Dialogus de vita Joannis Chrysostomi
honor, but he who is called by God. Thus 5 also Aaron, he says, did not glorify himself to become high priest. For although there were six hundred
the flight of concord, most of us who are active and eager for it have become fugitives from the country, being unable to live safely and without trou
he met with us, he did not share in words, nor in prayer, nor in communion but disembarking from the ship and running past the doors of the church, h
to share in the suffering and to do everything, so as to stop these evils. For he put a stop to none of their lawlessness here, but even after this he
and lamentations and fountains of tears in the marketplaces and the houses and in the desolate places and the whole part of the city was filled with
you are exhorted to contribute zeal from yourselves. For thus you will gratify not only us, 16 but also the community of the churches, and you will re
had fled on account of the threat contained in the imperial decree, that If anyone is not in communion with Theophilus and Arsakius and Porphyry, let
of Bishop John of the Constantinopolitans and, as it seems, it has not been accomplished. Therefore, I wrote again through the bishops and presbyters
savagery. This also the Savior God did, illuminating them with various revelations, so that also to Paul, the deacon of Saint Emilius, a most gentle
He who speaks a lie is not of God, and again from David, Because the mouth of those who speak unjust things was stopped. For he who lies truly wro
by his own choice, he was trained in the discourses for the ministry of the divine oracles. From there, being in the eighteenth year of his physical a
of those who have believed in him will be bound. {THE DEACON} But where did they recognize the presence of the Savior? {THE BISHOP} When they cried ou
of the rich, cutting away the abscesses of the soul, teaching them humility, to be of a humble mind towards other people, obeying the apostolic word,
she gives one thousand gold pieces, having made him swear by the table of the Savior that he would buy clothes and clothe the poorer women of the Alex
with his own hands on his neck, and after inflicting blows on his jaws, with clenched fingers he bloodied his nostrils, shouting 38 with a loud voice:
by an excess of conceit. But those men, driven by great necessity because they were changing places from place to place, arrive at the camp, where Bis
of the church, Dioscorus the bishop, who had grown old in the church but to the bishop John he writes: I think you are not ignorant of the decree of
of John for unlawful offenses, he took advantage of their fickleness and persuades them to submit bills of accusation against John, promising them to
Elijah was taken up did not Elisha prophesy? Paul was beheaded did he not leave behind Timothy, Titus, Apollos and ten thousand others? After these
these of the council but if as accusers, set them up for the trial, so that I may know how I should contend, whether as against adversaries or as jud
(for he is impetuous by nature, and rash and bold and exceedingly contentious—for there is nothing that appears to him by sight, <towards> which he do
brother Acacius and Antiochus whom they put forward as canons of the orthodox, because We are of the faith of those who set them forth, and our doub
reading the oracles, and others baptizing the catechumens, as was fitting because of Easter. These very things the corruptors of minds and deceivers o
a proof of the diligence of teachers, unceasingly setting right the unconquerable quality of their resolve. Theodore said: {THE DEACON} You have spoke
near him to the west), but in the western part, where the gate of the church is, the mule-team, on which he was accustomed to sit, having ordered it t
of a hierophant, a man more silent than a fish and more idle than a frog (for there are times when even action speaks, especially when the good is don
terrifying, just as bogeymen do children? Alas! Those who are clothed in worldly powers and ecclesiastical wealth with authority, with command even of
on the one hand, that he ate alone but I did not wish you, most harmonious Theodore, to ask about the things of gluttonous infants. For being a man,
