Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman Martyrology and Greek Menaeas. Dec. 30 seems the day of the election of S. Anysius. Authorities: — The Epistles of Pope Damasus and S. Ambrose.] In 383 S. Paulinus of Nola went with S. Epiphanius to Thessalonica, where S. Anascholius had just died. The bishops of Macedonia and the clergy of Thessalonica wrote to S. Ambrose thereupon, and stated that they had elected Anysius, the disciple of the deceased prelate, to fill his room. S. Ambrose replied, eulogizing Anascholius, and felicita^ng Anysius on his elevation, exhorting him to follow the example of his predecessor. Pope Damasus also wrote to Anysius to recommend him to see after the wellbeing of the Church in Eastern Illyria. When Paulinus and Epiphaibds came to Thessalonica they were received by the new bishop. Anysius had the sad fortune to rule the Church of Thessalonica when the horrible massacre was carried out there in 389 by orders of the Emperor Theodosius. Botheric, who commanded the imperial troops in Illyria, and resided at Thessalonica, threw into prison a charioteer of the circus, who had been guilty of an attempt to commit an abominable crime. A great festival was coming on, and the people wanted the charioteer to drive in the circus, and begged that he might be set at liberty. Botheric refused, whereupon a riot ef tfye people ensued, in which he and several of his officers were killed by the mob with stones and cudgels.
Theodosius [name of Roman emperors; Theodosius I (379–395) made Christianity the state religion] was furious when he heard of the murder, and sent prompt orders that the people of Thessalonica should be assembled in the circus, and that 7,000 persons should be killed to atone for the riot Rufinus, Master of the Offices, is said to have goaded Theodosius to this act of barbarity. When the circus was full, suddenly soldiers closed all passages of egress, and fell on the mob, and killed till they had made up the tale of 7,000. Some specially sad instances are mentioned as occurring. A merchant, who had taken his sons to see the sight, implored the soldiers to spare his children. They replied that they must make up the tale, and could only spare one. As the disconsolate father looked from one boy to the other, unable to resolve which to sacrifice, the impatient soldiers cut both down. A slave is said to have generously redeemed his master by offering his own breast to the sword. Several strangers who did not belong to Thessalonica were involved in the massacre.
In 391 a council at Capua had considered the errors of Bonosus, bishop of Sardica, who denied the perpetual virginity of B.V. Mary, and said that she was the mother of James and others. He also had disputed the divinity of our Lord. The council of Capua requested the bishops of Macedonia, with Anysius of Thessalonica at their head, to B. Margaret.
consult on the heresy of Bonosus, and condemn him. The Macedonian bishops wished to refer the case to the Italian bishops; but the latter replied that, as the council of Capua had appointed the Macedonians as judges, they must submit to the order of the council. Anysius and the other bishops of Macedonia accordingly met and suspended Bonosus.
In 404 S. Anysius and fifteen bishops of the party of S. John Chrysostom wrote to Pope Innocent on the desolation in which lay the Church of Constantinople, whilst its chief pastor was languishing in exile at Cucusus, and referred the matter in dispute, which had caused his banishment, to the judgment of Innocent. Nothing further is heard of S. Anysius.
