Jerusalem Bishops

BISHOP	TERM	COMMENTARY
Herman	?–314?	Succeeded Zambdas. Herman was the last orthodox bishop of Jerusalem before the persecution of Diocletian (CE 303-311).
Macarius	314–333	Opposed Arianism. Brought about the destruction of the Temple of Venus and the construction of the Constantinian Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Consecrated the priest Maximus, a confessor of the faith, as bishop of Diospolis and then in response to the desire of the orthodox population of Jerusalem, appointed him coadjutor.
Maximus	333–348	Drawn into the semi-Arian current in the council of Jerusalem (335), but later sought to liberate himself. He died in 348. Cyril of Jerusalem succeeded him two years later.
Cyril of Jerusalem	348/50–386	Cyril had a troubled reign. Deposed as bishop thrice (357, 360, 367) and thrice restored (358, 362, 378) in regard to accusations of alleged theological submission to his Arian superior Akakios, bishop of Caesarea, on the one hand, and harboring of pro-Nicene sentiments, on the other (Baldwin 1991:571-572). Returned to Jerusalem in 362 and witnessed the 363 failed attempt of Jews to rebuild the Temple during the pagan rebellion of 361-363 under Julian the Apostate. In 381 Cyril attended the Council of Constantinople and on his return to Jerusalem he had the Church of the Apostles seized from the Judeo-Christians and promptly integrated it into orthodoxy.
John II	386–417	John II, educated in Egypt by the monks at Nitrias and in sympathy with the theories of Origin (b.c. 185–d.c. 254), became embroiled in the anti-Origenist dispute between Epiphanius of Sardis (pro-Origenist stance) and Jerome (con-Origenist stance). Jerome wrote stingingly against John II who reacted by excommunicating Jerome. In 397 the controversy ended. Following the synod of Lydda in 415, the rehabilitation of Pelagius, John II received him and John II took no action when the Pelagians besieged the convent of Jerome in Bethlehem, killing the deacon. Roman bishop Innocent wrote him a letter concerning the matter but it arrived after John II’s death.