PAUL OP SAMOSATA, so called from his native city: b. early in the 3d century. Concerning his childhood and youth little is known. He was at first a sophist and obtained admittance among the clergy in some unknown way. He became bishop of Antioch 260 A.D., probably through the influence of Zenobia, queen of Palmyra, who admired his learning and genius. His enemies assert, but without proof, that his char acter previous to his appointment was in sonic respects unworthy of the episcopal office. After his elevation, if the current accounts are to be trusted, lie was rapacious, arro gant, and vain. In addition to his spiritual office, he obtained the secular appointment of procurator, which, yielding him large emoluments, prompted him to surround him self in the church with greater pomp and ceremonial than had hitherto been witnessed. He built an episcopal judgment seat and a lofty throne which were screened from public view. Ile traveled, attended by a large retinue, reading letters and dictatiug answers along the road to display his manifold and urgent engagements. During public wor ship he allowed persons of both sexes to applaud aim according to the eu_stoin in theaters. In his preaching he freely denounced others, and praised himself more, as Eusebius says, " after the manner of a rhetorician, or a mountebank, than of a bishop." Ile allowed
praises of to he sung publicly in church during the Easter services, and encour aged bishops of less important cities around him to extol him in their sermons as an angel front heaven. Besides these definite charges he was under suspicion of others more secret. ifis theological heresies, which closely resemble those of Sabellius, aroused more opposition against him than Ins notorious faults or suspected crimes. Over his wickedness many declared that "they groaned in secret, yet feared to accuse him, but when be set himself in opposition to God they were compelled to depose him, and elect another bishop in his place." Several councils were convened to his case; by the last of which, held about 269 A. D., he was divested of his office and excommunicated. Trusting to the favor both of queen Zenobia and of the. populace, he refused to vacate the episcopal residence, in which also the meetings of the church were held. In 272 the emperor Aurelian, having conquered Zenobia, referred Paul's case to the bishops of Rome and of Italy. They decided against him. There is no notice either of the time or place of his death.