Ascolius (or Ashcolius) (St.), of Cappadocia
became bishop of Thessalonica, in Macedon; and, in 380, baptized the emperor Theodosius, who fell sick in that city. He was at' a council in Rome in 382, and died the following year. St. Basil (Ep. 338) greatly praises Ascolius for the earnest zeal with which he encouraged the Gothic Christians who suffered in the persecution. St. Ambrose also applauds him; and Ruinart credits him with being the author of the Epistle of the Gothic Church to the Church in Cappadocia, concerning the martyrdom of St. Sabas. See Ruinart, p. 600'; Baillet, Dec. 30.