Auxentius Durostorsky

Auxentius of Durostorum ( Latin: Auxentius Durostorum ; 4th century) - Bishop of Durostor , a Christian writer.

Auxentius is Goth by origin. He became a bishop at the end of the reign of Emperor Valent , being a disciple and follower of the Christian enlightener, ready to Wulfila . The only literary work that has been preserved from Auxentius is a small epistle in which Auxentius composed the posthumous praise of Wulfilah, outlined the Symbol of Faith of Wulfilah. In this epistle, Auxentius outlined his own confession of faith. The Epistle of Auxentius was included and quoted by the Gothic bishop Maximinus ( Latin: Maximinus ) in his work, only in it it was preserved. The work of Maximinus is an objection to the treatise of Bishop Ambrose of Mediolansky “On Faith”. The work of Maximinus is the only source of information about the life of Auxentius.

The doctrine of Auxentius-Wulfila in relation to the Son occupies an intermediate position between the early teachings of Arius and the teachings of Omis . Auxentius does not call the Son a creature (creation), but at the same time he also denies the teaching of the Omis - the likeness of the Son to the Father : "I believe in one God the Father, ... who does not have Himself." The doctrine of Auxentius-Wulfila in relation to the Holy Spirit is the teaching of the Dukhobors , and the principle of consistent subordinationism is set forth. The Spirit obeys the Son and the Son to the Father: “I believe that [the Holy Spirit] is not God and not the Lord, but a faithful servant of Christ, not equal, but subordinate and obeying in everything to the Son, and the Son is subordinate and obeying in everything to His Father. " According to the Russian church historian V.N. Samuilov , the theological system of Auxentius is close in essential points and in terminology to the theological system of Eusebius of Caesarea .

In 383, Auxentius, on the orders of Emperor Theodosius , along with other Arian bishops of the eastern part of the Byzantine Empire, was deposed.

Auxentius II, Bishop of Mediolan and Auxentius Durostorsky, in the opinion of V.N. Samuilov and in the opinion of the author of the article of the Orthodox Encyclopedia A.M. Kryukov, is one person. Auxentius II, as Ambrose of Mediolansky writes, came from Scythia (Durostor was near Lesser Scythia ) and used to be named Mercurin ( Latin Mercurinus ). In 384, Auxentius II arrived in Mediolanus to the court of Emperor Valentinian II . Mother Valentina Justina ( Justina (empress) ) sympathized with the Goths. Auxentius II led the Arian community ready to the city. Auxentius II tried in 386 to achieve the transfer of the building of one of the churches to the Goths. For this reason, a conflict arose between the Arians and the Orthodox. The latter was supported by the emperor. Ambrose Mediolansky in connection with these events delivered a sermon against Auxentius II.