Pacian
Saint Pacian (Pacianus) (Sant Pacià) (c. 310–391 AD) was an early Spanish Christian prelate.
Also recorded as Pacianus · Pacian of Barcelona · St Pacian
Pacian

Didier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Pacian
- Born
- c. 310 AD
- Died
- c. 391 AD
- Place of death
- Barcelona
- Nationality
- Ancient Rome.
- Occupation
- catholic priest and writer.
- Languages
- Latin.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Saint Pacian (Pacianus) (Sant Pacià) (c. 310–391 AD) was an early Spanish Christian prelate.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
No house-authored Note is published until its assertions and sources pass the VALÉORINE evidence contract. The documentary article remains available in full while that enrichment is being consolidated.
Documentary enrichment in progress · no unsupported statement published
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Pacian. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Evidence Panel
not yet certified
- Identity
- resolved
- Independent source families
- 0
- Admitted assertions
- 0
- Open conflicts
- 0
Authority files
gnd · 1056290439 · wikidata · Q920309 · wikipedia · Pacian
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Honorific Prefix — Saint • Name — Pacian • Born — c. 310 AD • Died — c. 391 AD • Feast Day — March 9 • Venerated In — Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodox Church • Place of death — Barcelona • Titles — Church Father
Biography
Biography
Pacian served as Bishop of Barcelona from about 365 AD to 391 AD. He succeeded Praetextatus. Considered a Father of the Church, Pacian is eulogized in Jerome's De viris illustribus, in which Jerome praises his eloquence, learning, chastity, and holiness of life. His writings are extant only in part in three letters and a short treatise, Paraenesis ad Poenitentiam. In his writings, he discussed ecclesiastical discipline, baptism, papal primacy, and teachings on penance against Novatianism, which was then flourishing in Spain. He is also remembered from a phrase from one of his letters: Christianus mihi nomen est, catholicus vero cognomen ("My name is Christian, my surname is Catholic.").
Personal life
Personal life
Pacian was married and had a son, Nummius Aemilianus Dexter, who served under Theodosius I as proconsul and praetorian prefect. Jerome did not know Pacian personally, but knew Pacian's son, to whom De Viris Illustribus is dedicated.
Identity
Identity
Pacian is recorded with the occupation Catholic priest. Recorded with the occupation writer. Recorded as catholic priest and writer.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
310
Pacian born at Barcelona.
390
Pacian died at Barcelona.
Legacy
In 2023, a study by Jesús Alturo i Perucho and Tània Alaix i Gimbert has seen the first hunches of Catalan in the writings of Pacian when he uses terms such as ceruulus 'cèrvol' or subinde 'sovint' or uses the expression si te placet for 'si us plau', among many others.
Primary material
Documents and archives
scholarly publication
- Pacian of Barcelona, Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online
Scholarly · Crossref registry
- PACIAN THE BISHOP, On Illustrious Men (The Fathers of the Church, Volume 100)
Scholarly · Crossref registry
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q920309: Pacian
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
- “Pacian”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 1056290439, Pacian, Barcelona.
Unverified · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
scholarly publication
Pacian of Barcelona, Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity OnlineCrossref registry
Verifiedscholarly publication
Verifiedauthority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 1056290439, Pacian, Barcelona.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
The authorities additionally record the headings Pacianus, Pacian of Barcelona and St Pacian. His recorded language was Latin. His recorded confession was Christianity. One child is recorded: Nummius Aemilianus Dexter.
Identity and origins
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Books
38,960 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Pablo SciutoAuthor
- Paca NavasAuthor
- Pace PasiniAuthor
- Pachomius the GreatAuthor
- Paco Ignacio Taibo IIAuthor
- Paco VidarteAuthor
- Paddy BlanchfieldAuthor
- Paddy TunneyAuthor
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Pacian?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.