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Acacius (2)

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Acacius (3)

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bishop of Berea, was born about the year 322, in Syria. He embraced the monastic life at an early age under the famous anchorite Asterius. About A.D. 378 he was promoted to the see of Berea by Eusebius of Samosata; and after 381 Flavian sent him to Rome, to obtain for him communion with the Western bishops, and to effect the extinction of the schism in the Church of Antioch, in both which designs he succeeded. At the commencement of the 5th century he conspired with Theophilus of Alexandria and others against Chrysostom, and was present in the pseudo- council ad Quercum, in 403, where Chrysostom was deposed. In the great contest between Cyril and Nestorius, Acacius wrote to Cyril, endeavoring to excuse Nestorius, and to show that the dispute was in reality merely verbal. In 431 the Council of Ephesus assembled for the decision of this question. Acacius did not attend, but gave his proxy to Paul of Emesa against Cyril, and addressed a letter to the Oriental bishop, accusing him of Apollinarianism. In 432 he was present in the synod of Berea, held by John, and did all in his power to reconcile Cyril and the Orientals. His death occurred about 436, so that he must have attained the age of 114 years. Of the numerous letters which he wrote, three only, according to Cave, are extant, viz., two Epistles to his Primate, Alexander of Hierapolis; one to Cyril. Cave, Hist. Lit. anno 430; Theodoret, Hist. Ecclesiastes 4:1-16.