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As long as John was in conflict with the clergy only, machinations
against him were utterly powerless; but when he proceeded to rebuke
many of those in public office also with immoderate vehemence, the tide
of unpopularity began to set against him with far greater impetus.
Hence many stories were told to his disparagement. And most of these
found attentive and believing listeners. This growing prejudice was
not a little increased by an oration which he pronounced at that time
against Eutropius. For Eutropius was the chief eunuch of the
imperial bed-chamber, and the first of all eunuchs that was admitted
to the dignity of consul. He, desiring to inflict vengeance on
certain persons who had taken refuge in the churches, induced the
emperors to make a law excluding delinquents from the privilege of
sanctuary, and authorizing the seizure of those who had sought the
shelter of the sacred edifices. But its author was punished for this
almost immediately; for scarcely had the law been promulgated, before
Eutropius himself, having incurred the displeasure of the emperor,
fled for protection to the church. The bishop therefore, while
Eutropius trembling with fear lay under the table of the altar,
mounting the pulpit from which he was accustomed to address the people
in order to be the more distinctly heard, uttered an invective against
him: wherefore he seemed to create greater displeasure in some, as he
not only denied compassion to the unfortunate, but added insult to
cruelty. By the emperor's order however, for certain offences
committed by him, Eutropius, though bearing the consulate, was
decapitated, and his name effaced from the list of consuls, that of
Theodore his colleague being alone suffered to remain as in office for
that year. It is said that John afterwards used the same license
towards Gainas also, who was then commander-in-chief of the army;
treating him with characteristic rudeness, because he had presumed to
request the emperor to assign the Arians, with whom he agreed in
sentiment, one of the churches within the city. Many others also of
the higher orders, for a variety of causes, he censured with the same
unceremonious freedom, so that by these means he created many powerful
adversaries. Wherefore Theophilus bishop of Alexandria, immediately
after his ordination, was plotting his overthrow; and concerted
measures for this purpose in secret, both with the friends who were
around him, and by letter with such as were at a distance. For it was
not so much the boldness with which John lashed whatever was obnoxious
to him, that affected Theophilus, as his own failure to place his
favorite presbyter Isidore in the episcopal chair of Constantinople.
In such a state were the affairs of John the bishop at that time;
mischief thus threatened him at the very commencement of his
episcopate. But we shall enter into these things more at large as we
proceed.
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