Chalcedon - Ecclesiastical History

Ecclesiastical History

Chalcedon was an episcopal see at an early date and several Christian martyrs are associated with Chalcedon:

• The virgin St. Euphemia and her companions in the early fourth century; the cathedral of Chalcedon was consecrated to her.
• St. Sabel the Persian and his companions.

The Fourth Ecumenical Council, known as the Council of Chalcedon, was convened in 451.

After the council, Chalcedon became a metropolitan see, but without suffragans. There is a list of its bishops in Le Quien, completed by Anthimus Alexoudes, revised for the early period by Pargoire. Among others are:

• St. Adrian, a martyr;
• St. John, Sts. Cosmas and Nicetas, during the Iconoclastic period;
• Maris, the Arian;
• Heraclianus, who wrote against the Manichaeans and the Monophysites;
• Leo, persecuted by Alexius I Comnenus.

The Orthodox Metropolitan of Chalcedon holds senior rank (currently third position) within the Greek Orthodox patriarchal synod of Constantinople. The incumbent is Metropolitan Athanasios Papas. The cathedral is that of St. Euphemia.

After the Great Schism, Latin church retained Chalcedon as a titular see, suffragan of Nicomedia. Le Quien mentions eight Latin bishops, from 1345 to 1443; Eubel has ten names, from 1293 to 1525. Five other titular bishops of the sixteenth century are mentioned in the Revue bénédictine. The titular see of Chalcedon was officially given to the Roman Catholic Bishop of England and Wales after 1623. The first two such bishops were William Bishop (1623–24) and Richard Smith (1624–32). The last appointment to this Latin titular see dates to 1967.

The Armenian Catholic titular see has been suppressed. Its last occupant as also that of the Syrian Catholic titular see dates to the 1950s.