ANTIOCH. There are several Cities which are known to be of this name; but the Scripture speaks only of the greater Antioch, which was the Capital of Syria, and of another Antioch, of Pisidia, whereof we shall say something in the next Article. Antioch of Syria was formerly called Riblath, if we believe S. Jerom1.
There is no mention of Antioch, excepting in the book of Maccabees, and in the New Testament; but of Riblath, or Numb. xxxiv. 11. 2 Kings xxiii. 33. xxvii. 6, 20, 21. Jer.xxxix. 5. lii. 9, 10,26,27.Riblatha, there is in the book of Numbers, in the books of Kings, and in Jeremiah. Theodoret says, that in his time there was a City of Riblah near Emesa in Syria, which is very contrary to S. Jerom’s opinion. However this may be, ‘tis certain Antioch was not known under this name till after the reign of Seleucus Nicanor, who built it, and called it Antioch, in consideration of his Father Antiochus, in the year 301. before the vulgar Æra of J. C. The Kings of Syria, Successors to Alexander the Great, resided generally at Antioch. There the Disciples of Jesus Christ were first called Acts xi. 26.Christians. This City, which was formerly so beautiful, so flourishing, and so illustrious, is scarce any thing at present but a heap of ruins. The walls are still standing; but within the City there is nothing but gardens, ruins, and some bad houses. The river Orontes runs near the City, on the outside of it. Antioch is the place where S. Peter had his first See. The Bishop of Antioch has the title of Patriarch; and at all times has had a great share in the affairs of the Eastern Church.
Antioch was almost square, had many gates, and part of it on the North side was raised upon an high mountain. It was adorned with galleries and fine fountains. Ammianus Marcellinus2 says it was celebrated throughout the world, and that no other City exceeded it, either in fertility of soil, or richness of trade. The Emperors Vespasian, Titus, and others, granted very great privileges to it; but it has likewise been exposed to great revolutions. It was almost demolished by earthquakes, which happened in the fourth and fifth Centuries. In the Years 340. 394. 396. 458. 526. and 528.The Emperor Justinian repaired it in 529. and called it, as Evagrius says, Theopolis; that is to say, the City of God. Chosroes King of Persia took it in 548. massacred the inhabitants, and burnt it. Justinian had it rebuilt in 552, in a more beautiful and regular manner than it was before. Chosroes took it a second time in 574. in the reign of Justin, and destroyed its walls. In 588 it suffered again a dreadful earthquake, whereby above sixty thousand persons perished. It was once more rebuilt, and afterwards exposed to new calamities. The Saracens made themselves masters of it in 637, or 638. in the reign of Heraclius. Nicephorus Phocas retook it in 966. Cedrenus relates, that in 970. the Saracens, to the number of an hundred thousand, laid siege to it without being able to get possession of it; but that afterwards they subdued it, added new fortifications to it, and made it almost impregnable. The Christians who were of the Croisade with Godfrey of Bouillon, when he attempted the conquest of the Holy Land, besieged it in 1097. The siege was long and bloody; the Christians, by their indefatigable labours, and the help of a secret correspondence in the place, carried it on Thursday the 3d of June 1098. Lastly, this City being frequently attacked by the Saracens, was taken on the 29th of May 1268. under the Sultan of Egypt, who demolished it. It has ever since lost its reputation and magnificence, and groaned under the dominion of the Turk.
Antioch abounded with great men, and the Church there was a long time governed by illustrious Prelates; but it suffered much upon several occasions, sometimes being exposed to the violence of Hereticks, and at other times rent in pieces by deplorable Schisms.
Read this article in its place on the printed pages