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

sleepless or troubled in sleep, he suspects plots even from his own family, not trusting even himself, distrusting everyone as liars. Being such a person himself, he is as timid as a hare, as bold as a swine, as false as a chameleon, as deceitful as a partridge, as merciless as a wolf, as savage as a mouse; an enemy to himself, unceasingly envious, of necessity punishing himself without realizing it; for while plotting evil against another, he is the first to suffer evil from himself. Has death pricked him? He gives everything, in order to remain a little longer, loving life; the time given to him he has trafficked away for nothing; the denarius, besides not having doubled it, he has not even kept safe. He trembles continuously like a leaf, not wanting to grow old; he foolishly endures the things of old men, he fears death as a god; for him, God is the visible world. And what then? He turns pale, he shudders, he is in agony; anticipating the judgment of God, he punishes himself, as his conscience mercilessly tortures him and reminds him of each of his transgressions, suffering more terrible things 140 than those who are flogged on their own bodies with stripes. He subserviently insinuates himself into the powers that be, he shamefully flatters the world, instead of one lord he has ten thousand masters, so that he may not serve the truth. He practices being fearsome, while fearing everyone. Let these things be said to you by us according to our ability. And if anyone, speaking more truly and elegantly, should correct our nothingness, we would gladly welcome this person as a corrector and a lover of the brethren and we would thank the Savior for all things. But you, too, in return, give me knowledge of the purpose of the western synod and set your seal upon my words, if they have pleased you, as having been spoken for edification. And after the narrator had ceased, Theodore said these things: {<THE DEACON.>} To you who has narrated these things, "may the Lord grant you to find mercy on that day," both because you have withdrawn from the communion of such men and because you have clearly narrated it to us; and may the Lord remember every sacrifice of John, because even unto death he did not betray his boldness of speech. And the purpose of the Roman church is this, not to be in communion with the eastern bishops until the end, especially with Theophilus, until the Lord grants an occasion for an ecumenical synod, to heal the corrupted members of those who have done these things. For even if the blessed John has fallen asleep, yet the truth is awake, for whose sake the inquiry will be. And I would gladly have met face to face with those who perpetrated these things in the church, saying: "Where is the priesthood? Where is the holiness? Where is the gentleness and