He was a Chalcedonian and a "fairly well-known person".
[2] His election as patriarch at a synod in Antioch was arranged by the Emperor Leo I on the advice of Patriarch Gennadius of Constantinople to replace the Miaphysite patriarch Peter the Fuller, who was exiled by Leo on 1 June 471.
[2][3] Julian held the patriarchate through the remainder of the reign of Leo I and that of Leo II.
[3] In the unrest that followed Leo II's death, the Miaphysite Basiliscus seized the imperial throne and restored Peter the Fuller to the patriarchate.
[2] When Peter arrived in Antioch, Julian was so upset that he died "of vexation", according to Theodorus Lector.