ZOSIMITS, of Constantinople, a Greek historian, who lived in the 5th c., A.D. He wrote the history of the Roman emperors, in six books, from Augustus to 410 A.D. His style is concise, clear, and interesting. He seeks to unfold the causes of the decline of the empire, and being himself a pagan, he adduces as the chief, the neglect of the pagan religion which attended the progress of Christianity. The unsparing severity with which he assails various Christian emperors, especially Constantine, has been con sidered by some (e.g., Bentley) to detract from his credibility as a historian, From his own point of view, he shows a considerable degree of acuteness in his remarks. Noth ing is known of his personal history.
ZOSIllIIIS, POPE, and successor of Innocent I., requires a brief notice on account of his connection with the history of the heresiarch Pelagius (q.v.). Zosimus was a Greek by birth, and was elceted bishop of Rome, Mar. 1, 417. The African bishops had con demned the opinions of Pelagius, and this judgment had been ratified by pope Inno cent. In the interval, however, Pelagius appealed to the pope; and his disciple, Celestius,
came in person to Rome, where lie presented a confession of faith in his own justification. Zosimus, having convened a council of bishops and submitted this to them, was induced by the specious explanations of Celestius to suspend the judgment, and even to write to the African bishops, recommending a reconsideration of the case. This appar ent conflict of Zosimus with his predecessor, although it has been used by the Galilean as well as Protestant controversialists as an argument against papal infallibility, was nevertheless only temporary. On further examination of Celestius, Zosimus became sensible that be had been deceived; and even before the reply of the African bishops, confirmed and renewed their original condemnation of the Pelagian doctrine. He died Dec. 26, 418. His letters, which are curious and interesting, are found in Constant's Epi8tolce 1?ontanortim Pontificum.