Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century/Elpidius (8), bp. of Laodicea
Elpidius (8), bp. of Laodicea in Syria at the close of the 4th cent. and
opening of the 5th. He was originally a priest of Antioch under Meletius, whose
confidence he enjoyed and with whom he resided (σύσκηνος)
(Theod. H. E. v. 27). He shared in his master's sufferings under Valens,
and accompanied by Flavian, attended him at the council of Constantinople
a.d. 381 (Labbe, ii. 955). We next
find him as bishop at a council at Constantinople
a.d. 394 (Labbe, ii. 1151), and again
at Constantinople at the close of a.d.
403, as a member of the council summoned by Chrysostom's enemies, and issuing in
his deposition. Elpidius had been an intimate friend of Chrysostom at Antioch, and
now lent the weight of his age and well-deserved reputation to the defence of his
old associate. When the validity of the canons of the council of Antioch, of suspected
orthodoxy, used by Chrysostom's enemies as an instrument to secure their object,
came into question before the emperor, Elpidius adroitly turned the tables on Acacius
and his party by proposing that the advocates of the canons should declare themselves
of the same faith with those who had promulgated them (Pallad. Dial. c. 9,
p. 80). After Chrysostom's deposition and exile, Elpidius exerted himself strenuously
in his behalf, dispatching letters to bishops and faithful laity in all parts of
the world, exhorting them to remain true to Chrysostom, and encouraging them to
bear up against persecution. Chrysostom wrote to Elpidius shortly after his arrival
at Cucusus in 404, thanking him most warmly, and giving him information concerning
the place of his banishment, his companions, and his health (Chrys. Ep. 114).
Four other letters from Chrysostom to Elpidius are extant, all written from Cucusus
(Epp. 25, 138, a.d. 405;
Ep. 131, a.d. 406; Ep. 142,
a.d. 407).
Elpidius suffered for his fidelity to his friend in the persecution against the Joannite party under Atticus and Porphyry. In 406 he was deposed from his see, and was closely imprisoned in his house for three years (Pallad. Dial. p. 195). In 414 Alexander, succeeding Porphyry as bp. of Antioch, restored Elpidius to his see in a manner which testified deep reverence for his character, and pope Innocent heard of it with extreme satisfaction (Baron. 408 §§ 35, 37; Tillem. xi. 274).
[E.V.]