Evagrius Scholasticus Antiochian lawyer Date of Birth: 01.01.0536

1. Early Life and Education
2. Legal Career and Marriage
3. Political and Legal Involvement
4. Personal and Familial Life
5. Literary and Political Recognition
6. Historical Connection

Early Life and Education

Evagrius Scholasticus was born in the Syrian city of Epiphania on the Orontes River. His parents were devout Christians. In 542, while still a young schoolboy, Evagrius accompanied his parents on a pilgrimage to Apamea, where they venerated a relic of the True Cross. During his childhood, Evagrius witnessed the Persian capture of Apamea by Chosroes and the games held in the city's hippodrome to honor the Persian general.

Legal Career and Marriage

After completing his primary education, Evagrius pursued legal studies and became an advocate in the Syrian capital of Antioch, where he spent most of his life. His scholarly pursuits earned him the nickname "Scholasticus." Evagrius married and became a close friend of Patriarch Gregory of Antioch, who appointed him as a steward in the patriarchate.

Political and Legal Involvement

Evagrius often traveled to Constantinople on behalf of the patriarch on ecclesiastical matters. He played a prominent role in the trial of Patriarch Gregory, who was accused of grave crimes in 588. Evagrius successfully defended the patriarch, demonstrating his legal acumen.

Personal and Familial Life

Evagrius raised several children and married off his daughter. He was a wealthy man with numerous slaves and dependent peasants known as "enapographs." Tragedy struck Evagrius in the form of a plague that took the lives of his wife and many of his children. Despite his advanced age, he remarried in 588 to a young woman from a noble family.

Literary and Political Recognition

Evagrius authored a collection of letters, reports, legal decisions, speeches, and other works—many of which were written on behalf of Patriarch Gregory. He presented this collection to Emperor Tiberius, who recognized Evagrius's literary and political merits and granted him the title of honorary quaestor. Upon the birth of Emperor Maurice's son Theodosius, Evagrius composed a panegyric, earning him the honorific title of honorary prefect. In his later work, "Ecclesiastical History," Evagrius refers to himself with pride as an "eparch."

Historical Connection

Evagrius's relative and fellow Syrian, John of Epiphania, was also a historian. John assisted Patriarch Gregory in negotiations with Chosroes, and his own work, "History," has been preserved in fragments.