FLORINIANI, or FLORIANI, a sect of heretics of the
second century, so denominated from its author Florinus,
or Florianus, a priest of the Roman Catholic church, de-
posed along with Blastus for his errors. Florinus had,
along with Irenæus, been a disciple of St Polycarp. He
made God the author of evil; or rather asserted that the
things forbidden by God are not evil, but of his own
appointment. The Floriani had also other names given
them. Philastrius says they were the same with the Car-
pophorians; and they were also called soldiers, milites quia
de militaribus fuerunt. St Irenæus calls them Gnostics;
St Epiphanius, Phibionites; and Theodoret, Barbarites, on
account of the impurities of their lives; whilst others call
them Zaccheans, and Coddians.