WAS a great ornament of the church in the fourth century. He was
illuustrious by birth, and had been engaged in marriage in the world.
His son Dexter was raised to the first dignities in the empire, being
high chamberlain to the emperor Theodosius, and praefectus-praetorio under
Honorius. St. Pacian having renounced the world, was made bishop in 373.
St. Jerom, who dedicated to him his Catalogue of illustrious men, extols
his eloquence and learning, and more particularly the chastity and
sanctity of his life. We have his Exhortation to Penance, and three
letters to Sympronianus, a Novatian nobleman, on Penance, and on the
name of Catholic; also a sermon on Baptism. See St. Jerom, Catal. Vir.
Illust. c. 106, p. 195 t 4: Ceillier, t. 6; Tillem. t. 8.