CHAPTER XLV

THE BODY OF JOHN CHRYSOSTOM TRANSFERRED TO CONSTANTINOPLE

NOT long after this, Proclus the bishop reunited to the church those who had separated themselves from it on account of bishop John’s deposition; he having soothed the irritation which had produced their schism, by the following prudent expedient. Having obtained the emperor’s permission, he removed the body of John from Comani to Constantinople, in the thirty-fifth year after his deposition. And when he had carried it in solemn procession through the city, he deposited it with much honour in the church termed The Apostles. By this means the admirers of that prelate were conciliated, and again associated in communion with the other members of the catholic church. This happened on the 27th of January, in the sixteenth consulate of the emperor Theodosius. But it astonishes me that the odium which has been attached to Origen since his death, has not also fastened itself upon John. For the former was excommunicated by Theophilus about two hundred years after his decease; while the latter was restored to communion by Proclus in the thirty-fifth year after his death! This surely can only be accounted for by the difference of character in the two individuals who have acted in so contrary a manner. And men of observation and intelligence cannot be deceived in reference to the motives and principles which operate continually to produce anomalies such as these.