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| Rapid Promotion of John to the Bishopric, and more Vehement Grappling with its Affairs. He re-establishes Discipline in the Churches everywhere. By sending an Embassy to Rome, he abolished the Hostility to Flavian.
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Chapter III.—Rapid
Promotion of John to the Bishopric, and more Vehement Grappling with
its Affairs. He re-establishes Discipline in the Churches everywhere.
By sending an Embassy to Rome, he abolished the Hostility to
Flavian.
As soon as John was raised to
the episcopal dignity, he devoted his attention first to the
reformation of the lives of his clergy;1586
| 1586Soc. vi. 4. Cf. Theodoret, H. E. v. 28;
Pallad. Dialog. 5.
|
he reproved and amended their ways and diet and every procedure of
their manifold transactions. He also ejected some of the clergy from
the Church. He was naturally disposed to reprehend the misconduct of
others, and to antagonize righteously those who acted unjustly; and he
gave way to these characteristics still more in the episcopate; for his
nature, having attained power, led his tongue to reproof, and nerved
his wrath more readily against the enemy. He did not confine his
efforts to the reformation of his own church; but as a good and
large-minded man, he sought to rectify abuses throughout the world.
Immediately upon entering the episcopate, he strove to put an end to
the dissension which had arisen concerning Paulinus, between the
Western and Egyptian bishops and the bishops of the East; since on this
account a general disunion was overpowering the churches in the whole
empire. He requested the assistance of Theophilus in effecting the
reconciliation of Flavian with the bishop of Rome.1587
| 1587Soc. vi. 3; Theodoret, H. E. v. 23.
|
Theophilus agreed to co-operate with him in the restoration of concord;
and Acacius, bishop of Berea, and Isidore, whom Theophilus had proposed
as a candidate for ordination instead of John, were sent on an embassy
to Rome. They soon effected the object of their journey, and sailed
back to Egypt. Acacius repaired to Syria, bearing conciliatory letters to the adherents of Flavian
from the priests of Egypt and of the West. And the churches, after a
long delay once more laid aside their discord, and took up communion
with one another. The people at Antioch, who were called Eustathians,
continued, indeed, for some time to hold separate assemblies, although
they possessed no bishop. Evagrius, the successor of Paulinus, did not,
as we have stated, long survive him; and I think reconciliation became
easier for the bishops from there being no one to oppose. The laity, as
is customary with the populace, gradually went over to those who
assembled together under the guidance of Flavian; and thus, in course
of time, they were more and more united.
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