As archbishop of Cyprus, Anthemius was the metropolitan bishop over the island with his see at Salamis-Constantia.
In the process, he discovered what he claimed were the relics of Saint Barnabas, buried with a copy of the Gospel of Matthew.
[3] He gave the gospel to the Emperor Zeno, who had the patriarch of Constantinople summon a synod to rule in favour of Cyprus against Antioch.
[7] Michael Metcalf sees Anthemius as the deceiver (and Zeno the dupe) in a game of high politics with the patriarch of Antioch.
[8] The claim that Zeno granted Anthemius regalian privileges is found in nothing earlier than the 16th-century works of Florio Bustron, who may have invented it.