Epiphanius of Constantinople

Epiphanius of Constantinople was the Patriarch of Constantinople during the early part of the reign of Justinian I in the first half of the sixth century. In the era of Christological controversies he accepted the decrees of the Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon and continued the agreements by his predecessor, Patriarch John II Cappadocia, that healed the Acacian Schism with the Church of Rome.

Life

Little is known of the early life of Epiphanius. He appeared in Constantinople as the "syncellus" of Patr. John II, his predecessor. In 519, at the request of the apocrisiarius of Dorotheus, Bishop of Thessalonica, Epiphanius traveled to Macedonia with Patr. John II and Count Licinius to collect documents ("libellos") from those who wanted to normalize their relations with the Orthodox.

After the repose of Patr. John in 520, Epiphanius was elected by emperor Justin I, to succeed him as patriarch on February 25, 520. After his election, Epiphanius sent to Pope Hormisdas an announcement of his acceptance of the conditions that established the reconciliation that ended the Acacian Schism. He affirmed his support of the decrees of the Council of Chalcedon, that is the creed and condemnations of those hierarchs whose names had been removed from the diptychs. To encourage a general peace, Epiphanius noted his reception back of repentant bishops who had renounced their errors. To this Pope Hormisdas replied exhorting Epiphanius to persevere in reconciling the monophysites.

Epiphanius convened a council in Constantinople that condemned Severus of Antioch and Peter of Antioch. He reposed on June 5, 535 after an episcopate of fourteen and a quarter years.

Succession box: Epiphanius of Constantinople
Preceded by: John II Cappadocia	Patriarch of Constantinople 520–535	Succeeded by: Anthimus I

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Sources

• Epiphanius, patriarch of Constantinople
• wikipedia:Epiphanius_of_Constantinople