he says, urging us to imitation Do not forget hospitality, he says, for by this some have entertained angels unawares. But the host must have the
fell from blessing? was it not when he served his belly, deceived by the food? When did Saul fall from the kingdom? was it not when he ate the best of
to eat bread and to put on a garment, all that you give me, I will tithe a tenth of it to you -he did not say, I will consume it at tables. That sp
to give glory to God <in> persecutions. in the refutations of error, is there any mention of a table? But again to Titus, the bishop of Crete, let us
they were seeking luxury. It was absurd to squander the food of the sick or the poor on the intemperance of the healthy. And what sort of law is this,
from seeing evil. For many of the so-called bishops, wishing to cut off the reasonable hatred directed at them on account of their own ways and their
First, that having melted down treasures he fashioned a silver object in the name of his son second, that having taken marbles from the entrance of t
love of money is a source of evils. For he who took bribes against the innocent and thought to sell the distribution of the Holy Spirit for silver,
Antoninus dies, with whom Eusebius had the lawsuit. Again a decree comes from Asia, this one from the clergy of the church of the Ephesians, and this
to buy the priesthood. They say that the ravager and falsely-named patriarch of the Jews changes the rulers of the synagogue every year, or even more
of those who deposed him and concluded the trial. <CHAPTER 19> {THE DEACON.} Forgive me, father, such things surpass drunkenness and madness and sport
ambidextrous (for even his so-called left hand was better than the right hand of others) who at first, having served in letters, was found blameles
slandering their life, waiting to have help from God. To these things Theodore, being astonished, said: {Ο ∆ΙΑΚ.} I see the facts as contrary to the n
Or is it proper at all to cast out any disciple, much less a monk? 100 {THE DEACON} Because they provoked him or spoke ill of him. {THE BISHOP} And ou
having led them back from vice to virtue, it will be clear that their persecutor deserves not to be persecuted, but to be pitied, as one who always ab
having provoked the physician and enchanter of souls and removed his interpreter from the workshop of salvation, 105 they were handed over to the phys
imitating him who, having found the one crushed by robbers, half-dead, on the way down to Jericho, placed him on his own beast of burden, having broug
did he give? And when Optimus died in Constantinople, he closed his eyes with his own hands. In addition to these things, he also refreshed in no smal
desiring to chasten the herd of men for their various desires towards the more austere part of life, he became his own judge and lawgiver, being stren
toward the north, and each man's axe in his hand and one man in the midst of them, clothed in a full-length robe, and a sapphire belt on his loins a
in many ways Who will boast that he has a pure heart? Or who will boldly claim to be pure from sin? but yet the blessed John did not know how to us
happen to us anonymously and beneficially? sifting the reasons, not obeying him who said: Eat whatever is sold in the meat-market, asking no question
two? {THE BISHOP} Especially if it is an unprofitable and charlatan crowd such as the one who said to Jesus: Teacher, I will follow you wherever you
an intemperate old man, and an old man who loves learning above an unlearned younger man, and a poor layman above an educated lover of money, and a vi
enjoying his disease nor raging with the same desires. For this is a fitting way of life for a teacher, not to linger with the crowds, but in quiet an
having subjected his body to shameful tortures by the cruelty of judges, to the point of knocking out his teeth, as the story goes, 127 they confined
knocking, they made the two-day journey into one, arriving late in the evening and departing in the dark of dawn, so that the stomach could not even k
and that these things are done and are prolonged and are strong, and that the good are afflicted and plundered, brings me to shudder at his approachin
Why shall I not be angry? looking upon me, marvel, and lay your hand upon your jaw. For if I remember, I am troubled, and pains take hold of my flesh.
