HELIODORUS of PHOESICIA, bishop of Trica in Theſſaly, better known by the romance he composed in his youth intitled Ethiopics, and relating the amours of Theagenes and Chariclea. Some say he was deposed by a synod because he would not consent to the suppressing that romance. The fable has a moral tendency, and particularly inculcates the virtue of charity. As it was the first of this species of writing, he is styled the Father of Romances. He was also a good Latin poet. He lived in the 4th century.