Paulinus of Antioch

Paulinus II was a claimant to the See of Antioch from 362 to 388.

History Meletius of Antioch had been chosen as a compromise candidate between Catholics and Arians. He was neither a thorough Nicene nor a decided Arian. Members of the Eustathian party objected to Meletius as having been consecrated by Arians, and had begun to meet separately.

Shortly after becoming archbishop, the Arian bishop of Constantinople convinced the pro-Arian emperor Constantius II to exile Meletius back to Lower Armenia and to appoint an Arian bishop to Antioch. Meletius was succeeded by Euzoeus, who was also opposed by the anti-Arians. The synod of Alexandria (362) sent deputies to attempt an arrangement between the two anti-Arian Meletians and Eustathians; but before they arrived Paulinus had been consecrated bishop by bishop Lucifer of Cagliari, thus effecting a schism in the church. and by Epiphanius of Salamis. In 374 Pope Damasus I recognized Paulinus as archbishop and made him the papal representative in the East.

In 378, the Western emperor Gratian removed Euzoeus from Antioch, handing over the churches to Meletius.

Meletius died in 381; Paulinus in 388. The schism did not end, as each side chose its own bishop. The parties did not reconcile until 415.