when reviled, we bless when persecuted, we endure when slandered, we entreat we have become as the refuse of the world, the offscouring of all thi
sleepless or troubled in sleep, he suspects plots even from his own family, not trusting even himself, distrusting everyone as liars. Being such a per
each other, for which it was also fitting, having learned something, did you not decide to be quiet and remain still by yourselves even for the future
to his father and to his mother, I have not seen you, and his brothers he did not acknowledge he guarded your oracles, and kept your covenant. He d
foot-soldiers' machinations for the hindering of those who travel for the truth). How then do they dare to say: By God's economy John has been cast o
brother Acacius and Antiochus whom they put forward as canons of the orthodox, because "We are of the faith of those who set them forth," and our doubt is resolved." The emperor, paying attention to the simplicity of the proposal, smiled and said to Antiochus: "Nothing is more advantageous than this" -for the emperor was blameless in all that had happened, as others were altering what had been well established. Therefore, the party of Severian, becoming dizzy and turning to one another like turbulent water, both at what was wisely said and at the emperor's decision, were seized with speechlessness, their appearance changing to a more livid hue; nevertheless, constrained by the necessity of the place, they promised, even unwillingly, to subscribe. Having thus gone out, they did not fulfill their promise, as it was unwillingly made, fearing their defeat, but devised by what means John might be driven out. While these things were being transacted in various ways, nine or ten months passed by, with Bishop John gathering together with the forty-two bishops, and the people enjoying his teaching with great cheerfulness (for somehow the mind that is free from vainglory is accustomed in difficult circumstances to pour forth a more graceful 55 and powerful discourse). In the midst of these things, the Lord's fast blossomed, like spring, arriving once a year. And the party of Antiochus, entering again privately, informed the emperor that John had been defeated, so that he might order him to be driven out with Easter approaching; but the emperor, being troubled by them out of necessity, trusted them as bishops (for one who is truly a presbyter or bishop does not know falsehood—for these names belong to the heavenly portion, since nothing is more ancient than God, nor more overseeing; for God is the one who oversees or beholds all things. Therefore, the bishop or presbyter, as a partaker of the names, ought to be so in deeds as well), and says to John: "Depart from the church." But he replied: 'I have received this church from God the Savior for the care of the people's salvation, and I cannot abandon it; but if you wish this (for the city is your concern), drive me out by force, so that I may have your authority as my defense for desertion." Thus, sending from the palace with some respect, they drove him out, ordering him for the time being to remain in the episcopal residence, expecting a possible manifestation of God's wrath, so that, if anything grievous should happen to them, they might quickly bring him back into the church and appease the divinity; but if not, that they might again set upon him as Pharaoh