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| Dispute between Theophilus and Peter leading to an Attempt on the Part of the Former to depose John Bishop of Constantinople.
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Chapter IX.—Dispute
between Theophilus and Peter leading to an Attempt on the Part of the
Former to depose John Bishop of Constantinople.
Not long after this, the monks
of the desert, together with Dioscorus and his brothers, came to
Constantinople. There was also with them Isidore,858
| 858For an account of Theophilus’ outrageous
treatment of Isidore, see Palladius, Vita S. Joannis Chrysost.
chap. 6.
|
formerly the most intimate friend of the bishop Theophilus, but then
become his bitterest enemy, on account of the following circumstance: A
certain man named Peter was at that time the archpresbyter859
| 859See Bingham, Christ. Antiq. II. 19–18,
for a statement of the functions of this office.
|
of the Alexandrian church; Theophilus being irritated against this
person, determined to eject him from the church; and as the ground of
expulsion, he brought the charge against him of having admitted to a
participation of the sacred mysteries, a woman of the Manichæan
sect, without first compelling her to renounce her Manichæan
heresy. As Peter in his defence declared, that not only had the errors
of this woman been previously abjured, but that Theophilus himself had
sanctioned her admission to the eucharist, Theophilus became indignant,
as if he had been grievously calumniated; whereupon he affirmed that he
was altogether unacquainted with
the circumstance. Peter therefore summoned Isidore to bear witness to
the bishop’s knowledge of the facts concerning the woman. Now
Isidore happened to be then at Rome, on a mission from Theophilus to
Damasus the prelate of the imperial city, for the purpose of affecting
a reconciliation between him and Flavian bishop of Antioch; for the
adherents of Meletius had separated from Flavian in detestation of his
perjury, as we have already observed.860
When Isidore had returned from Rome, and was cited as a witness by
Peter, he deposed that the woman was received by consent of the bishop;
and that he himself had administered the sacrament to her. Upon this
Theophilus became enraged and in anger ejected them both. This
furnished the reason for Isidore’s going to Constantinople with
Dioscorus and his brethren, in order to submit to the cognizance of the
emperor, and John the bishop, the injustice and violence with which
Theophilus had treated them. John, on being informed of the facts, gave
the men an honorable reception, and did not exclude them from communion
at prayers, but postponed their communion of the sacred mysteries,
until their affairs should be examined into. Whilst matters were in
this posture, a false report was brought to Theophilus’ ears,
that John had both admitted them to a participation of the mysteries,
and was also ready to give them assistance; wherefore he resolved not
only to be revenged on Isidore and Dioscorus, but also if possible to
cast John out of his episcopal chair. With this design he wrote to all
the bishops of the various cities, and concealing his real motive,
ostensibly condemned therein the books of Origen merely: which
Athanasius,861
| 861Cf. Athan. de Decr. Nic. 27.
|
his predecessor, had used in confirmation of his own faith, frequently
appealing to the testimony and authority of Origen’s writings, in
his orations against the Arians.
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