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
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 the baptistery he added them to his own bath; then, he set up church columns, which had been lying inside for many years, in his own triclinium; fourth, that his servant has committed a murder, and he keeps him in his service unaccused; fifth, that lands left to the church by Basilina, the mother of the emperor Ju 84 lian, he sold and appropriated; sixth, that having put away his own wife he again came together with her and fathered children by her; seventh, that he has it as a law and a principle to sell the ordinations of bishops according to the proportion of their revenues. "And present are those who gave and were ordained, and the one who took; and concerning these things I have the proofs." <CHAPTER Ι∆ʹ> {THE DEACON} I beseech you, father, shorten this narrative; for those present are being harmed, when bishops are narrating these things, let alone even doing them. {THE BISHOP} Wretched me, preserved for these days, in which the priesthood is sold for money, if indeed it is priesthood. "But I have become a fool" in narrating of those who slander John who have brought us to these things. Nevertheless bear with me patiently, so that also from these things you may marvel at the forbearance of John, who for the time being quieted his zeal, and said to Eusebius: "Brother Eusebius, since often accusations made in grief do not have easy proofs, be persuaded to cease from accusing our brother Antoninus in writing, while we are correcting the causes of the grief." At these words he became inflamed and used harsh words, completely convulsed against Antoninus, persisting in the accusation. John urges Paul of Heraclea (for he seemed to be zealous for Antoninus), so that he might drive them into friendship. And rising up he entered into the church with the bishops (for it was the time of the liturgy), and having given to the people the customary greeting of peace, he sat down with the other bishops. But having entered secretly, the accuser Eusebius 85 before all the people and the bishops presents another document containing the same things, adjuring John with terrible oaths, weaving into them also "the salvation of the emperors," with great agitation; so that the people, being terrified at the audacity, thought that he was urging John to ask the emperor for a death sentence. But John, seeing the man's insistence, mindful of composure for the people, received the document and after the readings of the divine oracles, having called upon Pansophius of Pisidia to bring forward the gifts, he himself went out with the other bishops; for he declined to officiate while troubled, according to the Gospel, the