<p>St. Epiphanius is believed to have been born in 310, and was the Bishop of Salamis, Cyprus.&nbsp; He gained a reputation as a strong defender of Orthodoxy.&nbsp; He is best known for composing the Panarion, a very large compendium of the heresies up to his time.&nbsp; He is also believed to be the first cleric to have taken up the matter of Christian religious images as a major issue. &nbsp;</p> <p>He was born into a Christian family in the small settlement of Besanduk, near modern day Beit Guvrin, Israel.&nbsp; He lived as a monk in Egypt, where he was educated and came into contact with Valentinian groups.&nbsp; He returned to Palestine around 333, when he was still a young man, and he founded a Monastery.&nbsp; He was ordained a Priest, and lived and studied as superior of the Monastery in Ad that he founded, for thirty years and gained much skill and knowledge in that position.&nbsp; In that position he gained the ability to speak in several tongues including Hebrew, Syriac, Egyptian, Greek and Latin. &nbsp;</p> <p>His reputation for learning prompted his nomination and consecration as Bishop of Salamis, Cyprus, and he remained there until his death.&nbsp; He served as Bishop for nearly forty years, as well as traveling near and far to combat unorthodox beliefs.&nbsp; He was present at a synod in Antioch in 376 where the Trinitarian questions were debated against the heresy of Apollinarianism.&nbsp; He upheld the position of Bishop Paulinus, who had the support of Rome.&nbsp; In 382, he was present at the Council of Rome, again, upholding the cause of Bishop Paulinus. &nbsp;</p> <p>He died in 403 on his way back from Constantinople, at the age of 80.&nbsp; He was going to Constantinople by invitation, to support Bishop John Chrysostom&rsquo;s anti-Origenist views. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Practical Take Away</strong></span></p> <p>St. Epiphanius is believed to have been born in 310, and was the Bishop of Salamis, Cyprus.&nbsp; He gained a reputation as a strong defender of Orthodoxy.&nbsp; He is best known for composing the Panarion, a very large compendium of the heresies up to his time.&nbsp; He is also believed to be the first cleric to have taken up the matter of Christian religious images as a major issue.&nbsp; He founded a Monastery in Ad, and was the Superior for many years.&nbsp; His defense of the Faith prompted his nomination and Consecration as Bishop of Salamis, Cyprus, where he remained until his death.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>