Marinus of Thrace

Marinus of Thrace (floruit c. 385 until 420–423 at latest)[1] was briefly undisputed Arian Archbishop of Constantinople after the death of bishop Demophilus around 386.[2] He was, however, displaced by Dorotheus of Antioch around 387 or 388. When Dorotheus arrived from Syria, he was immediately installed as the new archbishop, having been considered by his sect to be better qualified for the office than Marinus.[3] It was also cited that the sect has been unhappy with Marinus' deposition, particularly as he represented the views of his party, which became associated with the positions taken by Selenas bishop of the Goths.[2] A key difference, for instance, was the manner by which Dorotheus denied the eternal fatherhood of God while Marinus asserted it.[4]

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.'[5] Those who sided with Dorotheus remained in possession of their churches while those who sided with Marinus had to build new ones.[4] This sect became known as the Psathyrians, which included Theoctistus - one of its most prominent champions - who 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. Berndt, Guido M. (2016). Arianism: Roman Heresy and Barbarian Creed. Oxon: Routledge. p. 153. ISBN 9781409446590.
3. Sozomen (2004). Ecclesiastical History. Kessinger Publishing. p. 295. ISBN 9781419117237.
4. Scott, Charles Anderson (2018-03-22). Ulfilas Apostle of the Goths. Charles River Editors. ISBN 9781632955944.
5. Socrates Scholasticus, Church History, book 5.23.