Diogenes of Cyzicus

Diogenes of Cyzicus was the metropolitan bishop of the from before 449 to after 451. He participated in the Second Council of Ephesus and the Council of Chalcedon (451), where he opposed the Monophysite doctrine of Eutyches.

He is not to be confused with the 3rd century grammarian Diogenianus or Diogenes of Cyzicus, who wrote the Patria of Cyzicus and is described in the Suda.

Ephesus II As the bishop of Cyzicus, Diogenes was present at the Second Council of Ephesus in 449. At the council, Eutyches attempted to prove his orthodoxy by reciting the original Nicene Creed of 325, and claiming that Canon 7 of the Council of Ephesus forbids any addition or subtraction from that version of the creed. When records from Ephesus II were reviewed at the Council of Chalcedon, Diogenes objected to this claim, noting that additions were already made to the creed at the First Council of Constantinople to counter the heresy of Apollinarianism. He further accused Eutyches of Apollinarianism for not reciting the 381 version of the Creed, specifically the part that says "of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary". A group of Egyptian bishops protested, apparently unfamiliar with the 381 version and considering it a violation of Canon 7 of Ephesus. The ensuing argument over additions to the Creed is relevant to the later Filioque controversy. It also demonstrates how little-known the 381 version of the Creed was at this time, as Diogenes was "the only bishop at Chalcedon to have shown detailed knowledge of the creed".

In the same complaint, Eutyches anathematized "those who say that the flesh of our Lord and God Jesus Christ came down from heaven". When Eutyches' complaint was reread at the Chalcedon, Eusebius of Dorylaeum pointed out that, while Eutychus correctly denied that Christ's flesh came down from heaven, he did not state from where it came. Diogenes, corroborated by Basil of Seleucia, claimed that they pressed Eutyches at Ephesus, saying "Lord Eutyches, where then did it come from? Tell us" but he didn't comply. The orthodox answer is that Christ took flesh from the Virgin Mary, but this would contradict Eutyches' belief that Christ is not consubstantial with humanity.

alt=Depiction of the Martyrdom of Flavian by Dioscorus and Barsumas. The scene described by Diogenes: Barsauma directing his monks to beat Flavian. Dioscorus is also shown holding a stick Diogenes also witnessed the violent beating of Flavian at the hands of a certain archimandrite called Barsauma, which led to his death. He later testified that Barsauma's monks beat Flavian as Barsauma stood by and cried "Strike him dead!". The Acts of the Council of Chalcedon record that, when the bishops heard this, they exclaimed "Barsumas is a murderer, cast him out, out with him to the arena, let him be anathema".

Like the other bishops there, Diogenes assented to and signed the proceedings of the Second Council of Ephesus, namely the restoration of Eutyches to his position as archimandrite and the deposition of Flavian and Eusebius. However, some of these bishops later withrew their assents, accusing Dioscorus of threatening them with a mob, forcing them to sign a blank paper, and having his notaries forge statements from them. Apollonius of Tanis, Pasmius of Paralus, Januarius of Leontopolis, Eulogius of Athribis, John of Psinchaus, Isaac of Taua, Hero of Thennesus, Stephen of Gerae, Theophilus of Erythrum, Theophilus of Cleopatris, and Isidore of Sethroites (Heracleopolis Parva). forbids them from making a decision without him, to which Diogenes mocked them saying "How can someone who has no idea what he believes elect a bishop?"

This was not Diogenes' only use of derisive snark. In discussing the wrongdoings of rival provincial Bishops Bassianus and Stephen of Ephesus, Eusebius of Dorylaeum noted that their consecrations were contrary to the canons. In response, Diogenes joked that in the provinces "they consecrate pickle-sellers" (Meaning that they ordain absolutely anyone referring to Canon III of Constantinople.)

Like the other bishops at the council, Diogenes approved and signed in every session he attended. He signed the last session on behalf of both himself and Cyzicus' suffragan bishops: Timothy of Germe, Alexander of Oce, Philostorgius of Scepsis, Gemellus of Miletopolis, Eutychianus of Baris, and Acacius of Proconnesus.