Our Father among the Saints Epiphanius, Patriarch of Constantinople
Life
Epiphanius was Patriarch of Constantinople from 520 to 535, presiding over the imperial capital's church during the reigns of the emperors Justin I and Justinian I. Before his elevation he had served the church of Constantinople as syncellus to his predecessor and oversaw the instruction of catechumens, and in 519 he took part in a mission to Macedonia gathering documents from clergy seeking restoration of communion with the Orthodox Church.
His patriarchate is remembered chiefly for consolidating the reconciliation between the churches of the East and Rome that ended the Acacian Schism, and for upholding the doctrinal definitions of the Council of Chalcedon. He reposed peacefully in 535 and is commemorated on August 25.
Timeline4 momentsReadHide
519Mission to MacedoniaWhile serving the church of Constantinople, Epiphanius accompanied Patriarch John II to Macedonia to collect the documents of clergy seeking reconciliation with the Orthodox Church.
February 25, 520Elected PatriarchHe was elected bishop of Constantinople under Emperor Justin I, with the consent of the bishops, monks, and people, succeeding John II of Cappadocia.
525Reception of Pope John IHe received Pope John I, who came to Constantinople and celebrated the Easter liturgy together with Eastern bishops, a visible sign of restored communion between the churches.
535ReposeEpiphanius reposed peacefully after an episcopate of roughly fifteen years and was succeeded by Anthimus I.
Contributions & Legacy
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Ending the Acacian Schism
Epiphanius inherited the settlement his predecessor had reached with Pope Hormisdas to heal the Acacian Schism, the long rupture in communion between Constantinople and Rome over the reception of the Council of Chalcedon. On his accession he wrote to Hormisdas announcing his acceptance of the agreed conditions of reconciliation and his adherence to the creed and decrees of Chalcedon.
He affirmed the doctrinal standards of the councils of Nicaea, Ephesus, Constantinople, and Chalcedon, together with the writings of Pope Leo I, and received bishops who renounced their errors and returned to Orthodox communion. As a token of restored unity he sent gifts to Rome, reported to include a jewelled gold chalice, a gold paten, a silver chalice, and silk veils. A council he convened at Constantinople condemned Severus of Antioch.
Ecclesiastical Administration
Beyond the question of communion with Rome, Epiphanius was engaged in the ordinary governance of the church of the capital, including the adjudication of disputes such as the case of Stephen, metropolitan of Larissa, which came before him in 531. A body of forty-five canons is traditionally attributed to him.
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