Polycates

POLYCRATES, pe-lic´ra-tîz: Bishop of Ephesus; flourished in the second century. He is known only bration of Easter (about 190) [to whom he wrote a letter, given in Eusebius, Hist. eccl., V., xxiv., Eng, transl. in NPNF, 2 ser., i. 242–244]. The controversy, according to Eusebius, took place under Commodus (d. Dec. 31, 192), and to Maximin of Antioch (whom Serapion succeeded in 190–191) letters are said to have been directed. At this time he had been a Christian sixty-five years, coming of a Christian family which had already furnished seven bishops. Victor had requested him to call a synod to decide the Easter problem (see Easter); but this synod, led by Polycrates appealing to the usage of Asia Minor, decided in favor of Nisan 14th, whereupon the pope made an unsuccessful attempt to excommunicate the church of Asia Minor.

(N. Bonwetsch.)

Bibliography: Eusebius, Hist. eccl., V., xxii., xxiv., Eng. transl., NPNF 2 ser., i. 240–244 (cf. note 9 on V xxii.); Harnack, Litteratur, i. 260, ii. 1, p. 323; T. Zahn, Forschungen zur Geschichte der neutestamentlichen Kanons, iii. 187, vi. 162–163, 169 sqq., 208 sqq., Leipsic, 1890–1900; O. Bardenhewer, Geschichte der altkirchlichen Literatur, i. 580, Freiburg, 1902; DNB, iv. 436–437; Ceillier, Auteurs sacrés, i. 535, ii. 542–543.