Epiphanius Calls a Synod to Condemn Origen’s Books

Theophilus also renewed his friendship with Epiphanius, bishop of Constantia in Cyprus, with whom he had once been at odds. For Theophilus had accused Epiphanius of thinking unworthily of God, by supposing him to have a human form. Now Theophilus had not really changed his opinion, and he had denounced those who thought the Godhead human in form. Yet because of his hatred of others he openly denied his own convictions. He now professed friendship with Epiphanius, as if he had changed his mind and agreed with him in his views about God. [a]

Then he arranged for Epiphanius to call a synod of the bishops in Cyprus by letter, in order to condemn the writings of Origen. Epiphanius, because of his extraordinary piety, was a man of simple mind and manners, and he was easily swayed by Theophilus’s letters. So he gathered a council of bishops in that island and had it forbid the reading of Origen’s works. He also wrote to John, urging him to give up studying Origen’s books and to call a synod to decree the same thing he had done. So when Theophilus had deceived Epiphanius in this way, a man famous for his piety, and saw his plan succeeding as he wished, he grew more confident. He too gathered a great number of bishops, and in that assembly, following the same course as Epiphanius, he had a like sentence of condemnation passed on the writings of Origen, who had been dead nearly two hundred years. Yet this was not his main aim; his real purpose was revenge on Dioscorus and his brothers.

John paid little attention to the letters of Epiphanius and Theophilus. He was intent on teaching the churches, and he flourished more and more as a preacher, but he took no account of the plots being laid against him. As soon, however, as it became plain to everyone that Theophilus was trying to strip John of his bishopric, all who bore John any ill will joined together in slandering him. And so many of the clergy, many of those in office, and many of those with great influence at court thought they had now found an opportunity to take revenge on John. They worked hard to have a great synod called at Constantinople, partly by sending letters and partly by sending messengers in every direction for that purpose.