A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

540 A Source Book for Ancient Church Historycitation four times; and as he persisted in his refusal to answer,always giving the same reply, they condemned him, and deposedhim without giving any other cause for his deposition than that herefused to obey when summoned. This, being announced towardevening, incited the people to a very great sedition, insomuchthat they kept watch all night and would by no means suffer himto be removed from the church, but cried out that the chargesagainst him ought to be determined by a larger assembly. Adecree of the Emperor, however, commanded that he shouldbe immediately expelled and sent into exile. When John knewthis he voluntarily surrendered himself about noon, unknown tothe populace, on the third day after his condemnation; for hedreaded any insurrectionary movement on his account, and hewas accordingly led away.[493](h) Theophilus of Alexandria, Ep. ad Hieronymum, in Jerome,Ep. 113. (MSL, 22:932.)Theophilus on the fall of Chrysostom.To the well-beloved and most loving brother Jerome, Theophilussends greeting in the Lord.At the outset the verdict of truth satisfies but few; but the Lord,speaking by the prophet, says, “My judgment goeth forth as thelight,” and they who are surrounded with a horror of darknessdo not with clear mind perceive the nature of things, and theyare covered with eternal shame and know by their outcome thattheir efforts have been in vain. Wherefore we also have alwaysdesired that John [Chrysostom], who for a time ruled the churchof Constantinople, might please God, and we have been unwillingto accept as facts the cause of his ruin in which he behavedhimself rashly. But not to speak of his other misdeed, he hasby taking the Origenists into his confidences, 184 by advancing184 This probably refers to “the four long brothers.”