Marinus of Thrace

Marinus of Thrace (floruit c.385 until 420-423 at latest)^[1] was briefly undisputed Arian Archbishop of Constantinople, before being displaced by Dorotheus of Antioch. Thenceforth Marinus withdrew from communion with those Arians who followed Dorotheus and, with a group of followers who grew numerous enough to be considered a distinct sect of Arians, maintained a rival network of churches and oratories. The sect held, in contrast to the Arians under Dorotheus, that 'the Father had always been the Father, even when the son was not.'^[2] The sect became known as the Psathyrians as one of its most prominent champions, one Theoctistus, was by profession a cake-seller (ψαθυροπώλης). The schism between the sects would be healed by the former consul Plinta during the reign of Theodosius II.

References

1. ^ Sozomen, Church History, Book 7.17. Marinus' career before his elevation to the See of Constantinople remains obscure. Similarly, after the foundation of the Psathyrian sect, his influence within that grouping remains important, but it is unknown for how long, or when he eventually died. The sect itself was extinguished with the reunion in Constantinople of the Arian groups at the behest of Plinta. The dating of this reunion is said to occur after Plinta's consulate (419) and on the thirty-fifth anniversary of the birth of the schism, placing it roughly between 420-423. If still alive, Marinus' influence at this point may be presumed to diminish accordingly with the end of his sect.
2. ^ Socrates Scholasticus, Church History, book 5.23.

Preceded by Demophilus of Constantinople

Arian Archbishop of Constantinople 386–c.388

Succeeded by Dorotheus of Antioch