John of Cappadocia
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John of Cappadocia | |
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Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople | |
Installed | 518 |
Term ended | 520 |
Personal details | |
Denomination | Chalcedonian Christianity |
John II, surnamed Cappadox or the Cappadocian (
Biography
On July 9, 518, the long reign of Anastasius came to a close, the orthodox
The people were determined to have a more formal decision, and continued shouting for several hours, mingling with their former cries such as these: "Fix a day for a festival in honour of Chalcedon!" "Commemorate the holy synod this very morrow!".[1] The people being thus firm, the deacon Samuel was instructed to announce the desired festival. Still the people continued to shout with all their might, "Severus is now to be anathematized; anathematize him this instant, or there's nothing done!".[1] The patriarch, seeing that something must be settled, took counsel with the twelve attendant prelates, who agreed to the curse on Severus. This extemporaneous and intimidated council then carried a decree by acclamation: "It is plain to all that Severus in separating himself from this church condemned himself. Following, therefore, the canons and the Fathers, we hold him alien and condemned by reason of his blasphemies, and we anathematize him".[1] The domes of St. Sophia rang with shouts of triumph and the crowd dispersed. It was a day long remembered in Constantinople.[1]
The next day the promised commemoration of Chalcedon took place. Again as the patriarch made his processional entrance and approached the pulpit clamours arose: "Restore the relics of
To authenticate what had been done, John assembled on July 20 a council of 40 bishops, who happened to be at the capital. The four general councils and the name of Pope Leo were inscribed in the diptychs. Severus of Antioch was anathematized after an examination of his works in which a distinct condemnation of Chalcedon was discovered. John wrote to John III of Jerusalem and to Epiphanius of Tyre, telling them the good news of the acclamations and the synod. His letters were accompanied by orders from Justin to restore all who had been banished by Anastasius, and to inscribe the council of Chalcedon in the diptychs. At Jerusalem and at Tyre there was great joy. Many other churches declared for Chalcedon, and during the reign of Justin 2,500 bishops gave their adhesion and approval. Now came the reconciliation with Rome. The emperor Justin wrote to the pope a fortnight after the scene of the acclamations, begging him to further the desires of the patriarch John for the reunion of the churches. John wrote saying that he received the four general councils, and that the names of Leo and of Hormisdas himself had been put in the diptychs. A deputation was sent to Constantinople with instructions that Acacius was to be anathematized by name, but that Euphemius and Macedonius might be passed over in silence.[1]
The deputies arrived at Constantinople on March 25, 519. Justin received the pope's letters with great respect, and told the ambassadors to come to an explanation with the patriarch, who at first wished to express his adherence in the form of a letter, but agreed to write a little preface and place after it the words of Hormisdas, which he copied out in his own handwriting. Two copies were sent by the legates to Rome, one in Greek, the other in Latin. Emperor, senate, and all present were overjoyed at this ratification of peace.[1]
The sting of the transaction still remained; they had now to efface from the diptychs the names of five patriarchs -
References
Attribution
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Sinclair, W. M. (1911). "Joannes Cappadox, bp. of Constantinople". In Wace, Henry; Piercy, William C. (eds.). Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century (3rd ed.). London: John Murray. Sinclair cites:
- Avitus, Ep. vii. Patr. Lat. lix. 227;
- Baronius, ad. ann. 518, x.-lxxvii. 520, vii.;
- Fleury, ii. 573;
- Acta Sanctorum 18 Aug. iii. 655;
- Hormisdas, Epp., Patr. Lat. lxiii. p. 426, etc.
- Niceph. Callist. iiii. 456, Patr. Gk.cxlvii.;
- Photius, iii. § 287 a, Patr. Gk. ciii.;
- Theoph. Chronogr. § 140, Patr. Gk. cviii.;