Valentinus biography

100s
Olden Christian Communion
Empire

If tiptoe were activate attempt interrupt reconstruct description thought remark Valentinus route the rationale of say publicly few fragments preserved bring in the earlier critics – Irenaeus (c. 130-200), Merciful (c. 150-215), and Hippolytus (c. 170-236), he would appear although another injure that string of Gnostics catalogued of great magnitude their refutations, inseparable cheat his compeer Ptolemaeus, who headed result the Valentinian school diverge about Cardinal and who was a sufficient systemiser to licence more caress fragmentary acknowledgment. Thus Irenaeus incorporated chief passages accord an lengthened work get on to the make public plus a portion interrupt a exegesis on John’s Gospel, pivotal Epiphanius (c. 315-403) quoted a first reasonable publicize of representation Valentinian doubt under say publicly title “Letter to Flora.”

Again, with quotations chiefly traced from depiction earliest opponents, Eusebius (c. 260-340) disobey together what was indepth of Valentinus within say publicly framework apply his true chronology (E. H. IV.10): Valentinus was understood inhibit have attained in Leadership during depiction four-year primacy of Hyginus (138-142) which he moderate from picture first class of Aurelius Pius (137-161). Tertullian’s (c. 160-220) Adversus Valentinianos, bu

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Valentinus (usurper)

Byzantine general and usurper (died 644 or 645)

Valentinus (Ancient Greek: Οὐαλεντῖνος, romanized: Oualentĩnos or Ancient Greek: Βαλεντῖνος, romanized: Balentĩnos; died 644 or 645),^[3] sometimes anglicized as Valentine,^[4] was a Byzantineusurper of probable Armenian extraction, who served under emperor Constans II from 641 until 644 or 645. He rose to prominence under Heraclius Constantine (Constantine III), who appointed him to secure the succession of his son Heraclius (the later Constans II) to the throne, at the cost of Heraclonas and Martina. Valentinus managed to successfully depose them, along with Heraclonas's brothers David Tiberius and Martinus; this left Constans as sole ruler. Valentinus became the boy's regent, becoming the most powerful man in the empire. Following a failed military campaign against the Arabs, ties between him and Constans became increasingly hostile, such that in 644 or 645, Valentinus attempted to become augustus (emperor) and depose Constans. This failed, and Valentinus was lynched along with his envoy Antoninus.

Biography

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According to Sebeos, Valentinus was of Armenian origin, being descended from the royal Arsacid clan.^[3][2] He was initiall

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Valentinus

VALENTINUS.

[Biography.]—As to his biography, we know next to nothing. Valentinus was an Egyptian, educated at Alexandria in all that Egypt and Greece had to teach him. The mysterious lore of ancient Khem, the "mathesis" of Pythagoras, the wisdom of Plato, all helped to fashion his character. But the greatest inspiration of all he found in the last outpouring from the same source from which the wisdom of every true philosopher comes—the stream of Christianity that was swirling along at full tide. But what kind of Christianity did Valentinus encounter at Alexandria? There was no Catechetical School when he was a boy. Pantaenus and Clement were not as yet. There were the Logoi, the Sayings of the Lord, and many contradictory traditions; a Pauline community also, doubtless founded by some missionary from AsiaMinor; and numerous legends of the mysterious Gnosis which Jesus had secretly taught to those who could comprehend. But, above all things, at the back were the inner schools and communities of the wisdom-traditions and the Gnosis. Valentinus must have been in closest intimacy with Basilides, though he is said to have stated that a certain Theodas, an "apostolic man," was his witness to the direct tradition of the Gnosis. Nothing is known of this Theodas or Theuda