Isido'rus

6. Of PELUSIUM, a Christian exegetical writer, at the end of the fourth and the beginning of the fifth century.

He was a native of Alexandria (Phot. Biblioth. Cod. 228, p. 247. a. 3, ed. Bekker), but lie spent his life in a monastery near Pelusium, of which he was the abbot, and where he practised the most severe asceticism. He was a great admirer of Chrysostom, in defending whom he vehemently attacked the patriarchs Theophilus and Cyril of Alexandria. (Phot. Bibl. Cod. 232, p. 291a. 42--b. 3.) He died about B. C. 450.

Works

Book Against the Gentiles

A book which he wrote against the Gentiles is lost.

Letters

A large number of his letters are still extant. They are almost all expositions of Scripture, and are valuable for the piety and learning which they display. They amount to the number of 2013, and it is not improbable that these are only a part of his letters, written for the benefit of some particular monastery. On the other hand, many of them are believed to be spurious.

They are divided into five books.

Editions

Of the five books of letters the first three were printed, with the Latin translation and notes of J. de Billy, at Paris, 1585, fol.; reprinted, with the addition of the fourth book, by Conrad Rittershansen, Heidelberg, 1605, fol.; the fifth book was first published from a MS. in the Vatican, by the Jesuit Andreas Schott, Antwerp, 1623, 8vo.; reprinted with Latin version and notes, at Frankfort-on-the-Main, 1629, fol.; finally, these editions were combined into a complete one, Paris, 1638, fol.

Further Information

Schröckh, Christliche Kirchengeschichte, vol. xvii. pp. 520-529; Hermann, Dissert. de Isidoro Pelusiota, ejusque epistolis, Gotting. 1737, 4to.; Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. x. pp. 480-494.