The Riot over Heraclides, and the Flight of Theophilus

First, then, Theophilus tried to investigate the matter of Heraclides’s ordination, so that, if possible, he might find a pretext for deposing John again. Heraclides was not present at this inquiry. He was nevertheless judged in his absence, on the charge of having unjustly beaten some people and afterward dragged them in chains through the middle of the city of Ephesus. John and his supporters protested against the injustice of passing sentence on someone who was absent, but the Alexandrians argued that they ought to hear Heraclides’s accusers even though he was not present. So a fierce struggle broke out between the Alexandrians and the people of Constantinople, and a riot arose in which many were wounded and some were killed. When Theophilus saw what was happening, he fled to Alexandria without ceremony; and the other bishops, apart from the few who supported John, followed his example and returned to their own sees. [a]

After these events Theophilus was disgraced in everyone’s eyes. But the ill will toward him grew enormously because of the shameless way he went on reading Origen’s works. When he was asked why he favored what he had publicly condemned, he replied: “Origen’s books are like a meadow bright with flowers of every kind. So if I happen to find a beautiful one among them, I pick it; but whatever looks thorny to me, I step over, as something that would prick.” But Theophilus gave this answer without thinking of the saying of the wise Solomon, that “the words of the wise are like goads,” and that those who are pricked by the teachings they contain ought not to kick against them. For these reasons, then, Theophilus was held in contempt by everyone.

Dioscorus, bishop of Hermopolis, one of those called the Tall Monks, died a short time after Theophilus fled. He was honored with a magnificent funeral and buried in the church at The Oak, where the synod had met over John’s case. Meanwhile John busied himself diligently with preaching. He ordained Serapion bishop of Heraclea in Thrace, the man on whose account the hostility against John himself had been stirred up. Not long afterward the following events took place.