CHROMATIUS, Bishop of Aquileia during the latter part of the 4th century, and the earlier years of the 5th ; the friend and correspondent of Jerome, Rufinus, Ambrose, and Chrysostom; and held by them, and others, in the highest esteem. He is styled by Jerome the most holy and the most learned of bishops;' Rufinus expresses such con fidence in his judgment that he terms him the Bezaleel of our time ;' and he was one of the three western bishops whose support was sought by Chrysostom, after his deposition by the Council of the Oak. In several ways he rendered important services on behalf of biblical and ecclesiastical literature. It was at his instigation that Rufinus made his translation of the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius, and also of the Homilies of Origen on Joshua (Rufin. Hist. Ecc. Prof., Orig. Honz. in 7es. Prol). It was by the pecuniary aid he ren dered to Jerome that the latter was enabled to prosecute his literary labours, and it was partly in consequence of his urgent appeals that Jerome made his translation of the 0. T. from the He
brew, and not from the Greek of the Septuagint (Hieron, Pray: in lib. Sal., Praf. in lib. Paralip. Pray: in lib. Toblx). His only extant works are eighteen homiletic pieces on the earlier chap ters of Matthew. One of these—that on the eight beatitudes—is clearly a sermon. The others were intended to be read, and probably form part of a practical exposition of Matthew, the remainder of which has been lost. His style is simple and clear, and his method of interpretation is literal and not allegorical. The best edition is that by Braida (Utini, 1816, 4to), and reprinted by Migne in the twentieth volume of his Patrol. Curs.—S. N.