Part 4: Conflict with the Empress and Theophilus (cont.)
St. Epiphanius of Cyprus.
There lived in Constantinople a good, God-fearing nobleman named Theognostus. Theognostus was slandered to the Emperor by a certain envious official, a heretic, who said that the pious nobleman had cursed and reviled the Emperor, accusing Arcadius of having an insatiable lust for gold. According to the official, Theognostus had declared that the Emperor was bringing about the downfall of the government and was guilty of the unjust seizure of the property of others. For this reason, the Emperor condemned Theognostus and sent him to be imprisoned in Salonika. All his wealth and property were confiscated, save a single vineyard, which was situated outside the city. This the Emperor permitted to remain in Theognostus’ possession, for the support of his wife and children. On the way to Salonika, Theognostus fell ill from grief and died. His wife was cast into deep sorrow, both on account of her husband’s death and because of the loss of their possessions, so she went tearfully to Saint John and told him all her woes. The saint consoled her with edifying words and counselled her to lay her troubles upon God. He permitted her to receive food for herself and her children every day at the Church’s hostels for the poor and began to look for a convenient opportunity to intercede with the Emperor on behalf of the widow so that the possessions belonging to her would be returned. But the Empress’ malice prevented this, and Eudoxia brought great misfortune not only upon the widow but upon the blessed John as well.
When the time of the grape harvest drew near, all the people went out to their vineyards, and the Empress also went to see the imperial vineyards. On her way, she passed Theognostus’ vineyard and saw that it was truly beautiful. She entered it, picked some of the grapes’from the vines with her own hands, and ate them. In those days there was a law which deprived the landowner of possession should the Emperor or Empress enter his vineyard and remove grapes. After this the vineyard was to be counted as the Emperor’s, but the owner was either to be paid for it or receive another vineyard from the Emperor in exchange. In accordance with this law, the Empress ordered that Theognostus’ vineyard be numbered among those belonging to the Emperor. She did this for two reasons. On the one hand, she wished to do evil to Theognostus’ widow and her children, since she was angry with her for having gone to John and told him of her woes; and on the other, she hoped to find an excuse to drive John out of the Church. She knew that if John learned what she had done, he would not remain silent but would rise to the defense of the offended widow. From this, Eudoxia reasoned, dissension would arise, which would allow her to accomplish her purpose; and indeed, the matter ended as she hoped.
The wronged widow hastened to the blessed one, fell down before him, and weeping, explained to him how the Empress had taken the vineyard, her only means of support for her children. John immediately sent his archdeacon, Eutychius, to the Empress with a letter which he hoped would incline her to show mercy. He begged her to return the vineyard to the poor widow and reminded her of the good life of her parents and the virtues of the rulers who had preceded her, striving to awaken in her the fear of the Lord and to frighten her soul with the remembrance of the dread judgment of God, but the Empress refused to heed his admonitions, citing in her defense the harsh, ancient imperial laws. Moreover, she declared that it was she who had been offended by John, and boasted that she would no longer endure such insults. “Without knowing the laws of the Empire,” said she, “you have judged and condemned me as unrighteous. You have offended me by your insults, and I will not continue to endure your affronts very much longer.”
After reading the letter, Saint John went to the palace to see the Empress and sat down beside her. Then he began to admonish her in a gentle manner, saying to her many things he had not mentioned in his letter and beseeching her to return the vineyard to the widow. But the Empress replied, “I have already written to you, explaining the law enacted by previous emperors concerning vineyards. Let the widow either select another vineyard in place of her own or accept its price as payment.”
The saint insisted, “She does not require another vineyard nor does she seek to be paid for her own. Her request is that her vineyard be returned to her.”
“Do not attempt to oppose the laws enacted by the emperors of old, or it will not go well with you!” warned the Empress.
Said John, “Do not justify yourself by referring to ancient laws and decrees issued by pagan emperors. Nothing prevents you, as an Orthodox sovereign, from annulling an inequitable law and enacting a just one. Return the vineyard to the widow, lest I be compelled to call you a second Jezebel and you fall under a curse as she did!”
