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E07020: The Greek Life of *Anatolios (bishop of Constantinople, ob. 458) provides a general outline of the career of its hero, mainly focusing on the doctrinal conflicts between the Councils of Ephesus (431) and Chalcedon (451). Written in Constantinople, possibly in the 6th century, or later.

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posted on 2018-10-29, 00:00 authored by erizos
Life of Anatolios (BHG 91)

Short summary:

Born to a noble family of Alexandria, Anatolios was dedicated by his parents to the Church, during the episcopate of Cyril of Alexandria. He was ordained deacon, sent by Cyril on embassies to Constantinople, and participated in the Council of Ephesus (431). After the deposition of Nestorius, his successor as bishop of Constantinople, Flavian, deposes the heretical archimandrite Eutyches. The latter seeks protection under the patrician Chrysaphius and appeals to the emperor Theodosius II and Dioscorus of Alexandria. The latter summons the Second Council of Ephesus (449), which restores Eutyches and condemns Flavian. Anatolius is elected bishop of Constantinople with the support of Dioscorus, but refuses to admit Eutyches to communion. Under pressure from the emperor, he agrees to meet Eutyches, but, by his prayers, the heretic dies just before the meeting. The Council of Chalcedon (451) is convoked and both the doctrines of Eutyches and the actions of Dioscurus are condemned.

Text: Acta Sanctorum.
Summary: Efthymios Rizos.

History

Evidence ID

E07020

Saint Name

Anatolios, bishop of Constantinople, 449-458 : S00902

Saint Name in Source

Ἀνατόλιος

Type of Evidence

Literary - Hagiographical - Lives

Language

  • Greek

Evidence not before

500

Evidence not after

800

Activity not before

458

Activity not after

800

Place of Evidence - Region

Constantinople and region

Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)

Constantinople Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoupolis Constantinopolis Constantinople Istanbul

Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs

Composing and translating saint-related texts

Cult Activities - Miracles

Miracle during lifetime Punishing miracle Power over life and death

Cult Activities - Protagonists in Cult and Narratives

Ecclesiastics - bishops Ecclesiastics - lesser clergy Heretics

Source

For the manuscript tradition of the text, see: http://pinakes.irht.cnrs.fr/notices/oeuvre/14496/ For the whole hagiographical dossier: http://pinakes.irht.cnrs.fr/notices/saint/66/

Discussion

The Life of Anatolios, which attests to this bishop's veneration as a saint, is remarkably poor in information concerning the person of its hero. It is almost entirely dependent on general historical information about the doctrinal conflicts of the mid 5th century, which led to the Council of Chalcedon, where Anatolios presided over the condemnation and deposition of his former mentor Dioscorus of Alexandria.

Bibliography

Text: Acta Sanctorum, Iulii (1719), 659-666.

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    Evidence -  The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

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