or FLORIANI, a sect of heretics, of the second century, denominated from its author Florinus, or Florianus, a priest of the Roman church, deposed along with Blastus for his errors. Florinus had been a disciple of St Polycarp, along with Irenaeus. He made God the author of evil; or rather asserted, that the things forbidden by God are not evil, but of his own appointing. In which he followed the errors of Valentinus, and joined himself with the Carpocratians. They had also other names given them. Philastrius says, they were the same with the Carpophorians. He adds that they were also called soldiers, militiae, quia de militarius fuerunt. St Irenaeus calls them Gnostics; St Epiphanius Phibionites; and Theodoret, Barbarites, on account of the impurities of their lives. Others call them Zaccheans; others Coddians, &c. though for what particular reasons, it is not easy to say, nor perhaps would be worth while to inquire.