Photinus

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This article is about the person Photinus. For the beetle genus, see Photinus (genus)

Photinus (died 376) was a fourth-century Christian heretic who rose to become bishop of Sirmium in Pannonia, a residence of the Emperor Constantius II. His heresy was of an Arian stripe.

Photinus was originally a deacon of Marcellus, metropolitan of Ancyra. Marcellus was deposed by the Arians, but reinstated by Pope Julius I at the Synod of Sardica in 343. In 344, the Synod of Antioch drew up the macrostich creed against him. In 345, Photinus was condemned by the Synod of Milan on account of his obvious heresy. A 347 synod failed to depose Photinus on the basis of his popular support. A synod at Sirmium was held and Hilarius of Poitiers quotes some of its Arian propositions. Photinus made an appeal to the emperor and another synod was held at Sirmium in 351. Basil, Marcellus' successor and a semi-Arian, argued with Photinus and the latter was indeed deposed. He was anathematised.

He returned to his see during the reign of Julian the Apostate, but was exiled by Valentinian II, according to Jerome. He settled in Galatia and his heresy, Photinianism, died in the West. By the time of Augustine, a Photinian was anyone who believed Christ was a mere man.