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| John swayed the People by his Teachings. Concerning the Woman, a Follower of Macedonius, on account of whom the Bread was turned into a Stone.
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Chapter V.—John swayed
the People by his Teachings. Concerning the Woman, a Follower of
Macedonius, on account of whom the Bread was turned into a
Stone.
John governed the church of
Constantinople with exemplary prudence, and induced many of the pagans
and of the heretics to unite themselves with him.1591
Crowds of people daily resorted to him; some for the purpose of being
edified by listening to his discourses, and others with the intention
of tempting him. He, however, pleased and attracted all classes, and
led them to embrace the same religious sentiments as himself. As the
people pressed around him, and could not get enough of his words, so
that when they were pushed hither and yon, and were pressing one
another, they incurred danger; and each one was forcing his way to go
farther, so that by standing near, he might hear more accurately what
John was saying, he placed himself in the midst of them upon the
platform of the readers, and, having taken a seat, taught the
multitude. It seems to me that this is a suitable place in my history
for the insertion of the account of a miracle which was performed
during the life of John. A certain man of the Macedonian heresy, lived
with a wife of the same belief; he chanced to hear John discoursing
concerning the opinion one ought to hold about the Divine nature; he
was convinced by the argument he heard advanced, and strove to persuade
his wife to embrace the same sentiments. Her previous habits of mind,
and the conversation of other women of her acquaintance, deterred her
from complying with his wishes; and, when he found that all his efforts
to convince her were futile, he told her that, unless she would be of
one mind with him on Divine subjects, she should not continue to live
with him. The woman, therefore, promised to do as she was required;
but, at the same time, she made
known the matter to one of her servant maids, in whose fidelity she
confided, and used her as an instrument in deceiving her husband. At
the season of the celebration of the mysteries (the initiated will
understand what I mean), this woman kept what was given to her and held
down her head as if engaged in prayer. Her servant, who was standing
behind her, placed in her hand a bit of bread which she had brought
with her; but, as soon as she had placed it between her teeth, it was
converted into stone. Since such a divine affair had happened to her,
she was very fearful lest any further calamity should befall her, and
ran to the bishop, and confessed on herself. She showed him the stone,
which bore the marks of her teeth; it was composed of some unknown
substance, and was marked by a very strange color. She implored
forgiveness with tears, and continued ever after to hold the same
religious tenets as her husband. If any person should consider this
narrative incredible, he can inspect the stone in question; for it is
still preserved in the treasury of the church of Constantinople.
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