Flavianus

Flavianus patriarch of Antioch, was born of one of the best families in that city in the early part of the 4th century. Even while a layman he was an earnest opponent of Arianism. Theodoret (who gives a full account of Flavian) says that he, associated with another lay monk, Diodorus, "by night and day exhorted all men to be zealous in religion." He says also that " they were the first to devise the choir, and to teach them to sing the Psalms of David responsively" (Hist. Eccles. ii, 24). His zeal did not diminish after his ordination as priest by Meletius (q.v.), about A.D. 365 (?). When Meletius was banished from his see by Valens, Flavian remained to serve the churches in Antioch. But the Eustathian (q.v.) bishop Paulinus contested the right of Meletius, and the churches were divided. On the death of Meletius, A.D. 381, Flavian was elected to succeed him, although (according to the accusation of Paulinus) he had bound himself by oath not to accept the office while the Eustathian bishop survived. The dispute was a fierce one; but at last, when Evagrius, successor of Paulinus, died, 390, Flavian was acknowledged by both the Eastern and Western churches. He was held in great respect: Chrysostom; who was his pupil, speaks very highly of him. He died A.D. 404. He treated the Messalians severely SEE MESSALIANS.--Socrates, Hist. Eccl. bk. v, ch. xxiv; Sozomen, Hist. Eccles. 8:24; Theodoret, Hist. Eccl. ii, 24; Cave, Hist. Litt.; Ceillier, Auteurs Sacres (Paris, 1860), 6:310. SEE EUSTATHIUS; SEE MELETIUS.