ABSTRACT
A traditional historiography suggests that an ecclesiastical elite had an authority and prestige that were able to influence emperors in certain events. One of the most mentioned examples, which would demonstrate the power of the bishops, is narrated by John Chrysostom. According with Chrysostom Flavian, Bishop of Antioch, was able to influence Theodosius in the affair of The Riot of Statues (387 A.D). In this paper, we argue that bishops have not exercised such influence in Fourth Century AD. For that, we benefit from the debate on episkopeion that was emerged from archaeological data. In the fourth century, there is no evidence of the existence of well-defined Bishop's residence separated from the space of the Church - these only have developed between the fifth and sixth centuries - therefore we are able to link this development to the expansion of prestige and social and political power of the bishop (CEYLAN, 2005, p 170; MARANO, 2005, p. 97). Thus, our aim is to understand the interference of bishop Flavian in The Riot of the Statues in order to define the parameters of power and prestige of the late roman antiochian bishop.
Keywords:
Late Antiquity; Antioch-on-he-Orontes; Bishop's palace