Hierarch5th century

Saint Possidius of Calama

5th century (born in North Africa on an unknown date; died c. 437 in Apulia)

Also known as Possidius of Calama

Bishop of Calama in Numidia, a disciple and companion of St. Augustine at Hippo and his first biographer, who was with him at his death during the Vandal siege.

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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Possidius, Bishop of Calama

Life

Possidius (5th century) was a bishop of Calama in the Roman province of Numidia, in North Africa. He is remembered chiefly as a disciple, longtime companion, and first biographer of Saint Augustine of Hippo, with whom he maintained an unbroken friendship of roughly forty years.

Formed among the clergy of Augustine's monastery at Hippo, Possidius was raised to the episcopate of Calama around 397 and, following Augustine's example, founded a monastery in his own see. He was an active participant in the ecclesiastical controversies of his day, opposing both the Donatists and the Pelagians.

When the Vandals invaded Africa, Possidius took refuge at Hippo and was present at Augustine's death in 430. Expelled from his see by the Arian Vandal king Gaiseric around 437, he died in exile in Apulia. His feast day is kept on May 16.

Timeline8 momentsReadHide

c. 397Consecrated bishop of CalamaAfter serving among the clergy of Augustine's monastery at Hippo, Possidius was promoted to the episcopate of Calama in the province of Numidia, around 397. Following Augustine's example, he established a monastery there.
404Attacked by Donatist extremistsDonatist extremists beat Possidius, threatened his life, and set fire to a house where he was staying. Although Crispinus, the Donatist bishop of Calama, was condemned for heresy and fined, Possidius interceded to prevent collection of the fine.
408Pagan riot at CalamaPossidius nearly died in a pagan-incited riot at Calama.
409Mission to ItalyHe was deputed to travel to Italy to seek imperial protection against the Donatists.
411Conference of CarthagePossidius was one of seven bishops representing the Catholic party at the collatio, the great Conference of Carthage held with the Donatists.
416Council of MilevumHe assisted at the Council of Milevum and co-signed a synodal letter to Pope Innocent I opposing Pelagianism.
430Present at Augustine's deathWhen the Germanic Vandals invaded Africa, Possidius fled to Hippo and was present at the death of Augustine in 430.
c. 437Exile and reposeThe Arian Vandal king Gaiseric expelled Possidius and two other bishops from their sees; Possidius then died in exile in Apulia.

Contributions & Legacy

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Companion and Disciple of Augustine

Possidius was one of the clergy formed in Augustine's monastery at Hippo, and the two men maintained what has been described as an unbroken friendship of roughly forty years. This close association shaped Possidius's episcopate: when raised to the see of Calama, he modeled his own ministry on Augustine's, establishing a monastery there as his master had done at Hippo.

His nearness to Augustine extended to the very end of the elder bishop's life. Having fled to Hippo before the advancing Vandals, Possidius was present when Augustine died in 430.

Controversies and Church Councils

Possidius was drawn repeatedly into the conflicts that marked the African Church of his time. In 404 he was assaulted by Donatist extremists, and in 408 he narrowly survived a pagan-incited riot at Calama. In 409 he was sent to Italy to seek imperial protection against the Donatists.

In 411 he served as one of seven bishops representing the Catholic party at the Conference of Carthage, the great collatio convened to address the Donatist schism. In 416 he assisted at the Council of Milevum and co-signed a synodal letter to Pope Innocent I opposing the teaching of Pelagius.

Writings

Possidius is the author of the Vita Sancti Augustini, a biography of Augustine composed before the fall of Carthage in 439. As the first life of Augustine, written by one who knew him intimately, it has been included in editions of Augustine's works.

He also compiled the Indiculus, an index or catalogue of Augustine's writings, preserved in the Benedictine edition and in the final volume of Migne's edition of Augustine. Modern critical editions of Possidius's work include those of Weiskotten (2008) and Kuhn (2023).

Veneration

Possidius is commemorated on May 16. Roman Catholic devotion to him was confirmed by Pope Clement X on 19 August 1672, together with Alypius of Thagaste.

His veneration is noted in general reference sources, but he does not appear in the Orthodox Church in America's calendar for May 16, and OrthodoxWiki carries no article on him; the sources on his life are principally historical rather than liturgical.

Companions1 figureShowHide

His teacher and friend, whose Life he wrote.

Blessed AugustineBishop of Hippo

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Sources: OrthodoxWiki; Wikipedia (Possidius)