User:Str1977/sandbox

Erasmus of Arcadia (Έρασμος της Αρκαδίας), also known as Gerasimos Avlonites (Γεράσιμος Αυλωνίτης), was a Greek Orthodox bishop of the Diocese of Arcadia in Crete, operating under the Metropolitan of Smyrna. Erasmus' monastery, located south of Rethymon in central Crete, was a centre of resistance to foreign domination by the Turkish régime.

As such, the bishop was driven into exile around 1739.

He is regarded as the founder of the first Greek Orthodox congregation in Amsterdam.

In 1763, the Greek bishop, who was visiting London at the time, consecrated Rev. John Wesley a bishop, and ordained several Methodist lay preachers as priests, including John Jones.

However, Wesley could not openly announce his episcopal consecration without incurring the penalty of the Præmunire Act.

In light of Wesley's episcopal consecration by Erasmus, the Methodist Church lays claim to apostolic succession since John Wesley ordained and sent forth every Methodist preacher in his day, who preached and baptized and ordained, and since every Methodist preacher who has ever been ordained as a Methodist was ordained in this direct succession from Erasmus.

Nevertheless, there are some individuals who dispute Wesley's consecration by Bishop Erasmus or condemned it, most notably Augustus Montague Toplady.

According to The Greek Orthodox Theological Review, Bishop Erasmus of the Diocese of Aracadia also ordained other famous clergymen, including Samson Staniforth, Thomas Bryant, Alexander Mather, among other men, as presbyters:

The eastern prelate was also well respected in London, by men who had known Erasmus in the Ottoman Empire. Greek Orthodox Christians in Amsterdam attribute Erasmus with establishing Orthodox there.