Anatolius was born at Alexandria. He was ordained a deacon by
Cyril of Alexandria, and was present at the
Council of Ephesus in the year 431. He became Patriarch through the influence of
Pope Dioscorus I of Alexandria and Emperor
Theodosius II, following the deposition of
Flavian of Constantinople by the
Second Council of Ephesus in 449. Prior to his elevation, he had served as the
apocrisiarius (representative) of Dioscorus with the emperor at Constantinople. After his consecration, Anatolius, being under suspicion of
Eutychianism, publicly condemned the teachings of both
Eutyches and
Nestorius, subscribing to the letters of Cyril of Alexandria against Nestorius and of
Pope Leo I against Eutyches. In conjunction with Pope Leo I, according to
Joannes Zonaras (
Annals, iii), he requested that Emperor
Marcian summon a general council against Dioscorus I and the Eutychians, but the
Imperial letter instructing Anatolius on preparations for the
Council of Chalcedon only mentions Pope Leo I (
Philippe Labbe,
Conc. Max. Tom., iv). During the council, Anatolius presided alongside the Roman legates (Labbe, Conc. Max. iv; Evagr. H. E., ii, 4, 18; Niceph. H. E., xv, 18). By the famous 28th canon, passed at the conclusion of the council, Constantinople was granted equal dignity with Rome, being declared "second in eminence and power to the
Bishop of Rome". Anatolius was credited with composing a few
hymns. == References ==