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WHEN Epiphanius was gone, John was informed by some person that
the Empress Eudoxia had stimulated Epiphanius against him. And
being of a fiery temperament, and of a ready utterance, he soon after
pronounced a public invective against women in general. The people
readily took this as uttered indirectly against the empress and so the
speech was laid hold of by evil-disposed persons, and reported to
those in authority. At length on being informed of it the empress
immediately complained to her husband, telling him that the insult
offered to herself was equally an insult against him. The emperor
therefore authorized Theophilus to convoke a Synod without delay
against John; Severian also co-operated in promoting this, for he
still retained his grudge against Chrysostom. Not long time
accordingly intervened before Theophilus arrived, having induced
several bishops from different cities to accompany him; these however
had been summoned by the emperor's orders also. Many of the bishops
in Asia John had deposed when he went to Ephesus and ordained
Heraclides. Accordingly they all by previous agreement assembled at
Chalcedon in Bithynia. Cyrinus was at that time bishop of
Chalcedon, an Egyptian by birth, who said many things to the bishops
in disparagement of John, denouncing him as 'the impious,' 'the
haughty,' 'the inexorable.' They indeed were very much satisfied
at these denunciations. But Maruthas bishop of Mesopotamia having
involuntarily trod on Cyrinus' foot, he was severely hurt by it and
was unable to embark with the rest for Constantinople, but remained
behind at Chalcedon. The rest crossed over. Now Theophilus had so
openly avowed his hostility to John, that none of the clergy would go
forth to meet him, or pay him the least honor; but some Alexandrian
sailors happening to be on the spot -- for at that time the grain
transporting vessels were there-greeted him with joyful acclamations.
He excused himself from entering the church, and took up his abode at
one of the imperial mansions called 'The Placidian.' Then on this
account a torrent of accusations began to be poured forth against
John; for no mention was now made of Origen, but all were intent on
urging a variety of criminations, many of which were ridiculous.
Preliminary matters being thus settled, the bishops were convened in
one of the suburbs of Chalcedon, a place called 'The Oak,' and
immediately cited John to answer the charges which were brought against
him. He also summoned Serapion the deacon; Tigris the eunuch
presbyter, and Paul the reader, were likewise summoned to appear
there with him, for these men were included in the impeachments, as
participators in his guilt. And since John taking exception to those
who had cited him, on the ground of their being his enemies, refused
to attend, and demanded a general council, without delay they repeated
their citation four times in succession; and as he persisted in his
refusal to meet them as his judges, always giving the same answer,
they condemned him, and deposed him without assigning any other cause
for his deposition but that he refused to obey the summons. This
decision on being announced towards evening, incited the people to a
most alarming sedition; insomuch that they kept watch all night, and
would by no means suffer him to be removed from the church, but cried
out that his cause ought to be determined in a larger assembly. A
decree of the emperor, however, commanded that he should be
immediately expelled, and sent into exile; which as soon as John was
apprised of, he voluntarily surrendered himself about noon unknown to
the populace, on the third day after his condemnation: for he dreaded
any insurrectionary movement on his account, and was accordingly led
away.
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