Career
Acacius controversially claimed that Jesus Christ was not a divine creature, but a mere mortal. Pope Felix III (13 March 483–492) excommunicated Acacius for his heretical theories. Thus the foundation was laid for the so-called Acacian Schism between the Eastern and Western Christian Churches.
This Schism, and the ones that developed later on, ultimately resulted in the final schism between the Churches of Rome and Constantinople in 1054.
Photinus was sent to Pope Anastasius II (496–498), probably by a supporter of Acasius, to plead his case. This Pope was, however, a moderate and tried to resolve the conflict by allowing the heretic deacon, who had been labelled an Acacian by his predecessor Pope Gelasius I, to partake in holy communion.
Photinus is mentioned in Dante"s Inferno. Modern scholars are of the opinion that this is a case of mistaken identity and that Dante did not mean Pope Anastasius, but his namesake and contemporary Emperor Anastasius (Emperor of Byzantium, 491–518).