verse, "When you bring your gift," and the rest. And having deliberated after the dismissal of the people, sitting in the baptistery with the other bishops, he summoned the accuser, saying to him in front of all: "And again I say the same things to you, that many people from grief or anger both say and write many things, being weak concerning the proofs. If, therefore, you know clearly about the things of which you wish to accuse (for neither do we push away one who is able nor do we drag one who is not able), before the document is read, choose what is advantageous; for after it is read and comes to the hearing of all, with the minutes being recorded, it will no longer be possible for you, being a bishop, to seek an abolition." At these words again he persisted in his insistence. Whereupon they order the document to be read; the aforementioned charges were read. The elder bishops say to John, having heard the force of the document: "Although even a single one of the charges is impious and everywhere forbidden by the sacred laws, yet, lest we should seem to occupy ourselves entirely with the matters submitted, let the examination begin from the most terrible. For if that one should be found true, 86 there is no dispute concerning the remaining charges, since the root of that charge bears fruit of every kind of evil, according to him who said: "The root of all
ἓν μέν, ὅτι κειμήλια χωνεύσας ἀργύριον εἰς ὄνομα τοῦ υἱοῦ κατεσκεύασεν· δεύτερον δέ, ὅτι μάρμαρα τῆς εἰσόδου τοῦ βαπτιστῆρος
λαβὼν ἐν τῷ βαλανείῳ τῷ ἰδίῳ προσέθηκεν· ἔπειτα κίονας ἐκκλησιαστικοὺς ἀπὸ πλειόνων ἐτῶν κειμένους ἔνδον εἰς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ τρίκλινον
ἔστησεν· τέταρτον, ὅτι ὁ παῖς αὐτοῦ φόνον πεποίηκεν, καὶ ἔχει αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ὑπηρεσίᾳ ἀνέγ κλητον· πέμπτον, ὅτι χωρία ὑπὸ Βασιλίνης,
τῆς μητρὸς Ἰου 84 λιανοῦ τοῦ βασιλέως, καταλειφθέντα τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ, πωλήσας ἐσφετερίσατο· ἕκτον, ὅτι ἀποταξάμενος τῆς οἰκείας
γαμετῆς πάλιν αὐτῇ συνῆλθεν καὶ ἐπαιδοποίησεν ἐξ αὐτῆς· ἕβδομον, ὅτι ὡς νόμον καὶ δόγμα ἔχει πωλεῖν τὰς τῶν ἐπισκόπων χειρο
τονίας κατὰ τὴν τῶν προσόδων ἀναλογίαν. "Καὶ πάρεισιν οἱ δόντες καὶ χειροτονηθέντες, καὶ ὁ λαβών· καὶ ἐπὶ τούτοις ἔχω τὰς
ἀποδείξεις." <ΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΟΝ Ι∆ʹ> {Ο ∆ΙΑΚ.} Παρακαλῶ, πάτερ, σύστειλον τὸ διήγημα τοῦτο· βλάπτονται γὰρ οἱ παρόντες, ἐπισκόπων
ταῦτα διηγουμένων, μή τί γε καὶ πραττόντων. {Ο ΕΠΙΣΚ.} Οἴμοι τάλας ἐγὼ τηρηθεὶς ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις, ἐν αἷς ἀργυρίῳ ἱερωσύνη
πιπράσκεται, εἴ γε καὶ ἱερωσύνη. "γέγονα δὲ καὶ ἄφρων" διηγούμενος τῶν Ἰωάννην συκοφαν τούντων εἰς ταῦτα ἡμᾶς περιστησάντων.
