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SHORTLY afterwards Theophilus bishop of Alexandria having
fallen into a lethargic state, died on the 15th of October, in the
ninth consulate of Honorius, and the fifth of Theodosius. A great
contest immediately arose about the appointment of a successor, some
seeking to place Timothy the archdeacon in the episcopal chair; and
others desiring Cyril, who was a nephew of Theophilus. A tumult
having arisen on this account among the people, Abundantius, the
commander of the troops in Egypt, took sides with Timothy. [Yet
the partisans of Cyril triumphed.] Whereupon on the third day after
the death of Theophilus, Cyril came into possession of the
episcopate, with greater power than Theophilus had ever exercised.
For from that time the bishopric of Alexandria went beyond the limits
of its sacerdotal functions, and assumed the administration of secular
matters. Cyril immediately therefore shut up the churches of the
Novatians at Alexandria, and took possession of all their consecrated
vessels and ornaments; and then stripped their bishop Theopemptus of
all that he had.
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