At this, the Empress became enraged, and the palace resounded with her cries. She spewed forth the venom hidden in her heart and said, “I will be revenged on you! Not only will I not return the vineyard: I shall neither pay Theognostus’ widow for it nor give her another! Furthermore, you will certainly be punished for the insults you have heaped upon me!” Then the Empress commanded that Saint John be driven from the palace by force.
After the holy Patriarch had been expelled from the palace in dishonor, he gave his archdeacon, Eutychius, the following command: “Tell the porters of the church that when the Empress comes to church, they are to shut the doors and not permit her or any of the members of her retinue to enter. Have them say that it was John who commanded that this be done!”
When the feast of the Exaltation of the Precious Cross arrived and the people had assembled in the church, the Emperor came also with his nobles and the Empress with all the members of her court. When the porters caught sight of the Empress approaching, they shut the doors of the church before her, and in accordance with the command of the Patriarch, forbade her entrance. When her servants cried out, “Open for our lady the Empress!” the porters replied, “The Patriarch has forbidden it!”
The Empress was filed with shame and anger, and exclaimed, “See, 0 people, how this stubborn man insults me! All are permitted to enter the church unhindered except for me. Shall I not take revenge on him and remove him from his throne?”
As the Empress cried out thus, one of her retainers unsheathed his sword and stretched forth his arm to strike the doors with his weapon, but immediately his arm withered and was left hanging like that of a corpse. When the Empress and her suite saw it, they grew very frightened and turned back; but the man whose arm was withered entered the church, and standing in the midst of the congregation, exclaimed, “Have mercy on me, 0 holy master, and heal my withered arm, which I dared to raise against the sacred temple! I have sinned: forgive me!”
Having learned the reason for the withering of the man’s arm, the saint ordered him to wash it in the washbasin of the a1tar and he was immediately healed. All the people who beheld this marvel gave glory to God. Moreover, these things were not unknown to the Emperor, but because he knew the evil disposition of the Empress, he kept silence. He loved Saint John greatly and gladly hearkened to his teaching. The Empress, however, devoted herself to devising a plan to be rid of John, and soon accomplished her intention.
Shortly thereafter, Saint Epiphanius, the Bishop of Cyprus, arrived in Constantinople. He came at the insistence of Theophilus and bore with him works written against Origen. After leaving the ship which had brought him, he went to the Church of the Holy Forerunner, which was about a mile from the city. There he served the Divine Liturgy and ordained a deacon although the canons forbid a bishop to ordain anyone in another hierarch’s diocese without the latter’s consent. Then he entered the city and took up his dwelling in a private home. John learned of Epiphanius’ arrival and how he had served in the Church of the Forerunner, ordaining a deacon in his diocese, but he was not offended with him because of this, for he knew that Epiphanius was a holy and guileless man. Instead, he sent messengers to him with a request that he come and stay with him in the patriarchal residence, as did other visiting bishops. Epiphanius, however, would not agree to this, nor would he meet with John, for he wished to remain in Theophilus’ favor. He replied thus to the messengers, “1 will have no communion with John unless he expels Dioscorus and his monks from the city and signs a repudiation of the works of Origen.”
Receiving this message, John sent back word to Epiphanius, saying, “It is not proper to act upon this matter hastily, before a council has been convened to consider it.”
John’s foes then urged Epiphanius to go to the Church of the Holy Apostles on a feast day, to anathematize the works of Origen before all the people, to excommunicate the monks who had been exiled from Egypt with Dioscorus, and to condemn John for having received Origenists and for sharing their opinions. The next morning, Epiphanius went to the church, hot with zeal for piety, but John learned what he intended to do and sent envoys to him with this message: “Epiphanius, you have done many things in violation of the canons. First you served the Liturgy and ordained in my diocese without my consent, then you refused to stay in the patriarchal palace. Now you have entered one of my churches and wish to pronounce excommunications before a council has been convened. Take heed, lest you cause an uproar among the people and yourself fall into misfortune.”
