Patriarch of
Constantinople
and a
disciple
of
St. John
Chrysostom. A native of Constantinople, he studied under
St. John
and then served as secretary to John's enemy,
Patriarch
Atticus
of Constantinople. Ordained by Atticus, he was soon named
bishop
of Cyzicus, although the inhabitants of the
diocese
refused to have him for their bishop. Known for his eloquent preaching, he became a vocal opponent of the heretical
patriarch
Nestorius from 428 and the latter's appointment by Emperor Theodosius II. Six years later, Proclus was himself appointed
patriarch
of Constantinople, following the death of
Patriarch
Maximian, who had replaced the deposed Nestorius. As patriarch, he was conspicuous in his opposition to the Nestorian heresy, although he treated the
heretics
with remarkable patience and forbearance, and gave aid to the people of the city following a terrible earthquake. In 438 he secured the translation of the body of
St. John
Chrysostom. Proclus' body of writings, comprised mainly of epistles and homilies, included the Tome of St. Proclus, a treatise on the doctrine of the two natures of
Christ
which was addressed to the Armenians and was intended to refute the unorthodox teachings of Theodore of Mopsuestia. He is also the attributed composer of the Trisagion of the liturgy.