Hierarch5th 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.

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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.

Troparion1 hymnReadHide

TroparionTone 8

Champion of Orthodoxy, teacher of purity and of true worship,
the enlightener of the universe and the adornment of hierarchs:
all-wise father Flavian, your teachings have gleamed with light upon all things.
Intercede before Christ God to save our souls.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline5 momentsReadHide

446Archbishop of ConstantinopleFlavian, formerly a presbyter and guardian of the cathedral's sacred vessels, became Archbishop of Constantinople.
8 November 448Synod condemns EutychesPresiding 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 449The Robber Council of EphesusAt 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 449Death in exileSent into exile to Hypaepa in Lydia, Flavian died of the injuries he had suffered together with the hardship of travel.
451Vindication at ChalcedonThe 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.

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Pope to whom Flavian's appeal was addressed and who wrote his dogmatic Tome to Flavian; Leo denounced the Robber Council as the Latrocinium and vindicated him at Chalcedon.

Saint Leo the GreatPope of Rome

Related Saints3 saintsShowHide

Saints connected to his life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

Flavian's successor on the patriarchal throne of Constantinople, under whom the Council of Chalcedon confirmed Flavian's Orthodoxy.

Saint AnatoliusPatriarch of Constantinople

Augusta who, with the Emperor Marcian, had Flavian's relics returned to Constantinople in triumph and convened the Council of Chalcedon that recognized him as a martyr.

Pulcheriathe Empress

Eastern Roman emperor who restored Flavian's relics to Constantinople and summoned the Council of Chalcedon at which he was vindicated.

Marcianthe Emperor

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