Anysius of Thessaloniki

Saint Anysius (Anisios) was bishop (archbishop) of Thessalonica, between 383 and 406 (by some, 384 to 407), who died at the end of 406 or the beginning of 407. He is commemorated on 30 December. The Greek source says that the Western Church celebrates him as a saint on 30 December, and the Bulgarian source that he is declared a saint; the sources do not say who canonized him or when.

He was a disciple and associate of Archbishop Acholius of Thessalonica and, after his death, in 383 or 384, succeeded him on the throne. In his time the canonical primacy of his see over the other episcopal sees of Eastern Illyricum was clarified, as were Rome's intentions to impose its claims, including as to a canonical primacy. Pope Innocent I (from 401) followed with greater resolve the policy of his predecessors from Damasus onward, so that Rome's ties with Illyricum might be drawn closer, seeking to subject it to the Holy See; therefore he reinforced the position of Thessalonica as his representative. This representation took on a decisive character after Anysius' death, under Bishop Rufus, in 412.

By a letter to Anysius of 11 December 384 (the Bulgarian source wrongly writes 284), Pope Damasus of Rome made him his vicar in Illyricum. The same title was given him by Damasus' successor, Siricius, in a letter to Anysius, in which he says that there can be no ordinations of bishops in Illyricum without Anysius' consent. The title of vicar was confirmed also by Popes Anastasius I and Innocent I; by a letter of 402 Innocent gave Anysius the right to control all religious questions of Illyricum, not only the ordinations of bishops. In December 391 the Council of Capua entrusted the synod of the bishops of Illyricum, under Anysius' presidency, with the investigation of the heresy of Bishop Bonosus of Sardica. He had relations and correspondence with Ambrose, bishop of Milan.

He firmly defended the innocence of John Chrysostom, as the lives of the archbishop of Constantinople show, by Palladius of Helenopolis, George of Alexandria and the Short Life. According to George of Alexandria, after the deposition of John Chrysostom, Anysius wrote a letter to Pope Innocent I, which Bishop Eulysius of Apamea took to Rome; in the same book a letter of Innocent to Anysius is also cited, which the military governor of Thessalonica did not allow to be delivered to the archbishop. An important source for Anysius' life is two letters of John Chrysostom, one addressed personally to Anysius, the other to Anysius and ten other Macedonian bishops. In the first, of about 406, written in exile, John thanks Anysius for his defence and urges him to continue his tireless efforts to correct the faults in the Church; in the second, of the same year, again from exile, John Chrysostom thanks Anysius and all the Orthodox bishops of Macedonia for their unceasing energy for his vindication. Anysius died at the end of 406 or the beginning of 407. He was succeeded on the archiepiscopal throne by Rufus of Thessalonica.