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| Of the piety of the emperor Arcadius and the ordination of John Chrysostom.
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Chapter XXVII.—Of the
piety of the emperor Arcadius and the ordination of John
Chrysostom.
On the
death at Constantinople of Nectarius, bishop of that see, Arcadius, who
had succeeded to the Eastern empire, summoned John, the great luminary
of the world. He had heard that he was numbered in the ranks of the
presbyterate, and now issued orders to the assembled bishops to confer
on him divine grace, and appoint him shepherd of that mighty city.907
| 907 Nectarius died in Sept. 397, and John Chrysostom was appointed in
Feb. 398. cf. Soc. vi. 2 and Soz. viii. 2.
“The only difficulty lay
with Chrysostom himself and the people of Antioch. The double danger of
a decided ‘nolo episcopari’ on Chrysostom’s
part, and of a public commotion when the Antiocheans heard of the
intention of robbing them of their favourite preacher was overcome by
stratagem. Asterius, the Comes Orientis, in accordance with
instructions received from Eutropius, induced Chrysostom to accompany
him to a martyr’s chapel outside the city walls. There he was
apprehended by the officers of the government, and conveyed to Papae,
the first post station on the road to Constantinople. His remonstrances
were unheeded; his enquiries met with obstinate silence. Placed in a
public chariot, and hurried on under a military escort from stage to
stage, the 800 miles traversed with the utmost dispatch, the future
bishop reached his imperial see a closely guarded prisoner. However
unwelcome the dignity thrust on him was, Chrysostom, knowing that
resistance was useless, felt it more dignified to submit without
further struggle.”
“Chrysostom was
consecrated February 26th a.d. 398, in the
presence of a vast multitude assembled not only to witness the ceremony
but also to listen to the inaugural sermon of one of whose eloquence
they had heard so much. This ‘sermo enthronisticus’
is lost.” Dict. Christ. Biog. s.v.
“Chrysostom.” |
This fact is alone sufficient to
show the emperor’s care for divine things. At the same time the
see of Antioch was held by Flavianus, and that of Laodicea by Elpidius,
who had formerly been the comrade of the great Meletius, and had
received the impress of his life and conversation more plainly than wax
takes the impression of a seal ring.908
| 908 Elpidius, possibly a kind of domestic chaplain (σύσκηνος) to Meletius, was afterwards a warm friend and advocate of
Chrysostom. In 406 he was deposed and imprisoned for three years, and
not restored till 414. |
He succeeded the great
Pelagius;909
and the divine Marcellus910
| 910 Marcellus was bishop of Apamea. | was followed by the illustrious Agapetus911
| 911 Succeeded his brother Marcellus in 398. cf. note on p. 128 and
Relig. Hist. 3. | whom I have already described as conspicuous
for high ascetic virtue. In the time of the tempest of heresy, of
Seleucia ad Taurum, Maximus,912
| 912 Soc.
vi. 3; Soz. viii, 2. | the companion of
the great John, was bishop, and of Mopsuestia Theodorus,913
both illustrious teachers. Conspicuous,
too, in wisdom and character was the holy Acacius,914
bishop of Berœa.
Leontius,915
| 915 Of
Ancyra cf. Soz. vi, 18; and viii, 30. |
a shining example of many virtues, tended the flock of the
Galatians.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
|
