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A CERTAIN man of Tarsus in Cilicia, of the illustrious order
of senator, was at this period residing at Constantinople. Being
about to return to his own country, he called upon Diodorus, bishop
of Tarsus, to inquire whether he had any letters to send by him.
Diodorus was fully intent upon the ordination, which was the subject
then engrossing universal attention of the men. He had no sooner seen
Nectarius than he considered him worthy of the bishopric, and
straightway determined this in his own mind as he reflected on the
venerable age of the man, his form so befitting a priest, and the
suavity of his manners. He conducted him, as if upon some other
business, to the bishop of Antioch, and requested him to use his
influence to procure this election. The bishop of Antioch derided
this request, for the names of the most eminent men had already been
proposed for consideration. He, however, called Nectarius to him,
and desired him to remain for a short time with him. Some time after,
the emperor commanded the priests to draw up a list of the names of
those whom they thought worthy of the ordination, reserving to himself
the right of choosing any one of those whose names were thus submitted
to him. All the bishops complied with this mandate; and, among the
others, the bishop of Antioch wrote down the names of those whom he
proposed as candidates for the bishopric, and, at the end of his
list, from consideration for Diodorus, he inserted the name of
Nectarius. The emperor read the list of those inscribed and stopped
at the name of Nectarius at the end of the document, on which he
placed his finger, and seemed for some time lost in reflection; ran it
up to the beginning, and again went through the whole, and chose
Nectarius. This nomination excited great astonishment and all the
people were anxious to ascertain who Nectarius was, his manner of
life, and birthplace. When they heard that he had not been initiated
their amazement was increased at the decision of the emperor. I
believe that Diodorus himself was not aware that Nectarius had not
been baptized; for, had he been acquainted with this fact, he would
not have ventured to give his vote for the priesthood to one
uninitiated. It appears reasonable to suppose, that on perceiving
that Nectarius was of advanced age, he took it for granted that he had
been initiated long previously. But these events did not take place
without the interposition of God. For when the emperor was informed
that Nectarius had not been initiated, he remained of the same
opinion, although opposed by many priests. When at last, consent had
been given to the imperial mandate, Nectarius was initiated, and
while yet clad in his initiatory robes, was proclaimed bishop of
Constantinople by the unanimous voice of the Synod. Many have
conjectured that the emperor was led to make this election by a Divine
revelation. I shall not decide whether this conjecture be true or
false; but I feel convinced, when I reflect on the extraordinary
circumstances attending this ordination, that the events were not
brought about without the Divine strength; and that God led this mild
and virtuous and excellent man into the priesthood. Such are the
details which I have been able to ascertain concerning the ordination
of Nectarius.
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