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HE moreover renewed his friendship with Epiphanius bishop of
Constantia in Cyprus, with whom he had formerly been at variance.
For Theophilus accused Epiphanius of entertaining low thoughts of
God, by supposing him to have a human form. Now although Theophilus
was really unchanged in sentiment, and had denounced those who thought
that the divinity was human in form, yet on account of his hatred of
others, he openly denied his own convictions; and he now professed to
be friendly with Epiphanius, as if he had altered his mind and agreed
with him in his views of God. He then managed it so that Epiphanius
by letter should convene a Synod of the bishops in Cyprus, in order
to condemn the writings of Origen. Epiphanius being on account of his
extraordinary piety a man of simple mind and manners was easily
influenced by the letters of Theophilus: having therefore assembled a
council of bishops in that island, he caused a prohibition to be
therein made of the reading of Origen's works. He also wrote to
John, exhorting him to abstain from the study of Origen's books,
and to convoke a Synod for decreeing the same thing as he had done.
Accordingly when Theophilus had in this way deluded Epiphanius, who
was famous for his piety, seeing his design prosper according to his
wish, he became more confident, and himself also assembled a great
number of bishops. In that convention, pursuing the same course as
Epiphanius, he caused a like sentence of condemnation to be pronounced
on the writings of Origen, who had been dead nearly two hundred
years: not having this as his first object, but rather his purpose of
revenge on Dioscorus and his brethren. John paying but little
attention to the communications of Epiphanius and Theophilus, was
intent on instructing the churches; and he flourished more and more as
a preacher, but made no account of the plots which were laid against
him. As soon, however, as it became apparent to every body that
Theophilus was endeavoring to divest John of his bishopric, then all
those who had any ill-will against John, combined in calumniating
him. And thus many of the clergy, and many of those in office, and
of those who had great influence at the court, believing that they had
found an opportunity now of avenging themselves upon John, exerted
themselves to procure the convocation of a Grand Synod at
Constantinople, partly by sending letters and partly by dispatching
messengers in all directions for that purpose.
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