Heliodorus of Catania


Heliodorus of Catania is a semi-legendary personage accused by his contemporaries of being a necromancer practicing witchcraft.
Son of a noble Sicilian family, he at first professed he was a Christian, and he was even a candidate to assume the Episcopal Diocese of Catania. In that period the Etnean City came under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Roman Empire governed by then-Emperor Leo III the Isaurian.
Having failed to achieve this religious appointment, conferred on an Archdeacon
from Ravenna, he apostatized to begin taking an interest in magic. Leo later became a "Saint", a "Miracles' Operator", and the "Fifteenth Bishop of Catania".
Besides the accusation of necromancy, Heliodorus was pointed to as an "idolmaker" and "a of the Jews". He remained a vocal opponent of Saint Leo the Thaumaturgus, Bishop from A.D. 765 to 785.

Portrayals

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