When Epiphanius heard this, he was troubled and left the church, having resolved to do nothing further until Theophilus arrived. The Lord did not wish that there should be discord between His favorites, so He secretly revealed to Epiphanius that John’s life shone with virtue as brightly as the sun and that he was innocent of all the slanders made against him by jealous, evil men. This revelation was confirmed for Epiphanius by the testimony of many people, who without exception testified to Chrysostom’s perfection and his unsullied confession of faith. He began to wonder, therefore, how it was that John had made so many enemies, who had brought such grievous accusations against him, and he resolved to wait patiently and see how the affair would end.
The Empress Eudoxia was told that Epiphanius would have nothing to do with John and that he was not one of John’s supporters, so she concluded that there was enmity between them. She summoned Epiphanius and said to him, “Father Epiphanius! I wish you to know that all authority over the Roman Empire rests in your hands. I promise you this day that if you will hear me and assuage the sorrow of my heart and do what I tell you, I shall give you great power over the Church.”
Epiphanius replied, “Speak, child, and according to our strength we shall attempt to arrange whatever will serve for the salvation of your soul.”
Then the Empress, supposing that she would succeed in gaining Epiphanius’ agreement to do as she desired, began to speak to him concerning John: “John has made himself unworthy to stand at the helm of the Church and has dishonored his lofty rank, for he has risen up against the Emperor and does not render us due honor. Furthermore, many have told us for a long time that he is a heretic. For this reason, it would be desirable if a council were summoned to deprive John of his rank and to appoint in his place another, who could set in order the affairs of the Church. Thus our Empire would remain in peace from this time forth.”
As the Empress spoke, her entire body trembled with a mighty rage. After a moment, she continued: “However, there is no need to trouble a multitude of holy fathers by summoning them here to a council. It would be better if Your Holiness would drive John from the Church. Then you, Father, could consecrate in his place whomever God indicates to you. I, for my part, shall ensure that all will obey you.”
“Child,” Epiphanius said to her, “hearken unto your father and do not become angry. If John is a heretic and does not repent of his heresy, then he is unworthy of the rank of patriarch, and we shall do as you say. But if you desire that he be driven out merely because he has offended you, then know that Epiphanius will never agree to this. It does not behoove a ruler to remember wrongs, for he should be gentle, meek, and forgiving of those who insult him. Remember that there is a King in the heavens set over you, and if you hope to obtain from Him forgiveness of your transgressions, you must do unto others as you would have Him do unto you. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”
Then the Empress said to Epiphanius, “Father, if you will not consent to drive out John, I shall reopen the pagan temples and cause many to forsake God and to worship idols. Thus the last error shall be worse than the first.”
As Eudoxia said this, her voice was filled with wrath and her eyes shed tears. Epiphanius marvelled at her mindless rage and declared, “I will not give my support to your condemnation of this man.” And with this, he departed from the palace.
Rumor spread throughout the city that the Empress had stirred up the great Epiphanius against John and that when Epiphanius had visited the palace, he had taken counsel with the Empress concerning John’s deposition. John also heard report of this, and being a high-spirited man, always ready to make reply, he delivered a homily in church in which he made mention of the evil worked by various women in the sacred Scriptures. Many of the people who heard John preach concluded that he spoke indirectly of the Empress, and his enemies among them wrote down what he said. They took their accounts to the Empress, who believed that the things John had said referred to her alone. She went to the Emperor, and falling down before him in tears, accused John of reviling her in the church before all the people. She lamented, “An offense against me is an offense against you; when John reviles me, it is you whom he reviles. My disgrace is your disgrace!”
Eudoxia begged the Emperor to summon a council to condemn John and to cast him out of the Church, and she wrote Theophilus of Alexandria, entreating him to come to Constantinople. The Empress assured him that he had nothing to fear. “1 shall speak to the Emperor on your behalf,” said she, “and stop the mouths of your adversaries. Only come to us without delay, and assemble many bishops so that my foe John may be driven out.”
Reassured by the Empress’ letter, Theophilus sailed for Constantinople with ships laden with perfumes from India, rare produce, and costly Egyptian fabrics inwoven with gold, hoping to seduce many to his side with these treasures.