did to Moses. In the midst of these things, the day of the great Sabbath arrived, on which the Savior, having been crucified, despoiled Hades. And again they say to him: "Depart from the church." He replied as was fitting. The emperor, therefore, 56 respecting the sanctity of the day and the turmoil of the city, sends for the party of Acacius and Antiochus, saying to them: "What should be done? See to it that you are not planning unwisely." Then the noble and exceedingly spirited men said to the emperor: "O emperor, upon our head be the deposition of John." As a last resort, the bishops who were with John, equal in number to the days of the holy fast, approached the emperor and empress in the martyria with tears, entreating that the church of Christ might be spared, especially on account of Easter and those about to be reborn who had already been instructed in the mysteries, and receive back its priest. They were not heard in this matter; so that the holy Paul from Crateia said with fearless boldness: "Eudoxia, fear God, have mercy on your children; do not insult the festival of Christ with the "shedding of blood."" But the forty bishops, having returned, kept vigil in their lodgings, some with tears, some with grief, and others with unconquered minds were seized with a deep sleep, as each was governed by his own emotion. However, the presbyters of John, who had the fear of God, gathering the people in the public bath called the Constantianae, held their vigil, some the divine things
ἀδελφὸν Ἀκάκιον καὶ Ἀντίοχον οὓς προβάλλονται ὡς ὀρθοδόξων κανόνας, ὅτι "Τῆς πίστεώς ἐσμεν τῶν ἐκθεμένων αὐτούς," καὶ λέλυται
ἡμῖν ἡ ἀμφιβολία." προσσχὼν ὁ βασιλεὺς τῷ ἁπλῷ τοῦ προβλήματος, ὑπομειδιάσας εἶπεν τῷ Ἀντιόχῳ· "Οὐδὲν τούτου λυσιτελέστερον"
-ἦν δ' ἐπὶ πάντων τῶν γεγενημένων ἀναίτιος ὁ βασιλεύς, ἄλλων μεταποιούντων τὰ καλῶς τετυπωμένα. ἰλιγγιάσαντες οὖν καὶ εἰς
ἀλλήλους ἑλιττόμενοι οἱ περὶ Σευηριανόν, καθάπερ ἄτακτον ὕδωρ, ἐπί τε τῷ φρονίμως ῥηθέντι καὶ ἐπὶ τῇ τοῦ βασιλέως κρίσει,
κατε σχέθησαν ἀφασίᾳ, ἐπὶ τὸ πελιδνότερον μεταβαλόντες αὐτῶν τὴν μορφήν· ὅμως ὑπὸ τῆς ἀνάγκης τοῦ τόπου σφιγγόμενοι, ὑπισχνοῦνται
καὶ ἄκοντες ὑπογράψαι. οὕτως ἐξελθόντες, τὴν μὲν ὑπόσχεσιν οὐ πληροῦσιν ὡς ἀβούλητον οὖσαν, δεδοικότες τὴν ἧτταν, ἐμηχανῶντο
δὲ ποίῳ τρόπῳ ἐξωσθῇ ὁ Ἰωάννης. τούτων οὕτως ἄλλων τε ἄλλως διαπραττομένων, παρίππασαν μῆνες ἐννέα ἢ δέκα, τοῦ ἐπισκόπου Ἰωάννου
συναγομένου σὺν τοῖς τεσσαράκοντα ἐπισκόποις καὶ δύο, τῶν δὲ λαῶν ἀπολαυόν των μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς εὐθυμίας τῆς αὐτοῦ διδασκαλίας
(φιλεῖ γάρ πως ὁ ἀκενόδοξος νοῦς ἐν ταῖς περιστάσεσι χαριέστερον 55 καὶ δυνατώτερον ἀποῤῥέειν λόγον). ἐν τούτοις ἐπήνθησεν
ἡ ∆εσποτικὴ νηστεία, καθάπερ ἔαρ, δι' ἐνιαυτοῦ παραγενομένη. εἰσελθόντες δὲ πάλιν κατ' ἰδίαν οἱ περὶ Ἀντίοχον ἀνεδίδαξαν τὸν
βασιλέα ὡς ἡττηθέντα τὸν Ἰωάννην, ἵνα προστάξῃ αὐτὸν ἐξωσθῆναι τοῦ Πάσχα ἐπικειμένου· ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς ἐξ ἀνάγκης ὀχλούμενος
ὑπ' αὐτῶν, ὡς ἐπισκόποις ἐπίστευσεν (ὁ γὰρ ἀληθῶς πρεσβύτερος ἢ ἐπίσκοπος ψεῦδος οὐκ οἶδεν-τὰ γὰρ ὀνόματα ταῦτα τῆς ἄνω λήξεως
ὑπάρχει, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲν πρεσβύτερον Θεοῦ, οὐδὲ ἐπισκοπώτερον· Θεὸς γὰρ ὁ ἐπισκοπῶν ἢ θεώμενός ἐστι τὰ πάντα. ὁ τοίνυν ἐπίσκοπος
ἢ πρεσβύτερος, ὡς κοινωνὸς τῶν ὀνομάτων, οὕτως καὶ τῶν πραγμάτων ὀφείλει εἶναι), καὶ δηλοῖ τῷ Ἰωάννῃ· "Ἔξελθε ἐκ τῆς ἐκκλησίας."
