Hierarch 5th century

Saint Flavian the Confessor Patriarch of Constantinople

died 11 August 449

Also known as Flavian of Constantinople · Flavianos the Confessor

Patriarch of Constantinople who upheld Orthodox doctrine against the heresy of Eutyches and was violently abused at the "Robber Council" of Ephesus in 449, dying of his injuries shortly after.

Feast Day

February 18

Also Feb 16

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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Flavian the Confessor, Archbishop of Constantinople

Life

Flavian was Archbishop of Constantinople from 446 to 449 and a defender of the Orthodox confession of Christ against the heresy of Eutyches. Before his elevation to the patriarchal throne he had served as a presbyter of the cathedral and as guardian of its sacred vessels, with a reputation for a pious life.

His patriarchate was dominated by the Christological controversy surrounding the archimandrite Eutyches, who taught that the humanity of Christ was absorbed into his single divine nature. Flavian's stand against this teaching led to his deposition and violent abuse at the council later condemned as the "Robber Council" of Ephesus, and he died of his injuries shortly afterward. He was vindicated after his death at the Council of Chalcedon in 451, which recognized him as a martyr.

Timeline 5 moments Read Hide

446 Archbishop of Constantinople Flavian, formerly a presbyter and guardian of the cathedral's sacred vessels, became Archbishop of Constantinople.
8 November 448 Synod condemns Eutyches Presiding over the Home Synod of Constantinople of about forty bishops, Flavian heard charges brought by Eusebius of Dorylaeum against the archimandrite Eutyches and deposed him for his erroneous teaching on the nature of Christ.
8 August 449 The Robber Council of Ephesus At a council convened by Emperor Theodosius II and presided over by Dioscorus of Alexandria, Eutyches was reinstated and Flavian was anathematised, deposed, and ordered into exile. Flavian was physically assaulted during the proceedings.
11 August 449 Death in exile Sent into exile to Hypaepa in Lydia, Flavian died of the injuries he had suffered together with the hardship of travel.
451 Vindication at Chalcedon The Council of Chalcedon condemned Eutyches, confirmed the Tome of Pope Leo, and recognized Flavian as a martyr.

Contributions & Legacy

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Conflict with Eutyches

The defining struggle of Flavian's patriarchate concerned Eutyches, an influential archimandrite at Constantinople who taught that Christ's humanity was absorbed into his single divine nature. At the Home Synod of Constantinople on 8 November 448, over which Flavian presided with about forty bishops present, Eusebius of Dorylaeum laid charges against Eutyches, and the synod deposed him.

Eutyches appealed against the sentence and gained the support of Dioscorus of Alexandria. Emperor Theodosius II, by some accounts displeased with Flavian over his refusal to pay the customary gratuities to the powerful court eunuch Chrysaphius, convened a new council to reopen the matter.

The Robber Council and his death

The council that met at Ephesus on 8 August 449 was presided over by Dioscorus of Alexandria, who had received the presidency from the emperor, with about 130 bishops attending. It absolved Eutyches and reinstated him, while deposing and excommunicating Flavian together with Eusebius of Dorylaeum. According to testimony later given at the Council of Chalcedon, Flavian was forcibly seized, beaten, kicked, and whipped during the proceedings; tradition relates that monks led by Barsauma were among those who assaulted him.

Flavian was exiled to Hypaepa in Lydia and died on 11 August 449 from his injuries. Pope Leo I, whose doctrinal letter known as the Tome had been addressed to Flavian, protested the council and named it the Latrocinium, the "Robber Synod," nullifying its acts.

Vindication and veneration

After the death of Theodosius II in 450, the Emperor Marcian and the Augusta Pulcheria had Flavian's remains brought back to Constantinople in a triumphal procession. The Council of Chalcedon in 451 condemned Eutyches, confirmed the Tome of Leo, and recognized Flavian as a martyr.

Because Flavian reposed before the Council of Chalcedon, he belongs to the undivided Church and is honored across traditions; he is venerated in both the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches. His memory is kept on 18 February.

Notes

Recipient of the Tome of Saint Leo the Great.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Feb 18