Vigilius
bishop of Thapsus, in Byzacium, hence designated Tapsensis, flourished towards the close of the fifth century when Africa was overrun by the Arian Vandals.Being an orthodox Catholic, he was driven from his see by Hunneric, in A. D. 484, and took refuge at Constantinople.
Works
In Constantinople he composed several works, chiefly of a polemical character. Of those enumerated below, the first has always borne the name of Vigilius, although frequently ascribed to Vigilius of Trent; the others have been found in MSS., some bearing the name of Athanasius, some of Idacius Clarus, some of Augustine, and it has been conjectured by Dupin that they were originally given to the world under these false colours, either for the sake of avoiding persecution, or in the belief that the arguments would be listened to with more respect, and make a more forcible impression if supposed to proceed from such illustrious fathers. It is manifest that such a proceeding must have given rise to the greatest confusion, and it is now almost impossible to determine with certainty the real history of these tracts.
I.
The nature and object of this piece are sufficiently indicated by the title.
Editions
It was first printed at Tübingen, fol. 1528, again at Cologne, 8vo. 1575, and appears under its best form, in the works of Vigilius, as collected by Chifflet, and published at Dijon, 4to. 1664, in the same volume with Victor Vitensis.
II.
Two dialogues between Athanasius and Arius before an arbiter named Probus. Often included in the works of Athanasius.
III.
Three dialogues between Athanasius, Arius, Photius, and Sabellius, apparently a second and enlarged edition of the preceding piece.
IV.
s. De unita Trinitate Deitatis Libri XII. Often included among the works of Athanasius. While Chifflet assigns the whole of these books to Vigilius, some scholars maintain that the first eight belong to Idacius, the ninth, tenth, and eleventh to some unknown composer, and the twelfth, which bears the separate title De Trinitate et Spiritu Sancto, to Augustine.
V.
s. Dialogus inter Augustinum et Felicianum Arianum. Generally included in the works of Augustine.
VI.
(or Marivadum) Libri tres. Published under the name of Idacius Clarus.
VII.
Included in many editions of the works of Ambrose, and also of Gregory of Nazianzus.
Editions
The whole of the six last mentioned treatises will be found in the edition of Chifflet, where the authenticity of each is elaborately discussed, and in the Bibliotheca Patrum Max. fol. Lugd. 1677, vol. viii. p. 743.
Further Information
Walch, Bibliotheca Patrist. c. 10.104.[W.R]