Epiphanius of Salamis-Bishop of Constantia (Salamis) and Father of the Church

Feast Day : May 12

Also known as: the Oracle of Palestine

Epiphania of Salamis was born sometime after 310 in Besanduk, near Eleutheropolis in Judea. He became an expert in scriptural languages and lived as a monk and hermit in Egypt. He returned to Besanduk, founded a monastery and was ordained. He became bishop of Constantia on Cyprus in 367. As bishop, Epiphanius earned a reputation for asceticism, scholarship and orthodoxy. His advice was often sought. He went to Antioch in 376 to intervene in the schism there, siding with Rome against Meletius. He also intervened in the alleged Origenism of Bishop John of Jerusalem and in the heresy accusations against St. John Chrysostom. He died in 403 on his return to Cyprus from Constantinople. Epiphanius was a vigorous defender of the faith. Ancoratus, or “The Well-Anchored,” is a substantial treatment of Christian doctrine and argues especially against Arianism and Origenism. Panarion, or “Medicine chest,” gives the remedies against the poisons of 77 heresies. He was a primary authority of his day in the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.