BASSIANUS OF EPHESUS

5th-century bishop; d. after 451. A popular and influential priest of Ephesus, Bassianus was forced by his bishop, Memnon, because of jealousy, to be consecrated bishop of Evaza (c. 431), but he refused to occupy his see. Memnon's successor, Basil, consecrated another bishop for Evaza and allowed Bassianus to return to Ephesus (c. 434). With the approval of Emperor theodosius ii and Proclus, Patriarch of Constantinople, Bassianus was chosen to succeed Basil in Ephesus (444). Four years later, however, Bassianus was forcibly deposed, and Stephen was named his successor. Bassianus appealed to the emperor, who referred the matter to the Council of chalce don. The fathers heard the testimony of both sides at the 11th session (Oct. 29, 451). Although many sided with Bassianus, no decision was reached until the 12th session on the following day. The council then decided that both Stephen and Bassianus were to be deposed, and a new bishop to be chosen by the bishops of the province. Bassianus and Stephen, however, were each to receive 200 gold solidi a year from the See of Ephesus. Little is known of Bassianus after that.

Bibliography: r. janin, Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques (Paris 1912–) 6:1274–75. j. d. mansi, Sacrorum conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio (Graz 1960–) 7:273–300. f. x. murphy, Peter Speaks through Leo (Washington, D.C. 1952) 87–89. c. j. von hefele and h. leclercq, Histoire des conciles d'après les documents originaux (Mechlin 1945) 2.2:755–761.

[r. k. poetzel]