Flavian, Bishop of Antioch

About the same time the following events took place at Antioch in Syria. After the death of Paulinus, the people who had been in his charge refused to submit to Flavian’s authority and had Evagrius ordained bishop of their own party. Since he did not live long after his ordination, no one else was appointed in his place, Flavian having seen to that. Even so, those who disliked Flavian because he had broken his oath held their meetings apart. Meanwhile Flavian “left no stone unturned,” as the saying goes, to bring these too under his authority. Soon afterward he succeeded, when he calmed the anger of Theophilus, then bishop of Alexandria, and through his mediation won over Damasus, bishop of Rome, as well. For both of them had been greatly displeased with Flavian, both for the false oath he had sworn and for the split he had caused among a people that had been united. [a]

So Theophilus, once he was satisfied, sent Isidore, a presbyter, to Rome, and so reconciled Damasus, who was still offended, by pointing out to him that it was right to overlook Flavian’s past misconduct for the sake of bringing harmony among the people. Communion was restored to Flavian in this way, and within a short time the people of Antioch were brought to accept the union. That was how this affair at Antioch ended. But the Arians of that city, having been driven out of the churches, used to hold their meetings in the suburbs. Meanwhile Cyril, bishop of Jerusalem, died about this time and was succeeded by John.