Pacia'nus
bishop of Barcelona, in Spain, flourished A. D. 370, and died at an advanced age, under Theodosius. Jerome describes him (
de Vir. Illustr. p. 192, Francf. 1684) as renowned for his chastity and eloquence.
Works
Jerome says that he wrote several works, of whieh he expressly mentions those against the Novatians, and one entitled
κέρβος A work of Pacianus against the Novatians is still extant, in the form of three letters addressed to a Novatian of the name of Sempronius.
The work called by Jerome
κερβος, that is
cernus, for the former has by some accident got into the text from the Greek version, is no longer extant; but Pacianus tells us, in a treatise of his which has come down to us, and which is entitled
Paraenesis sice Exhortatorius Libellus ad Poenitentiami, that he had written a book called
Cervtulus. We also possess a work of Pacianus on Baptism, intended for the use of catechumens.
Editions
The works of Pacianus have been published by Tilius, Paris, 1538;
by Paulus Manutius, Rome, 1564;
and in the Bibl. Patr. Maxim. vol, iv. pp. 305-319.
Work by Pacianus' son
Pacianus had a son, Flavius Dexter, a friend of Jerome, who dedicated to him his work,
De Viris Juustribts. [FLAVIUS, p. 174b.]
