Vigilius

Dupin enumerates six ecclesiastics who bore this name.

1. Vigilius Tridentinus. 2. Vigilius, of Africa, who wrote upon the Apocalypse, as we learn from Cassiodorus. (Inst. Div. 9.) 3. Vigilius, the Deacon. 4. Vigilius Tapsensis. 5. Vigilius, bishop of Brescia. 6. Vigilius, a bishop who signed the acts of the council of Agde. Of these, the first, third, and fourth only deserve particular notice.

bishop of Trent, hence distinguished by the epithet Tridentinus, flourished towards the close of the fourth century and suffered martyrdom, probably in the second consulship of Stilicho, A. D. 405. This is the Vigilius, who, according to Gennadius, addressed to a certain Simplicianus, a letter and a tract containing Gesta sui temporis apud barbaros martyrum. We cannot doubt that two Epistles still extant under the name of Vigilius De Martyrio Sanctorum Sisinii et Sociorum, one addressed to Simplicianus, bishop of Milan, the other to John, bishop of Constantinople, are the pieces here indicated. They will be found under their best form in the Bibliotheca Patrum of Gal land, vol. viii. (fol. Venet. 1772), p. 203. (Ambros. Epist. xxiv.; Gennad. de Viris Ill. 37; Galland, Proleg. vol. viii. c. v. p. x.; Dupin, Ecclesiastical History of the fifth Century ; Schoenemann, Bibliotheca Patrum Lat. vol. 1.4.26; Bähr, Geschichte der Röm. Lit. Suppl. Band. 2te Abtheil. § 30.)

a deacon who flourished under Arcadius and Honorius. Works Regula Monachorum

He is mentioned by Gennadius and Trithemius, as the compiler of a Regula Monachorum, which is still extant. Editions

This will be found, Under the title Regulae Orientales ex Patrum Orientalium Regulis collectae a Vigilio Diacono, in the Codex Regularum, published by L. Holstein, 4to. Rom. 1661, Paris. 4to. 1663, and also in the work of Brockie, fol. Aug. Vind. 1759, vol. i. p. 60. Further Information

Schoenemann, Bibliotheca Patrum Lat. vol. 2.23.

bishop of Thapsus, in Byzacium, hence designated Tapsensis, flourished towards the close of the fifth century when Africa was overrun by the Arian Vandals.

Being an orthodox Catholic, he was driven from his see by Hunneric, in A. D. 484, and took refuge at Constantinople. Works

In Constantinople he composed several works, chiefly of a polemical character. Of those enumerated below, the first has always borne the name of Vigilius, although frequently ascribed to Vigilius of Trent; the others have been found in MSS., some bearing the name of Athanasius, some of Idacius Clarus, some of Augustine, and it has been conjectured by Dupin that they were originally given to the world under these false colours, either for the sake of avoiding persecution, or in the belief that the arguments would be listened to with more respect, and make a more forcible impression if supposed to proceed from such illustrious fathers. It is manifest that such a proceeding must have given rise to the greatest confusion, and it is now almost impossible to determine with certainty the real history of these tracts. I. Adversus Nestorium et Eutychem Libri quinque pro defesione Synodi Chalcedonensis

The nature and object of this piece are sufficiently indicated by the title. Editions

It was first printed at Tübingen, fol. 1528, again at Cologne, 8vo. 1575, and appears under its best form, in the works of Vigilius, as collected by Chifflet, and published at Dijon, 4to. 1664, in the same volume with Victor Vitensis. II. Altercatio sub nomine Athanasii adversus Arium.

Two dialogues between Athanasius and Arius before an arbiter named Probus. Often included in the works of Athanasius. III. Altercationes tres.

Three dialogues between Athanasius, Arius, Photius, and Sabellius, apparently a second and enlarged edition of the preceding piece. IV. De Trinitate

s. De unita Trinitate Deitatis Libri XII. Often included among the works of Athanasius. While Chifflet assigns the whole of these books to Vigilius, some scholars maintain that the first eight belong to Idacius, the ninth, tenth, and eleventh to some unknown composer, and the twelfth, which bears the separate title De Trinitate et Spiritu Sancto, to Augustine. V. De Unitate Trinitatis ad Optatum

s. Dialogus inter Augustinum et Felicianum Arianum. Generally included in the works of Augustine. VI. De Trinitate adversus Varimadum

(or Marivadum) Libri tres. Published under the name of Idacius Clarus. VII. Contra Palladium Arianum episcopum.

Included in many editions of the works of Ambrose, and also of Gregory of Nazianzus. Editions

The whole of the six last mentioned treatises will be found in the edition of Chifflet, where the authenticity of each is elaborately discussed, and in the Bibliotheca Patrum Max. fol. Lugd. 1677, vol. viii. p. 743. Further Information

Walch, Bibliotheca Patrist. c. 10.104. [W.R]