On Human Nature in Times of Dispute

Commentary from the entry on Evagrius of Antioch in A Dictionary of Christian Biography, Literature, Sects and Doctrines, by William Smith and Henry Pace, Volume II (London: John Murray, 1880) p. 420, concerning the years of the so-called Antiochian Schism, which divided Orthodox saints and whole Orthodox Local Churches against one another from early-mid 4th century through the early 5th century.

“There is a prima facie case against anyone who accepts advancement, as Evagrius did, under such circumstances. It is, however, reasonable to bear in mind the strong influence exerted in all ages, even on good men, by the violence of party spirit, when a contest is still at its height. The fact that the combatants had no longer any doctrinal point at issue (καίπερ οὐδὲν περὶ τὸ δόγμα διαφερόμενοι [‘although differing in nothing regarding doctrine’], as Theodoret has it), in all probability rather increased than diminished the bitterness of the rivalry.”

Note: Evagrius was consecrated single-handedly and without consulting other Orthodox hierarchs by Bishop Paulinus of Antioch, the elderly but respected leader of the anti-Arian “Eustathian” faction of Orthodox Antiochians, in opposition to St. Flavian of Antioch, the successor to St. Meletius, who led the “Meletian” faction of anti-Arians in Antioch.