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Maximinus, Saint, Bishop of Treves

Wace's Dictionary of Early Christian Biography

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Maximinus (4) , James , 5 th archbp. of Trèves (c. 332—349) known to us from the part he played in the history of Athanasius. In Feb. 336 the latter was banished by the emperor Constantine to Trèves, then the seat of government of his eldest son Constantine II. Maximin received him with honour, became his zealous partisan and friend, and was thenceforth numbered among the champions of orthodoxy in the West (Hieron. Chron. an. 346, Migne, Patr. Lat. xxvii. 682; Athan. Ep. ad Epasc. Aegypt. § 8; Apologia ad Imp. Const. § 3, ed. Benedict. i. 278, 297; Hilarius, Hist. Frag. ii. ed. Maff. ii. 634, in Patr. Lat. x. 644). For the probable influence of Athanasius's sojourn on the struggle between Arianism and orthodoxy and the growth of monasticism in the West, see Rettberg, Kirchengeschichte , i. 187, 188. Athanasius left Trèves in June 338, and in 340 Maximin was called upon to entertain and assist Paul, the banished bp. of Constantinople. His efforts resulted in Paul's restoration in 341. In 342 a deputation of four Arian bishops arrived at Trèves, hoping to win Constans to their views. They brought a creed of compromise, but Maximin was inflexibly hostile, refused them communion, and was mainly instrumental in securing the rejection of their proposals (Hilar. Hist. Frag. iii. ed. Maff. ii. 662, 663, in Patr. Lat. x. 674, 675). In 343 Maximin was present at the council of Milan ( Hist. litt. de la France , i. B. 111). Whether he was also at the great council of Sardica, 343 or 344, is not quite certain, but he assented to its decisions (Athan. Apol. contr. Arianos , § 50, ed. Benedict. i. 168; Hilar. ib. ii. 647, in Patr. Lat. 659). His prominent part in the conflict with Arianism is shewn by the special excommunication pronounced against him at the heretical council of Philippopolis ( Hist. Frag. iii. 27).

Maximin's cult was established from very early times. The legends that collected round his name are embodied in two biographies, one by an anonymous monk of St. Maximin in 8th cent. (Boll. Acta SS. Mai. vii. 21–25), the other by a Lupus, who, in the opinion of Ceillier (xii. 511) and others, was Lupus, bp. of Châlons. It is in Migne, Patr. Lat. cxix. 665–680. According to their story, Maximin was a native of Poitou, brother of Maxentius, bp. of Poictiers. Drawn to Treves by the favour of St. Agricius, he was ordained by him and succeeded him in the see. Against the Arian heresy, then in the ascendant, he boldly contended and suffered much persecution. He summoned a council at Cologne, which condemned Euphratas, the bp. of that city, who denied the divinity of Christ. (This council is now admitted to be fictitious; see Baron. Ann. 346, vii. sqq.; Rettberg, Kirchengeschichte Deutschlands , i. 131). He died in Aquitaine after an episcopate of 17 years, and was buried there. For the early history of his famous monastery see Gall. Christ. xiii. 523 sqq.; Rettberg, u.s. i. 474.

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