ὁ δὲ ἀντιδηλοῖ· " ̓Εγὼ παρὰ τοῦ Σωτῆρος Θεοῦ ὑποδέδεγμαι τὴν ἐκκλησίαν ταύτην εἰς ἐπιμέλειαν τῆς τοῦ λαοῦ σωτηρίας, καὶ οὐ
δύναμαι αὐτὴν καταλεῖψαι· εἰ δὲ τοῦτο βούλει (ἡ γὰρ πόλις σοι δια φέρει), βίᾳ με ἔξωσον, ἵνα ἔχω ἀπολογίαν τῆς λειποταξίας
τὴν σὴν αὐθεντείαν." οὕτως μετὰ αἰδοῦς τινος ἀποστείλαντες ἐκ τοῦ παλατίου, ἐξέωσαν αὐτόν, κελεύσαντες τέως διάγειν ἐν τῷ
ἐπισκοπείῳ, τὸ ἐνδεχόμενον τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ ὀργῆς προσδοκῶντες, ἵνα, ἐὰν μὲν συμβῇ τι περὶ αὐτοὺς λυπηρόν, θᾶττον αὐτὸν εἰσ αγαγόντες
εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, ἐξιλεώσωνται τὸ θεῖον· εἰ δὲ μή, ἵνα πάλιν ἐπιθῶνται ὡς Φαραὼ τῷ Μωϋσεῖ. ἐν τούτοις ἐπέστη ἡ τοῦ μεγάλου
σαββάτου ἡμέρα, ἐν ᾗ ὁ Σωτὴρ σταυρωθεὶς ἐσκύλευσεν τὸν Ἅδην. καὶ πάλιν αὐτῷ δηλοῦσιν· "Ἔξελθε τῆς ἐκκλησίας." ἀντιδηλοῖ τὰ
εἰκότα. εὐλαβούμενος τοιγαροῦν 56 ὁ βασιλεὺς τὸ εὐκαθοσίωτον τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ τὸν τῆς πόλεως κλόνον μεταστέλλεται τοὺς περὶ
Ἀκάκιον καὶ Ἀντίοχον, φήσας αὐτοῖς· "Τί δέοι γενέσθαι; βλέπετε μήποτε οὐκ ὀρθῶς βου λεύεσθε." τότε οἱ γεννάδες καὶ περισσόψυχοι
εἶπον τῷ βασιλεῖ· "Βασιλεῦ, ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν ἡμῶν ἡ Ἰωάννου καθαίρεσις." τελευταῖον βοήθημα, οἱ τῷ Ἰωάννῃ συνόντες ἐπίσκοποι,
ἰσά ριθμοι τῆς ἁγίας νηστείας, προσῆλθον τῷ βασιλεῖ καὶ τῇ βασιλίσσῃ ἐν τοῖς μαρτυρίοις μετὰ δακρύων, παρακαλοῦντες φειδοῦς
τυχεῖν τὴν τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐκκλησίαν, μάλιστα διὰ τὸ Πάσχα καὶ τοὺς μέλλοντας ἀναγεννᾶσθαι ἤδη μυσταγωγη θέντας, ἀπολαβοῦσαν τὸν
ἱερέα. οὐκ ἠκούσθησαν ἐπὶ τούτῳ· ὡς τὸν ἅγιον Παῦλον τὸν ἀπὸ Κρατείας εἰπεῖν ἀδείλῳ τῇ παῤῥησίᾳ· "Εὐδοξία, φοβήθητι τὸν Θεόν,
ἐλεήσασά σου τὰ τέκνα· μὴ ὕβριζε τὴν ἑορτὴν τοῦ Χριστοῦ τῇ τῶν "αἱμάτων ἐκχύσει."" ὑποστρέψαντες δὲ οἱ τεσσαράκοντα ἐπίσκοποι
ἠγρύπνησαν ἐν τοῖς καταγωγίοις αὐτῶν, οἱ μὲν μετὰ δακρύων, οἱ δὲ μετὰ λύπης, ἕτεροι δὲ ἀμάχῳ τῇ διανοίᾳ κατεσχέθησαν κάρῳ,
ὡς ἕκαστον ἐκυβέρνα τὸ πάθος. οἱ μέντοι πρεσβύτεροι Ἰωάννου, οἱ τὸν θεῖον ἔχοντες φόβον, ἐν τῷ δημοσίῳ λουτρῷ τῷ ἐπικαλουμένῳ
Κωνσταντιαναῖς τοὺς λαοὺς συναγαγόντες, εἴχοντο τῆς ἀγρυπνίας, οἱ μὲν τὰ θεῖα
