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A little while after the removal of John's body, Paul bishop of the
Novatians died, on the 21st of July, under the same consulate:
who at his own funeral united, in a certain sense, all the different
sects into one church. For all parties attended his body to the tomb,
chanting psalms together, inasmuch as even during his lifetime by his
rectitude he was in universal esteem by all. But as Paul just before
his death performed a memorable act, I deem it advantageous to insert
it in this history as it may be interesting to the readers of this work
to be acquainted with it. And test the brilliancy of that important
deed should be obscured by dwelling on circumstantial details of minor
consequence, I shall not stay to expatiate on the strictness with
which he maintained his ascetic discipline as to diet even throughout
his illness, without the least departure from the course he had
prescribed for himself, or the omission of any of the ordinary
exercises of devotion with his accustomed fervor. But what was this
deed? Conscious that his departure was at hand, he sent for all the
presbyters of the churches under his care, and thus addressed them:
'Give your attention while I am alive to the election of a bishop to
preside over you, lest the peace of your churches should hereafter be
disturbed.' They having answered that this affair had better not be
left to them: 'For inasmuch,' said they, 'as some of us have one
judgment about the matter, and some another, we would by no means
nominate the same individual. We wish therefore that you would
yourself designate the person you would desire to succeed you.'
'Give me then,' said Paul,' this declaration of yours in
writing, that you will elect him whom I should appoint.' When they
had written this pledge, and ratified it by their signatures, Paul,
rising in his bed and sitting up, wrote the name of Marcian in the
paper, without informing any of those present what he had inserted.
This person had been promoted to the rank of presbyter, and instructed
in the ascetic discipline by him, but was then gone abroad. Having
folded this document and put his own seal on it, he caused the
principal presbyters to seal it also; after which he delivered it into
the hands of Marcus a bishop of the Novatians in Scythia, who was at
that time staying at Constantinople, to whom he thus spake, 'If it
shall please God that I should continue much longer in this life,
restore me this deposit, now entrusted to your safe keeping. But
should it seem fit to him to remove me, you will herein discover whom
I have chosen as my successor in the bishopric.' Soon after this he
died; and on the third day after his death, the paper having been
unfolded in the presence of a great number of persons, Marcian's name
was found within it, when they all cried out that he was worthy of the
honor. Messengers were therefore sent off without delay to bring him
to Constantinople. These, by a pious fraud, finding him residing at
Tiberiopolis in Phrygia, brought him back with them; whereupon he
was ordained and placed in the episcopal chair on the 21st of the same
month.
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