ASTERIUS, of Cappadocia, was a heathen sophist and teacher of rhetoric in Galatia. About the year 300 he was converted to Christianity, and became the disciple of Lucian, the founder of the school of Antioch. During the persecution in 304 he relapsed into Paganism, but was received again into the church by Lucian. He is best known as an able defender of the Arian doctrine, and was styled by Athanasius the “advocate” of the Arians. His chief work was the Syntagma, but he wrote many others, chiefly commentaries. Cf. Mountfaucon, Collectio Nova PP. et Script. Groec.

ASTERIUS, Bishop of Amasia, in Pontus, in the end of the 4th and in the beginning of the 5th century. His fame rests chiefly on his Homilies, which were greatly esteemed in the Eastern Church. Most of these have been lost, but five were published in a 4to vol. by Ph. Rubenius of Antwerp in 1615, under the title Asterii Amas. Homil. Quinque, Gr. et Lat. Combefie published six more, so that we have eleven complete; and Dupin gives fragments of at least twenty-two.