St Flavian the Patriarch (+449–450)

Saint Flavian the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople, governed the Church in the reign of the holy King Theodosius the Younger (408–450) and his sister, the pious Empress Pulcheria (+453; commemorated 10 September). At that time poisonous heretical teachings threatened the unity of Christ’s flock. In 448, through the efforts of the hierarch Flavian, a local council was convened in Constantinople, which examined and condemned the heresy of Eutyches, excommunicated the cleric who stubbornly persisted in his error, and deprived him of his rank. The heretic had a powerful protector in the person of the eunuch Chrysaphius, who was close to the emperor. By intrigues the latter won over Dioscorus, Bishop of Alexandria, to Eutyches’s side, and obtained the emperor’s permission to convene a council in Ephesus, which afterwards became known as “the Robber Council”. The Robber Council was presided over by Dioscorus. By threats and the use of force he obtained the acquittal of Eutyches and the condemnation of Flavian. The holy hierarch was mercilessly beaten by insolent monks led by a certain Barsumas. The lawless Dioscorus himself did not stand aside either. After this heavy fetters were put on Flavian and he was sentenced to banishment from Ephesus, but the Lord spared His chosen one further torments and received his soul (+449). The pious Pulcheria left the palace, but soon Chrysaphius’s intrigues came to light, after which the king removed him and brought his sister close to him again. Through Pulcheria’s efforts the incorrupt relics of the holy Patriarch Flavian were translated with honour from Ephesus to Constantinople.