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THE people then became intolerably tumultuous; and as it frequently
happens in such cases, many who before were adversely disposed against
him, now changed their hostility into compassion, and said of him whom
they had so recently desired to see deposed, that he had been
traduced. By this means therefore they became very numerous who
exclaimed against both the emperor and the Synod of bishops; but the
origin of the intrigue they more particularly referred to Theophilus.
For his fraudulent conduct could no longer be concealed, being exposed
by many I other indications, and especially by the fact of his having
held communion with Dioscorus, and those termed 'the Tall Monks,'
immediately after John's deposition. But Severian preaching in the
church, and thinking it a suitable occasion to declaim against John,
said: 'If John had been condemned for nothing else, yet the
haughtiness of his demeanor was a crime sufficient to justify his
deposition. Men indeed are forgiven all other sins: but "God
resisteth the proud," as the Divine Scriptures teach us.' These
reproaches made the people still more inclined to opposition; so that
the emperor gave orders for his immediate recall. Accordingly Briso a
eunuch in the service of the empress was sent after him, who finding
him at Praenetum--a commercial town situated over against Nicomedia
-- brought him back toward Constantinople. And as he had been
recalled, John refused to enter the city, declaring he would not do
so until his innocence had been admitted by a higher tribunal. Thus he
remained at a suburb called Marianae. Now as he delayed at that place
the commotion increased, and caused the people to break forth into very
indignant and opprobrious language against their rulers, wherefore to
check their fury John was constrained to proceed. On his way a vast
multitude, with veneration and honor, conducted him immediately to the
church; there they entreated him to seat himself in the episcopal
chair, and give them his accustomed benediction. When he sought to
excuse himself, saying that 'this ought to be brought about by an
order from his judges, and that those who condemned him must first
revoke their sentence,' they were only the more inflamed with the
desire of seeing him reinstated, and of hearing him address them
again. The people finally prevailed on him to resume his seat, and
pray as usual for peace upon them; after which, acting under the same
constraint, he preached to them. This compliance on John's part
afforded his adversaries another ground of crimination; but respecting
this they took no action at that time.
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