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ALTHOUGH Theophilus would fain have brought an accusation
against John, under the plea that he had unlawfully reinstated himself
in his bishopric, yet he was deterred from doing so by the fear of
offending the emperor, who had been compelled to recall John, as the
means of suppressing the popular insurrection. Theophilus, however,
received an accusation against Heraclides during the absence of the
accused, in the hope of thereby authorizing the sentence of
condemnation which had been issued against John. But the friends of
Heraclides interposed, and declared that it was unjust, and contrary
to ecclesiastical law, to condemn one who was absent. Theophilus and
his partisans maintained the opposite side of the question: the people
of Alexandria and of Egypt sided with them, and were opposed by the
citizens of Constantinople. The strife between the two parties became
so vehement that bloodshed ensued; many were wounded, and others slain
in the contest. Severian, and all the bishops at Constantinople who
did not support the cause of John, became apprehensive for their
personal safety, and quitted the city in haste. Theophilus, also,
fled the city at the commencement of the winter; and, in company with
Isaac the monk, sailed for Alexandria. A wind arose which drove the
vessel to Gera, a small city about fifty stadia from Pelusium. The
bishop of this city died, and the inhabitants, I have been informed,
elected Nilammon to preside over their church; he was a good man, and
had attained the summit of monastic philosophy. He dwelt without the
city, in a cell of which the door was built up with stones. He
refused to accept the dignity of the priesthood; and Theophilus,
therefore, visited him in person, to exhort him to receive ordination
at his hands. Nilammon repeatedly refused the honor; but, as
Theophilus would take no refusal, he said to him, "'Tomorrow, my
father, you shall act as you please; today it is requisite that I
should arrange my affairs." Theophilus repaired, on the following
day, to the cell of the monk, and commanded the door to be opened;
but Nilammon exclaimed, "Let us first engage in prayer."
Theophilus complied and began to pray. Nilammon likewise prayed
within his cell, and in the act of prayer he expired. Theophilus,
and those who were standing with him without the cell, knew nothing at
the time of what had occurred; but, when the greater part of the day
had passed away, and the name of Nilammon had been loudly reiterated
without his returning any answer, the stones were removed from the
door, and the monk was found dead. They honored him with a public
burial after they had clothed him in the necessary vestments, and the
inhabitants built a house of prayer about his tomb; and they celebrate
the day of his death, in a very marked way, until this day. Thus
died Nilammon, if it can be called death to quit this life for
another, rather than accept a bishopric of which, with extraordinary
modesty, he considered himself unworthy.
After his return to Constantinople, John appeared to be more than
ever beloved by the people. Sixty bishops assembled together in that
city, and annulled all the decrees of the council of "The Oak."
They confirmed John in the possession of the bishopric, and enacted
that he should officiate as a priest, confer ordination, and perform
all the duties of the church usually devolving on the president. At
this time Serapion was appointed bishop of Heraclea in Thrace.
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