At that time, the blessed John wrote to Saint Epiphanius thus: “Brother Epiphanius, I have heard that you have taken part in plans devised to drive me into exile; therefore, know that you shall not succeed in returning to your see!”
Epiphanius answered John with a letter, saying, “Passion-bearer John! Be of good cheer amid your sufferings, and be certain that you shall not reach the place to which they will exile you!”
Both prophecies were fulfilled. Epiphanius remained only for a short time in Constantinople. Seeing that the righteous John was to be condemned unjustly, he secretly took ship with his retinue and sailed for home since he did not wish to take part in a council of evildoers. While at sea, he reposed in the Lord, in accordance with John’s prophecy. As for John, during his second exile, he failed to reach the place to which he had been banished, and also reposed in the Lord, as Epiphanius had foretold. More will be said of this later, but at present let us return to the narrative which we have interrupted.
Trusting in the Empress’ assistance (of which she had assured him in her letter), Patriarch Theophilus hastened to Constantinople without fear. He was accompanied by many bishops, whom he had craftily won over to his side. The Emperor did not wish even to speak with Theophilus until the Roman bishops sent by Pope Innocent arrived. He did not know, however, that the Romans were awaiting from him a second letter, telling them that the Eastern bishops had reached Constantinople. Because no such letter was sent, the Western bishops never departed even though they had prepared for the journey. Meanwhile, unbeknown to the Emperor, the Empress summoned Theophilus and all the bishops who had come with him, told them of her intentions against John, and asked them for their assistance in deposing the saint. When the Empress learned that they were of like mind with her, she was very glad and loaded them with gifts, after which she permitted them to depart from the palace.
Following this, the Empress called for all the monks, presbyters, and bishops who wished to make complaint against Theophilus; for six bishops and twenty presbyters and deacons had come from Egypt with numerous accusations, seeking judgment against him. When the Empress had assembled these men, she entreated them to lay aside their allegations, to forgive the injury done them, and not to bring charges against Theophilus. Some heeded the Empress, and placing all their sorrow upon the Lord, agreed to keep silence, but others refused. Those who submitted the Empress rewarded with gifts, but those who would not yield she exiled to Salonika. A group of the monks seeking judgment against Theophilus withdrew their accusations when he lifted his excommunication of them, but they would not accept the Empress’ gifts. They understood very well that the Empress would prevent any condemnation of Theophilus and that a council would be assembled not to judge Theophilus but to depose John. These monks were permitted to return without hindrance to their cells in the Egyptian desert. In this way, that fox Theophilus succeeded, immediately upon his arrival in the city, in quieting the monks he had exiled, so he could now devote himself entirely to dealing with John. Among the monks who withdrew their accusations were the ever-memorable Isidore and the venerable Hierax. Dioscorus reposed while still in Constantinople and was buried with great honor. Ammon also died there, and as he was about to expire he prophesied that the schismatics who had risen against Saint John Chrysostom would die an evil death. Later we shall tell how this prophecy was fulfilled.
At that time, John was preaching the Word of God, according to his custom, and expounding a passage from the Third Book of Kings: Gather to me the prophets of shame, which eat at Jezebel’s table, that I may say to them, How long halt ye on both knees? If the Lord be God, follow Him, but if Jezebel’s table be God, then eating, ye shall vomit up what ye have consumed. John’s enemies heard this and informed Theophilus and the bishops with him of it. They wrote down John’s words and added their own to them, thus imparting to them an evil meaning, as though John were openly referring to the Empress as Jezebel and to Theophilus and his bishops as the priests of shame. They gave their false report to the Emperor and the Empress, and immediately the Empress, wailing, began to entreat the Emperor to put John on trial. The Emperor felt great pity for her and turned upon John all the anger he had previously directed against Theophilus, ordering Theophilus to convene a council against the saint. Theophilus and his entire party were glad that the Emperor was furious with John. They found two deacons whom John had excommunicated from the Church, one for having committed a murder, the other for fornication. Theophilus promised to raise them both to the rank of bishop if they would do as he wished and bear false witness against the saint. Because they desired the episcopacy, they agreed. Theophilus also wrote many false accusations against John with his own hand and gave them to the deacons so that they might present them as their own to the council.
