Bachiarius
BACHIARIUS
Fourth-century monk and theologian; b. probably in Galicia, Spain, c. 350; d. time and place unknown. He became a monk, was suspected of priscillianism, and had to leave Spain (c. 380). He was the author of two books: Libellus fidei, written probably in Rome in 383 or 384 as a profession of faith to refute the accusation of heresy; and De reparatione lapsi, in which he pleaded for a monk who had sinned but was now repentant, and in so doing gave an excellent presentation of the Spanish penitential system (see penitentials). His explanations of the Trinity, the Incarnation, and the perpetual virginity of Mary are admired for their clarity and orthodoxy. G. morin regards him as the author of two letters on asceticism. Bachiarius's style has been compared to that of jerome, and gennadius calls him a "Christian philosopher" (De vir. ill. c. 24).
Bibliography: j. madoz, Revista Española de Teología 1(1941) 457–88. g. morin, "Pages inédites de deux Pseudo-Jérômes," Revue Bénédictine 40 (1928) 289–318. h. rahner, Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche (Freiburg 1957–65) 1:1180. f. x. murphy, "Bachiarius," Leaders of Iberian Christianity, ed. j. m.f. marique (Boston 1962) 121–26. a. lambert, Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques (Paris 1912— ) 6:58–68.
[s. j. mckenna]