saints; yet it is not
so much in these that their sanctity consisted, as in the constant habitual
heroic disposition of their souls. There is no one who does not sometimes do
good actions ; but he can never be called virtuous who does well only by humor,
or by fits and starts, not by steady habits.
SOURCE : http://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saint-eulogius-patriarch-of-alexandria/
St Eulogius died in 607 or 608. St Photius quotes from his writings, which reveal an Orthodox theology of the two natures of our Lord Jesus Christ. Only one of his sermons, for Palm Sunday, has survived in complete form.
