Flavian I of Antioch

Flavian I of Antioch was a prominent leader of the Christian church in the late fourth century. He was born around 320 in Antioch, a major city of the Roman Empire, and inherited great wealth from his family. He devoted his riches and talents to the service of the church and became a priest under Meletius, the bishop of Antioch. He defended the Nicene Creed, which affirmed the equality of the Father and the Son in the Trinity, against the Arian heresy, which denied it. He also supported the Council of Constantinople in 381, which confirmed the Nicene Creed and condemned Arianism. Flavian succeeded Meletius as the bishop of Antioch in 381, but his election was disputed by a rival faction that supported Paulinus, another claimant to the bishopric. This faction was backed by the bishops of Rome and Alexandria, who refused to recognize Flavian. The schism in the church of Antioch lasted for almost two decades, until Paulinus died in 388 and his successor Evagrius died in 393. Flavian then managed to prevent the election of another rival and secured the recognition of the bishops of Rome and Alexandria, with the help of John Chrysostom, the bishop of Constantinople, and Emperor Theodosius I. Flavian thus healed the division in the church of Antioch and restored its unity and prestige. He also maintained good relations with other churches and participated in several synods and councils. He died in 404, after serving as the bishop of Antioch for 23 years. He was venerated as a saint by both the Eastern and Western churches.