commonality of nature? Where are the commandments of the Savior, that, "If you bring your gift, and remember that your brother has something against you, go, first be reconciled to your brother, and then offer your gift"; where is that, "If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn 141 to him the other also"? Where is the study of the Scriptures, that, "Behold, what is good or what is pleasant, but for brothers to dwell together in unity"? Where is that, "Let brothers be useful in necessities"? Why then, have you reversed and made it so: "A brother helped by a brother is like a strong city," "a brother" slandered or plundered "by a brother, is like a" wretched and unwalled "city." Why then did you attempt to pursue the matter as something immiscible, you thrice, not once, wretched men? And for what reason did you not shrink from murderous thoughts against him, as against an enemy? And how did it come to you to be so savage against one another? And from where did you exhibit so great a change, as to change from the tame to the untamable and savage? I marvel, and marveling at the perversion I am astounded, seeing the whole thing greatly disturbed to this end. To what end, being so elated with much boldness, have you insulted "the nurse and nurturer of children," the church of God, by shearing her, as though a fertile womb? —so that in you the prophetic word might be fulfilled: "Because they pursued their brother with the sword, and have corrupted the womb upon the earth." In which womb the divine and saving Word, being present, sowed and planted both you and him for innumerable good and profitable things. For instead of you helping one another

ἀΰπνους ἢ κακοΰπνους, ὑπονοεῖ ἐπιβουλὰς καὶ τῶν γνησίων, οὐ θαῤῥῶν οὐδὲ ἑαυτῷ, ἀπιστῶν τοῖς πᾶσιν ὡς ψεύσταις. τοιοῦτος αὐτὸς ὑπάρχων, δειλός ἐστιν ὡς λαγωός, θρασὺς ὡς χοῖρος, ψεύστης ὡς χαμαιλέων, ἀπατεὼν ὡς πέρδιξ, ἀνελεήμων ὡς λύκος, ἀνήμερος ὡς μῦς· ἐχθρὸς ἑαυτοῦ, ἀδιαλείπτως βάσκανος, ἐξ ἀνάγκης ἑαυτὸν τιμωρούμενος οὐκ αἰσθάνεται· κατ' ἄλλου γὰρ κακῶς λογιζόμενος, φθάνει πάσχων ὑφ' ἑαυτοῦ κακῶς. θάνατος ἔνυξε; πάντα δίδωσιν, ἵνα μικρὸν παραμείνῃ, φιλοζωῶν· τὸν δεδομένον αὐτῷ χρόνον ἐκαπή λευσεν εἰκῆ· τὸ δηνάριον πρὸς οἷς οὐκ ἐδίπλωσεν, οὐδὲ σῶον ἐφύλαξεν. τρέμει διηνεκῶς ὡς φύλλον, γηρᾶν οὐ βουλόμενος· ληροφρονῶν τὰ γερόντων ὑφίσταται, φοβεῖται τὸν θάνατον ὡς θεόν· Θεὸς παρ' αὐτῷ ὁ φαινόμενος κόσμος. καὶ τί γάρ; ὠχριᾷ, φρικιᾷ, ἀγωνιᾷ· προλαμβάνων τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ κρίσιν, ἑαυτὸν τιμωρεῖται, τοῦ συνειδότος ἀνηλεῶς βασανίζοντος καὶ καθ' ἓν τῶν πλημμελημάτων ὑπομιμνήσκοντος, δεινότερα πάσχων 140 ἤπερ οἱ μαστιγούμενοι τὰ ἑαυτῶν σώματα ταῖς πληγαῖς. ὑποδύνει τὰς κατὰ καιρὸν δυναστείας δουλοπρεπῶς, κολακεύει τὸν κόσμον αἰσχρῶς, ἀντὶ ἑνὸς κυρίου μυρίους ἔχει δεσπότας, ἵνα μὴ τῇ ἀληθείᾳ δουλεύσῃ. ἐπίφοβος ἀσκεῖ εἶναι, φοβούμενος