Aphrahat (hermit)

The authors of the "PLRE", in associating the diplomat with the namesake Praetorian prefect of the East and consul, have dated the event to 383, when Anthemius was returning from an embassy to Persia sent by the emperor Theodosius alongside another official, the barbarian Stilicho.

[3] The "Encyclopædia Iranica", on the other hand, makes no mention of this diplomat being the Theodosius' officer and dates the episode between 375 and 378, when negotiations were in progress to end the ongoing war between Emperor Valens and Shapur II (r. 309–379).

In the 370's, when the emperor settled with his army in Antioch for his war against the Persians, the patriarch Meletius was banished and the Arians carried out a severe persecution of the orthodox.

Due to the disturbances caused by the imperial actions, Aphrahat headed to Antioch, where he assisted Flavian and Diodorus who had been entrusted with the government of the Catholics during Meletius' exile.

[6] Due to the capture of the local churches by the Arians, the Orthodox were forced to hold their services beside the Orontes River or in the large open space outside the city in which military exercises were held.

Shortly thereafter, the same individual was accidentally scalded to death, causing terror in Valente who refused to listen to the Arians who pressured him to banish Aphrahat.