Editing Acacius of Constantinople (section)

== Early life and episcopate ==
Acacius first appearers in authentic history as the ''[[orphanotrophos]]'', or an official entrusted with the care of the orphans, in the Church of [[Constantinople]], which he administered with conspicuous success.<ref>{{harvnb|Westcott|1911}} cites Suda, s.v.</ref> [[Suda]] describes him as magnificent, generous, suave, noble, courtly, and showy.{{sfn|Clifford|1907}}

The [[Roman emperor]] [[Leo I (emperor)|Leo I]] took notice of his abilities and, using the skills of an accomplished courtier,<ref name="auto">{{harvnb|Westcott|1911}} Cites Suda, l.c.</ref> gained considerable influence over him, leading to his succession as Patriarch on the death of [[Gennadius of Constantinople]] in 471. The initial five to six years of his episcopate were unremarkable. However, he soon became embroiled in controversies which lasted throughout his patriarchate, culminating in a thirty-five-year (484–519) [[Schism in Christianity|schism]] between the East and West churches.{{sfn|Westcott|1911}}

He sought, first, to restore the unity of the Church, which had been divided by the divisions caused by the [[Eutyches|Eutychian debates]]; and, secondly, to increase the authority of his [[Episcopal see|see]] by asserting its independence from Rome and extending its influence over [[Alexandria]] and [[Antioch]]. In terms of his actions, he seems to have behaved more like a statesman than a theologian.<ref name="auto"/>