Theo'dotus
3. A physician, who afterwards succeeded Stephanus as bishop of Laodicea in Syria, in the early part of the fourth century after Christ.
He is highly praised by Eusebius (
Hist Eeeles. 7.32), who dedicated to him his
Praeparatio Evangeliea ; but lie appears to have embraced the Arian heresy, and to have been one of the most active of the Arian bishops.
He excommunicated Apollinaris, both father and son, on account of their intimacy with the heathen sophist Epiphanius [EPIPHANIUS, § 10, p. 40]; and is said to have been instrumental in deposing Eustathius, bishop of Antioch. [EUSTATHIUS, § 1, p. 119] He held the see of Laodicea for about thirty years, and was succeeded by Georgius [GEORGIUS, § 29, p. 251]. His name is inserted by some of the Martyrologies under the date of Nov. 2, from which it has been copied by Bzovius (
Nomenclator Sanctor. Professione Medicor.) and C. B. Carpzov (
De Medicis ab Ecclesia pro Sanctis habitis); but this appears to be by mistake, and his name will probably be omitted in the " Acta Sanctorum " when the volumes for November appear. For a further account of this matter the reader may consult Usuardi
Martyrol. ed. Soller.; Valesius,
De Martyrol. Rom. in his Annotationes in Euseb.
Hist. Eecles. p. 317; Baronii Annal. Eccles. vol. iv.; Tillemont,
Hist. Ecclés. vol. vi.
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W.A.G]
