Evagrius of Constantinople

Saint Evagrius of Constantinople (died around 380) was elected bishop of Constantinople in 370 by the Nicene community of the city, against Demophilus, elected by the Arians, but was banished after a few months by the emperor Valens. The Russian source calls him a saint of the undivided Church and gives his commemoration on 6 March; the other sources say nothing of his veneration, so we cannot say more.

Election and exile

Little is known about him. After the death of Bishop Eudoxius, in 370, the Arians elected Demophilus as bishop, while the Nicenes, those who held the faith of the Council of Nicaea, elected Evagrius. His origin, schooling and earlier ministry are not known. He was ordained by Eustathius, the former bishop of Antioch, who was living in hiding in Constantinople. His election provoked disturbances among the people, stirred up by the Arians. After a few months the emperor Valens, who was then at Marcianopolis (according to another source at Nicomedia), learned of the ordination and, wishing to end the religious disturbances, sent soldiers at once to Constantinople with orders to send Eustathius to Bizye (according to others to Cyzicus) and to drive Evagrius out of the capital; the church he gave to Demophilus. According to the historians Socrates and Sozomen, after this the Nicene community suffered persecution.

The years after

Evagrius remained in exile until his death. Some sources say that he was elected a second time at the end of 379 or in 380, after Demophilus was driven out by Theodosius the Great. The Ukrainian source points out that Socrates and Sozomen do not mention a second election and that, when Theodosius drove out Demophilus, the leader of the Nicenes in the capital was already Gregory the Theologian. The only well-⁠attested episode of his ministry thus remains the short rivalry with Demophilus. Neither the year of his birth nor of his death is proven.