πλὴν μακροθύμως ἀνάσχου μου, ἵνα καὶ ἐκ τούτων θαυμάσῃς τὴν Ἰωάννου ἐπιεί κειαν, κοιμήσαντος τέως τὸν ζῆλον, εἰπόντος δὲ τῷ
Εὐσεβίῳ· " ̓Αδελφὲ Εὐσέβιε, ἐπειδὴ πολλάκις αἱ κατὰ λύπην κατηγορίαι οὐκ εὐχερεῖς ἔχουσι τὰς ἀποδείξεις, παρακέκλησο παύσασθαι
τοῦ ἐγγράφως κατειπεῖν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ Ἀντωνίνου, ἡμῶν τὰ αἴτια τῆς λύπης διορθουμένων." πρὸς τούτοις διαθερμανθεὶς τραχέσιν ἐκέχρητο
λόγοις, σφαδάζων ὅλος κατὰ τοῦ Ἀντωνίνου, ἐπιμένων τῇ κατηγορίᾳ. παρακαλεῖ ὁ Ἰωάννης Παῦλον τὸν Ἡρακλείας (ἐδόκει γὰρ σπουδάζειν
τῷ Ἀντωνίνῳ), ἵν' εἰς φιλίαν αὐτοὺς συνελάσῃ. καὶ ἀναστὰς εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν σὺν τοῖς ἐπισκόποις (ἦν γὰρ καιρὸς τῆς
ἱερατείας), δοὺς δὲ τῷ λαῷ τὴν συνήθη τῆς εἰρήνης προσηγορίαν, ἐκάθισεν σὺν τοῖς λοιποῖς ἐπισκόποις. ἐπεισελθὼν δὲ λεληθότως
ὁ κατήγορος Εὐσέβιος 85 ἐπὶ παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ τῶν ἐπισκόπων ἐπιδίδωσιν ἕτερον λίβελλον τὰ αὐτὰ περιέχοντα, ὁρκίζων τὸν Ἰωάννην
ὅρκους φρικτούς, συμπλέξας αὐτοῖς καὶ "τὴν σωτηρίαν τῶν βασιλέων," μετὰ πολλῆς ταραχῆς· ὡς νομίσαι τοὺς λαοὺς διαπτοηθέντας
ἐπὶ τῷ ἰταμῷ, ὅτι θανάτου συγχώρησιν παρακαλεῖ αἰτῆσαι τὸν βασιλέα τὸν Ἰωάννην. ὁ δὲ Ἰωάννης θεασάμενος τὴν ἔνστασιν τοῦ ἀνδρός,
τὸ ἀτάραχον μνώμενος τῷ λαῷ, ἐδέξατο τὸ βιβλίον καὶ μετὰ τὰ ἀναγνώσματα τῶν θείων λογίων παρα καλέσας Πανσόφιον τὸν Πισιδίας
προσαγαγεῖν τὰ δῶρα, αὐτὸς συνεξῆλθεν τοῖς λοιποῖς ἐπισκόποις· παρῃτεῖτο γὰρ ἐπιθόλως ἱερατεύειν, κατὰ τὸ Εὐαγγέλιον, τό,
"Ὅταν προσφέρῃς τὸ δῶρόν σου," καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς. καὶ διασκεψάμενος μετὰ τὴν λαοῦ ἀπόλυσιν, καθεσθεὶς ἐν τῷ φωτιστηρίῳ σὺν τοῖς
λοιποῖς ἐπι σκόποις, τὸν κατήγορον προσκαλεῖται, φήσας αὐτῷ ἐπὶ πάντων· "Καὶ πάλιν σοι τὰ αὐτὰ λέγω, ὅτι πολλοὶ ἀπὸ λύπης
ἢ ὀργῆς πολλὰ καὶ λέγουσι καὶ γράφουσιν, ἀτονοῦντες περὶ τὰς ἀπο δείξεις. εἰ τοίνυν σαφῶς ἐπίστασαι, περὶ ὧν βούλει κατηγορεῖν
(οὔτε γὰρ δυνάμενον ἀπωθούμεθα οὔτε μὴ δυνάμενον ἕλκομεν), πρὶν ἀναγνωσθῆναι τὸν λίβελλον, ἔκλεξαι τὸ συμφέρον· μετὰ γὰρ τὸ
ἀναγνωσθῆναι καὶ εἰς ἀκοὰς πάντων ἐλθεῖν, πραττο μένων ὑπομνημάτων, οὐκέτι σοι ἔξεστιν, ἐπισκόπῳ ὄντι, ζητεῖν ἀβολιτίωνα."
ἐπὶ τούτοις πάλιν ἐνέμεινεν τῇ ἐνστάσει. πρὸς οἷς κελεύουσιν ἀναγνωσθῆναι τὸ βιβλίον· ἀνεγνώσθη τὰ προει ρημένα κεφάλαια.
λέγουσιν οἱ γέροντες τῶν ἐπισκόπων τῷ Ἰωάννῃ, ἀκούσαντες τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ βιβλίου· "Εἰ καὶ τὰ μάλιστα ἓν τοῦ ἑνὸς κεφαλαίου
δυσσεβές ἐστι καὶ ἀπηγορευ μένον πανταχόθεν τοῖς ἱεροῖς νόμοις, ἵνα δὲ μὴ δόξωμεν ἐν τοῖς ὑποβεβληκόσι τὴν ἅπασαν σχολὴν ποιεῖσθαι,
ἀπὸ τοῦ φρικω δεστέρου ἡ ἐξέτασις γένηται. εἰ γὰρ ἐκεῖνο ἀληθὲς εὑρεθείη, 86 οὐκ ἔστιν ἀντίῤῥησις περὶ τῶν λοιπῶν κεφαλαίων,
τῆς ῥίζης ἐκείνου τοῦ κεφαλαίου πᾶν εἶδος κακίας καρποφορούσης, κατὰ τὸν εἰπόντα· "Ῥίζα πάντων