The place appointed for the council was outside the city, in Chalcedon, where stood an imperial palace and a church dedicated to the great and holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Theophilus assembled his bishops in Chalcedon, but John remained at the patriarchal residence with his bishops, who were forty in number. John was astonished how Theophilus, who had been summoned to trial under such numerous charges, had come with so many bishops and won over the Emperor and others so quickly. Not only had Theophilus not been forced to answer to the accusations made against him; he had now himself become the judge of another. Therefore John said to his bishops: “Pray to God for me, brethren, and if you love Christ, do not abandon your churches. My time of tribulation has arrived, and after suffering many woes, I shall depart from this life. I see that Satan, unable to endure my teaching, has taken counsel against me. Do not grieve for me: I ask only that you remember me in your prayers.”
When the bishops heard this, they were filled with foreboding and moved to tears. The saint asked that they be silent and cease to weep for him, and attempted to console them. As he was speaking with his bishops, envoys arrived from Theophilus’ council, summoning John to answer the charges made against him. Through the envoys the bishops with John made this reply to Theophilus: “Do not call for John as Cain called for Abel in the field. You must come before us, that we may hear your defense, for we are in possession of more than seventy depositions describing the evil you have done. Come first before us, for the grace of God has brought us together, not for the destruction of the Church but so that she might have peace, and we are greater in number than the members of your council.”
To this Saint John added, “1 cannot go to those who are my open enemies,” and he did not go.
Summoned a second and third time to the lawless tribunal, John still refused to go, saying, “Before whom is it that I am summoned: my adversaries or impartial judges? I am ready to stand and be tried before the whole world; only let my opponents be tried together with me, and let them not be my judges. Let bishops from throughout the Empire be assembled, and I will submit to their judgment, but to this trial I will not go.”
However, John did send three bishops and two priests to Theophilus to speak for him. The members of Theophilus’ council refused to permit John’s envoys to say a single word. They seized and flogged them, clapping one of them in the fetters awaiting the saint. Then they began to read false accusations prepared for the condemnation of the innocent and pure-hearted John, and bringing forward lying witnesses, commenced their trial.
The holy John, who was still in the patriarchal church with his bishops, said, “Great are the waves, the tumult rages, but we do not fear to drown; for it is upon a rock that we stand. Let the sea rise up and be troubled; it cannot shatter a rock. Let the waves lift themselves up; they are unable to sink the ship of Jesus. Tell me: what have we to fear? Death? But for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. I ask you: is it exile that we fear? But the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. Do we tremble at the thought that we may be deprived of our possessions? But we brought nothing into this world, and it is clear that we can take nothing out of it. I fear nothing in this world and regard the world’s good things as of no account. Neither am I afraid of poverty, nor do I tremble before death. My prayer is that all of you excel in what is good.”
Presently, Theophilus and his bishops reached their verdict. They condemned Saint John to be deposed, depriving him of his throne without either having seen his face or heard his voice. In a single day they accomplished what they had long plotted to do. Then they sent to the Emperor a letter which stated: “Since John has been accused of numerous crimes (to which he clearly demonstrates his guilt, by refusing to appear at his own trial), we have deposed him, in accordance with the canons. Now it remains only for Your Majesty to drive him from his throne.”
The Emperor Arcadius neither troubled to read the accusations against John nor to hear the saint’s reply. Without hesitation he approved the findings of the unjust council and commanded that John be expelled from the Church immediately. To accomplish this, he sent to the Patriarch one of his nobles, who was accompanied by soldiers armed as if for battle. When the people heard of these things, they became enraged, and a great multitude assembled and refused to allow John to be taken. Some of them cried out against the Emperor and the Empress; others reviled Theophilus and his party, saying that John had been condemned unjustly. They kept guard over the saint and for three days would not permit him to be removed. But the saint feared lest another charge be laid against him, that he refused to submit to the Emperor, so as darkness fell, he hid from the people and secretly departed from the church, surrendering himself to the soldiers who had been sent to seize him. The soldiers led him away to the harbor and sailed with him to Praenetum, which lies opposite Nicomedia.