τοὺς πάντας. ταῦτα μέν σοι παρ' ἡμῶν κατὰ δύναμιν εἰρήσθω. καὶ εἴ τις ἀληθέστερον καὶ γλαφυρώτερον λέγων τὴν οὐθένειαν ἡμῶν διορθώσηται, καὶ τοῦτον ἡδέως ἀποδεξώμεθα ὡς διορθωτὴν καὶ φιλάδελφον καὶ τῷ Σωτῆρι εὐχαριστήσωμεν διὰ πάντα. πλὴν καὶ αὐτὸς ἀντίδος μοι τοῦ σκοποῦ τὴν γνῶσιν τῆς δυτικῆς συνόδου καὶ ἐπισφράγισαί μου τοὺς λόγους, εἴ γέ σοι συνήρεσαν, ὡς ἐπωφελῶς εἰρημένοι. Μετὰ δὲ τὸ παύσασθαι τὸν διηγησάμενον εἶπεν ὁ Θεόδωρος ταῦτα· {<Ο ∆ΙΑΚ.>} Σοὶ μὲν τῷ διηγησαμένῳ ταῦτα "δῴη Κύριος ἔλεος εὑρεῖν ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ," καὶ ὅτι τῶν τοιούτων ἀπέστης τῆς κοινωνίας καὶ ὅτι ἡμῖν σαφῶς διηγήσω· μνησθείη δὲ Κύριος πάσης θυσίας τῆς Ἰωάννου, ὅτι ἕως θανάτου οὐ προέδωκεν τὴν παῤῥησίαν. ὁ δὲ σκοπὸς τῆς ἐκκλησίας Ῥωμαίων οὕτως ἐστίν, ἕως τέλους μὴ κοινωνῆσαι τοῖς ἀνατολικοῖς ἐπισκόποις, μάλιστα Θεοφίλῳ, ἕως ἂν δῷ Κύριος χώραν οἰκουμενικῆς συνόδου, ἰατρευ ούσης τὰ σεσηπότα μέλη τῶν ταῦτα ἐργασαμένων. εἰ γὰρ καὶ κεκοίμηται ὁ μακάριος Ἰωάννης, ἀλλ' ἐγρήγορεν ἡ ἀλήθεια, δι' ἣν ἡ ζήτησις ἔσται. τοῖς δὲ ταῦτα διαπραξαμένοις ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἡδέως ἂν συνέτυχον κατὰ πρόσωπον, εἰπών· "Ποῦ ἡ ἱερωσύνη; ποῦ ἡ ὁσιότης; ποῦ τὸ ἥμερον καὶ κοινὸν τῆς φύσεως; ποῦ αἱ ἐντολαὶ τοῦ Σωτῆρος, τό, "Ἐὰν προσφέρῃς τὸ δῶρόν σου, καὶ μνησθῇς ὅτι ἔχει τι κατὰ σοῦ ὁ ἀδελφός σου, ἄπελθε, πρῶτον διαλλάγηθι τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου, καὶ οὕτω πρόσφερε τὸ δῶρόν σου"· ποῦ τό, "Ἐάν τίς σε ῥαπίσῃ ἐπὶ τὴν δεξιὰν σιαγόνα, στρέψον 141 αὐτῷ καὶ τὴν ἄλλην"; ποῦ ἡ τῶν Γραφῶν μελέτη, τό, "Ἰδοὺ τί καλὸν ἢ τί τερπνόν, ἀλλ' ἢ τὸ κατοικεῖν ἀδελφοὺς ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό"; ποῦ τό, "Ἀδελφοὶ ἐν ἀνάγκαις χρήσιμοι ἔστωσαν"; διὰ τί δέ, "Ἀδελφὸς ὑπὸ ἀδελφοῦ βοηθούμενος, ὡς πόλις ὀχυρά," ἀντιστρέ ψαντες πεποιήκατε; "ἀδελφὸς ὑπὸ ἀδελφοῦ" συκοφαντούμενος ἢ λαφυραγωγούμενος, "ὡς πόλις" οἰκτρὰ καὶ ἀτείχιστος. τί ποτε οὖν ὡς ἄμικτον τὸ χρῆμα διώκειν ἐπεχειρήσατε, τρὶς καὶ οὐχ ἅπαξ ἄθλιοι; τίνι δὲ λόγῳ, ὡς πρὸς ἐχθρόν, φονᾶν κατ' αὐτοῦ οὐχ ὑπεστείλασθε; πῶς δὲ καὶ ἐπῆλθεν ὑμῖν οὕτως κατ' ἀλλήλων ἐξαγριαίνεσθαι; πόθεν δὲ καὶ τὴν τηλικαύτην μεταβολὴν ἐνεδεί ξασθε, ὡς ἀπὸ τοῦ τιθασσοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ ἀτίθασσον καὶ ἀνήμερον μεταβαλεῖν; θαυμάζω, καὶ τῆς διαστροφῆς θαυμάζων ἐκπέ πληγμαι, ὁρῶν λίαν διακεκινημένον τὸ πᾶν ἐπὶ τοῦτο. ἵνα τί δὲ οὕτω πολλῷ τῷ θράσει ἐπαιρόμενοι "τὴν τιθηνοκόμον καὶ κουροτρόφον" τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐκκλησίαν, οἷα πολύγονον μήτραν ὑβρί σατε διακείραντες; -ὡς ἐφ' ὑμῖν πληροῦσθαι τὸ προφητικόν· "Ἀνθ' ὧν ἐδίωξαν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐλυμήναντο μήτραν ἐπὶ γῆς." ᾗ μήτρᾳ συνὼν ὁ θεῖος καὶ σωτήριος λόγος ὑμᾶς τε κἀκεῖνον ἔσπειρέν τε καὶ ἐφύτευσεν ἐπὶ ἀμυθήτοις χρηστοῖς καὶ ὠφελίμοις πράγμασιν. ἀντὶ γὰρ τοῦ συναντι λαμβάνεσθαι ὑμᾶς