Home > Patriarch Flavian of Constantinople
Flavian or Phlabianus (d. August 11, 449), an adherent of the Antiochene school, and bishop of Constantinople ( 446 - 449).He is described by Nicephorus Callistus Xanthopoulos as being at his election guardian of the sacred vessels of the great church of Constantinople, with a reputation for a heavenly life.
Roman Emperor Theodosius II was staying at Chalcedon during his consecration. Chrysaphius his minister immediately plotted against the new patriarch. Foiled in an attempt to extort a present of gold to the emperor for acknowledging his elevation, Chrysaphius, with the empress Aelia Eudocia for an ally, planned two methods of attack against Flavian--the direct subversion of the authority of the emperor's sister Pulcheria; and the support of Flavian's rival Eutyches. Pulcheria had devoted herself to a religious life; let the emperor order the prelate to ordain her a deaconess. Flavian, receiving the emperor's command to this effect, and beyond measure grieved, sent a private message to Pulcheria, who divined the scheme, and to avoid a struggle retired to Hebdomum, where for a time she led a private life ( Theophanes, Chronicle).
Previously Flavian which deposed Eutyches in 448Events Eutyches is accused of heresy at a council held in Constantinople. Embassy to Attila from Theodosius II; Priscus records one of the few eyewitness accounts of the Hun kingdom. Births Deaths Germanus of Auxerre is certainly dead by this year 448., but in the following year he was deposed by the Second Council of Ephesus (the " Robber Synod "), which reinstated Eutyches in his office.
Flavian presided at a councilIn Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, an ecumenical council (Greek (Oikumene), which literally means "inhabited", i. all places that are are being inhabited by live beings, therefore "World-wide" or "General") is a meeting of the bishops of the whole chur of 40 bishops at Constantinople on November 8November 8 is the 312nd day of the year (313rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 53 days remaining. Events 1519 Hernan Cortes enters Tenochtitlan and Aztec ruler Moctezuma welcomes him with great pomp as would befit a returning god. 1520 Stoc 448Events Eutyches is accused of heresy at a council held in Constantinople. Embassy to Attila from Theodosius II; Priscus records one of the few eyewitness accounts of the Hun kingdom. Births Deaths Germanus of Auxerre is certainly dead by this year 448., to compose a difference between the metropolitan bishop of SardisSardis (also Sardes the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia, the seat of a conventus under the Roman Empire, and the metropolis of the province Lydia in later Roman and Byzantine times, was situated in the middle Hermus valley, at the foot of Mt. and two bishops of his province. EusebiusEusebius is the name of several significant historical people: Pope Eusebius Pope in AD 309 310. Eusebius of Alexandria 6th century author of the Eastern Christian Church Eusebius of Angers 11th century bishop Eusebius of Caesarea "The" Eusebius: the famo, bishop of DorylaeumDorylaeum was an ancient city in Anatolia. It is now in ruins near the city of Eskisehir, Turkey. The city existed under the Phrygians but may have been much older. It was a Roman trading post, and a bishopric under the Byzantine Empire. After the Battle, presented his indictmentIn the common law legal system, an indictment is a formal charge of having committed a serious criminal offense. In those jurisdictions which retain the concept of a felony, the serious crime offence would be a felony; those jurisdictions which have aboli against Eutyches. The speech of Flavian remains, concluding with this appeal to the bishop of Dorylaeum: "Let your reverence condescend to visit him and argue with him about the true faith, and if he shall be found in very truth to err, then he shall be called to our holy assembly, and shall answer for himself." For the particulars of this great controversy see Dioscorus of Alexandria and Eutyches.
Flavian's death shortly afterwards was attributed, by a pious fiction, to ill treatment at the hands of his theological opponents. On August 8, 449 the Latrocinium assembled at Ephesus, Eutyches violently attacked the archbishop. On August 11, 449, Flavian passed away at Hypepe in Lydia from the injuries he received from this attack.
When Pulcheria returned to power, after her brother's death, she had Flavian's remains, which had been buried obscurely, brought with great pomp to Constantinople. It was more like a triumph, says the chronicler, than a funeral procession. The council of Chalcedon canonized him as a martyr, and in the Latin Church he is commemorated on February 18.
Among the documents which touch on the career of Flavian are the reply of Petrus Chrysologus , archbishop of Ravenna, to a circular appeal of Eutyches, and various letters of Theodoret. Pope Leo I wrote Flavian a beautiful letter before hearing that he was dead.
