Arethusa (see)
Encyclopedia
Arethusa is a Roman Catholic titular see
in the former Roman province
of Syria, near Apameia. The modern, Arabic name of the site is Er-Rastan.
It has been used as a titular episcopal see in both the Roman Rite
and the Syrian Rite, but is presently vacant in both.
(1099–1100).
In the time of Roman Emperor
Flavius Julius Constantius (337-361), its Bishop — later Saint — Marcus of Arethusa, destroyed a heathen temple which under the apostate Emperor Julian he was ordered to rebuild. To avoid this he fled from the city, but eventually returned to save the Christian people from paying the penalty in his stead, and underwent very cruel treatment at the hands of the pagan mob (Sozomen
, Historia Ecclesiastica, x, 10) in 362. He is said to have been the author of the Creed of Sirmium (351) and is counted by Tillemont as an Arian
in belief and in factious spirit. He was struck from the Roman Martyrology
for years, but research by the Bollandists vindicated him and restored his name to the roles; his liturgical Memorial is on March 29.
Titular see
A titular see in various churches is an episcopal see of a former diocese that no longer functions, sometimes called a "dead diocese". The ordinary or hierarch of such a see may be styled a "titular bishop", "titular metropolitan", or "titular archbishop"....
in the former Roman province
Roman province
In Ancient Rome, a province was the basic, and, until the Tetrarchy , largest territorial and administrative unit of the empire's territorial possessions outside of Italy...
of Syria, near Apameia. The modern, Arabic name of the site is Er-Rastan.
It has been used as a titular episcopal see in both the Roman Rite
Roman Rite
The Roman Rite is the liturgical rite used in the Diocese of Rome in the Catholic Church. It is by far the most widespread of the Latin liturgical rites used within the Western or Latin autonomous particular Church, the particular Church that itself is also called the Latin Rite, and that is one of...
and the Syrian Rite, but is presently vacant in both.
History
Its episcopal list (325-680) is given in Gams (p. 436). It was also a Latin see for a brief period during the CrusadesCrusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
(1099–1100).
In the time of Roman Emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Flavius Julius Constantius (337-361), its Bishop — later Saint — Marcus of Arethusa, destroyed a heathen temple which under the apostate Emperor Julian he was ordered to rebuild. To avoid this he fled from the city, but eventually returned to save the Christian people from paying the penalty in his stead, and underwent very cruel treatment at the hands of the pagan mob (Sozomen
Sozomen
Salminius Hermias Sozomenus was a historian of the Christian church.-Family and Home:He was born around 400 in Bethelia, a small town near Gaza, into a wealthy Christian family of Palestine....
, Historia Ecclesiastica, x, 10) in 362. He is said to have been the author of the Creed of Sirmium (351) and is counted by Tillemont as an Arian
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
in belief and in factious spirit. He was struck from the Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology
The Roman Martyrology is the official martyrology of the Roman Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. It provides an extensive but not exhaustive list of the saints recognized by the Church.-History:...
for years, but research by the Bollandists vindicated him and restored his name to the roles; his liturgical Memorial is on March 29.