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JOHN governed the church of Constantinople with exemplary
prudence, and induced many of the pagans and of the heretics to unite
themselves with him. Crowds of people daily resorted to him; some for
the purpose of being edified by listening to his discourses, and others
with the intention of tempting him, He, how ever, pleased and
attracted all classes, and led them to embrace the same religious
sentiments as himself. As the people pressed around him, and could
not get enough of his words, so that when they were pushed hither and
you, and were pressing one another, they incurred danger; and each
one was forcing his way to go farther, so that by standing near, he
might hear more accurately what John was saying, he placed himself in
the midst of them upon the platform of the readers, and, having taken
a seat, taught the multitude. It seems to me that this is a suitable
place in my history for the insertion of the account of a miracle which
was performed during the life of John. A certain man of the
Macedonian heresy, lived with a wife of the same belief; he chanced
to hear John discoursing concerning the opinion one ought to hold about
the Divine nature; he was convinced by the argument he heard
advanced, and strove to persuade his wife to embrace the same
sentiments. Her previous habits of mind, and the conversation of
other women of her acquaintance, deterred her from complying with his
wishes; and, when he found that all his efforts to convince her were
futile, he told her that, unless she would be of one mind with him on
Divine subjects, she should not continue to live with him. The
woman, therefore, promised to do as she was required; but, at the
same time, she made known the matter to one of her servant maids, in
whose fidelity she confided, and used her as an instrument in deceiving
her husband. At the season of the celebration of the mysteries (the
initiated will understand what I mean), this woman kept what was
given to her and held down her head as if engaged in prayer. Her
servant, who was standing behind her, placed in her hand a bit of
bread which she had brought with her; but, as soon as she had placed
it between her teeth, it was converted into stone. Since such a
divine affair had happened to her, she was very fearful lest any
further calamity should befall her, and ran to the bishop, and
confessed on herself. She showed him the stone, which bore the marks
of her teeth; it was composed of some unknown substance, and was
marked by a very strange color. She implored forgiveness with tears,
and continued ever after to hold the same religious tenets as her
husband. If any person should consider this narrative incredible, he
can inspect the stone in question; for it is still preserved in the
treasury of the church of Constantinople.
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