The Ecclesiastical History of Sozomen by Hermias Sozomen

Some three-fourths of the materials, essentially in the same arrangement, have been appropriated from his predecessor without his being named, the other sources to which Sozomen was indebted being expressly cited. When compared with the history of the ecclesiastical historian Socrates, it is plainly seen to be a plagiarism from that work, and that on a large scale. A flattering and bombastic dedication to Theodosius II. 12 seq., holds that Sozomen himself suppressed the end of his work).

17), and statements of his excerptors Nicephorus and Theophanes, it can be made out that the work did actually come down to that year, and that consequently it has reached us only in a mutilated condition, at least half a book being wanting (Giildenpenning, Theodoros von Kyrrhos, p.

The nine books of which it is composed begin with Constantine (323)(323) and come down to the death of Honorius (423) but according to his own statement he intended to continue it as far as the year 439 (see the Dedication of the work). After studying law in Beira he settled down as an advocate in Constantinople, where he wrote his EKK7yflc o-71.0 Io Topia about the year 440. As a man he retained the impressions of his youth, and his great work was to be also a monument of his reverence for the monks in general and for the disciples of Hilarion in particular. He tells us that he was brought up under monkish influences and his history bears him out. Sozomen himself had conversed with one of these, a very old man. The descendants of the wealthy Alaphion founded churches and convents in the district, and were particularly active in promoting monasticism. The historian's grandfather became within his own circle a highly esteemed interpreter of Scripture, and held fast his profession even in the time of Julian. Both men with their families became zealous Christians. His grandfather, he tells us, lived at Bethel, near Gaza, and became a Christian, probably under Constantius, through the influence of Hilarion, who had miraculously healed an acquaintance of the grandfather, one Alaphion. What he has to tell us of the history of South Palestine was derived from oral tradition. 400443) came of a wealthy family of Palestine, and it is exceedingly probable that he himself was born and brought up there - in Gaza or the neighbourhood. Hermias Salamanes (Salaminius) Sozomenus ( c. SOZOMEN, the name of a famous 5th-century church historian.

The Ecclesiastical History of Sozomen by Hermias Sozomen