Validos of Andropolis

Validos of Andropolis (died 710) was a human Agapaean Presbyter and heresiologist who served as Elder of Andropolis from 690 to 710. He is considered a saint by both the Haugrkirk Emuna and Imperial See, having been venerated before the schism, and was formally placed on the Liturgical Calendar of the Haugrkirk in 740 and Imperial See in 795. His reputation for orthodoxy and rigorous cataloging of heresies and their refutation has led to him being one of the most cited theologians in history. The works of Validos played a central role in the Enetoi Schism, with Validos himself being cited by both sides of the dispute.
His most important work is On the Falsehoods Believed by the Saura, a heresiological work which catalogues the heresies allegedly believed by the Saura in the late Seventh Century. The work was widely circulated even in Validos’ own day, and formed the basis for many contemporary condemnations of Metropolitan Boutros II (an ethnic Saura), by Imperial rhetoricians. Prior to the publication of On the Falsehoods most of Emuna had been unaware of the heresies of Agape. Despite his scathing denunciation of the Saura clergy and believers, Validos seems to have taken great care to cite orthodox Saura theologians more than human ones within the work, apparently in an attempt to avoid making Emuna appear as a ‘Beornic’ religion.
He apparently wrote a lengthly treatise defending Alija Klemens (the future Metropolitan Boutos II) from charges of heresy during his tenure as Elder of Crocodiliopolis (689–702), but it has since been lost. Some have pinned the blame on Emperor Chloris V or Imperial Metropolitan Ymir IV, both contemporary enemies of Boutros II. It is known through references to it both in the First Eliseira Council (716), and in the epistles of Validos. In his epistle to the Elder of Abrisom of the Amellions (c. 707), Validos commanded obedience to Boutros II as the lawful metropolitan and criticized the Imperion for his inprisonment.