Epiphanius of Pavia

Epiphanius of Pavia (438–496), later known as Saint Epiphanius of Pavia, was Bishop of Pavia^[1] between the years of 466 and 496, when he died. Epiphanius additionally held the offices of lector, subdeacon and deacon.^[2] During his lifetime, Epiphanius undertook several church-related missions and exploits. Some of the most significant of these was his expedition to Ravenna, where he confronted Theodoric the Great, shortly after his defeat of Odoacer, on the issue of civic rights, and where he pleaded for the restoration of these civic rights, as well as his journey, as an emissary for the emperor (Julius Nepos), to Euric at Toulouse.^[3] Epiphanius, however, also many a time represented his Christian Constituency to important figures of the period, such as the Arian kings, among others. These confrontations and speakings to high-ranking figures proved, most of the time, to be successful endeavors; religious dignitaries such as Epiphanius had wide-ranging influence on the rulers and aristocrats during this period.^[4] Such success is evidenced in Epiphanius' negotiations with Euric, Gundobad, Odoacer and Theoderic over the ransom of the Italian captives they each had taken, and in his further discussions with Odoacer and Theoderic about the lessening of Ligurian taxes.^[4] However, Epiphanius did not limit himself to dialogue with only aristocrats, emperors etc. of what was considered to be the "civilised" world; often he went to speak with barbarian rulers in times of trouble. An example of this is seen during a war between Anthemius and the barbarian leader Ricimer, when Epiphanius appealed to both sides for peace.^[4] Epiphanius died of unknown causes on 21 January, 496, at the age of fifty-eight. That particular year marked 30 years of his service to the church.^[2] Sometime after Epiphanius' death, Ennodius of Arles (d.521) wrote a biography of Epiphanius, entitled Biography of Bishop Epiphanius of Pavia.^[5] His relics were translated to Hildesheim in 963^[6]

References