Saint Flavian

patriarch of Constantinople
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Quick Facts
Died:
Aug. 11, 449, Hypaepa, Lydia

Saint Flavian (died Aug. 11, 449, Hypaepa, Lydia; feast day February 18) was the patriarch of Constantinople from 446 to 449, who opposed the heretical doctrine of the Monophysites (q.v.). He presided at the Synod of Constantinople (448), which condemned the monk Eutyches (q.v.), proponent of an extreme form of Monophysitism. Pope St. Leo I the Great approved the synod’s action in his famous Tome (449). Patriarch Dioscorus of Alexandria, on behalf of Eutyches, influenced the Eastern Roman emperor Theodosius II to summon the Robber Synod of Ephesus (Aug. 8, 449), which exonerated Eutyches and deposed Flavian, whose opponents beat him to death three days later.

The Council of Chalcedon (451) vindicated him, praising him as a saintly martyr.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.