Tatian

Tatian the Assyrian (/ˈteɪʃən, -iən/; Latin: Tatianus; Greek: Τατιανός; c. 120 – c. 180 AD) was an Assyrian early Christian writer and theologian of the 2nd century.

Tatian's most influential work is the Diatessaron, a Biblical paraphrase, or "harmony", of the four gospels that became the standard text of the four gospels in the Syriac-speaking churches until the 5th-century, after which it gave way to the four separate gospels in the Peshitta version.

Life

Concerning the date and place of his birth, little is known beyond what Tatian tells about himself in his Oratio ad Graecos, chap. xlii (Ante-Nicene Fathers, ii. 81–82): that he was born in "the land of the Assyrians"; scholarly consensus is that he died c. 185 AD, perhaps in Assyria.

He traveled to Rome, where he first encountered Christianity. During his prolonged stay in Rome, according to his own representation, his abhorrence of the pagan cults sparked deep reflections on religious problems. Through the Old Testament, he wrote, he grew convinced of the unreasonableness of paganism. He adopted the Christian religion and became the pupil of Justin Martyr. During this period Christian philosophers competed with Greek sophists. Like Justin, Tatian opened a Christian school in Rome. It is not known how long he labored in Rome without being disturbed.

Hilarius of Aquileia

Saint Hilarius of Aquileia, also Hilary of Aquileia (Italian: Ilario d'Aquileia, also Ellaro or Elaro) (d. 16 March, c. 284) was an early Bishop of Aquileia, a martyr and saint.

He is supposed to have been the second bishop of Aquileia, succeeding Hermagoras. During the persecution of Numerian he was tortured to death under the prefect Beronius. Before his death Hilarius's prayers brought about the collapse of the pagan temples in Aquileia and the images of the gods they contained, to which he had refused to sacrifice.

His martyrdom was shared by his deacon Tatianus, otherwise Tatian, with whom Hilarius's name is often linked, as in the dedication of Gorizia Cathedral, and also by their companions Felix, Largus and Dionysius.

The feast day of Hilarius and companions is 16 March, the date of their martyrdom.

References

Tatian (disambiguation)