Commentary on Revelation & Paul 23 part 2/2

On account of which novelty many evils befell the city of Constantinople, and many were wickedly slain. For the crowds of the Greens and of the Blues alike, united against the emperor Anastasius, amid a thousand injuries and evils cast fire into the city, and the city was burned as far as the Forum of Constantine, over a length of 94 columns of the colonnade. In the consulate of Senator, vir clarissimus (A.D. 514). The count Vitalian, coming to Constantinople with a strong band of barbarians, settled at Sosthenion: who, being petitioned, promises peace to the emperor Anastasius on no other terms than that first he restore the exiled defenders of the Council of Chalcedon to their own sees, and unite all the Churches of the East to the Roman Church. In the consulate of Florentius, vir clarissimus (A.D. 515).

The Huns fiercely ravaged Armenia, Cappadocia, Galatia, and Pontus. At that time Euphemius, bishop of Constantinople, at Ancyra of Galatia, and Ariadne Augusta in the royal city, departed from this life. In the consulate of Peter, vir clarissimus (A.D. 516). All the archimandrites and monks of the desert beyond Palestine and the river Jordan write to the emperor Anastasius on behalf of the state of the Council of Chalcedon, and against the impieties of Severus, bishop of Antioch. In the consulate of Agapitus, vir clarissimus (A.D. 517). John, bishop of Alexandria, dies, and in his place Dioscorus is ordained.

Timothy, bishop of Constantinople, a detractor of the Council of Chalcedon, died on the 5th day of the month of April, and John the Cappadocian, in his own cell, handed over the episcopate to a presbyter. Anastasius had compelled this man, before his ordination, to condemn beforehand the Council of Chalcedon. In the consulship of Agapitus II and Magnus (A.D. 518). The emperor Anastasius, hemmed in by terror of the thunder within his own palace and struck by a bolt of lightning, died in the bedchamber where he had hidden himself; and with disgrace, without the customary funeral rites, he was carried to his tomb in the 88th year of his life. Justin, the 51st of the Romans, reigns 8 years and 9 months.

An Illyrian, a Catholic, a lover and likewise a defender of the Council of Chalcedon, whose wife was called by the name Lupicina, whom the people of Constantinople afterwards called Euphemia, and to whom there was a nephew by the name of Justinian, had served in the corps of the candidati. In the consulship of Justin Augustus and Heraclius (A.D. 519). Amantius the praepositus, stirring up seditions among the people, sought to have another made emperor; by order of the prince Justin he was killed together with Andreas the chamberlain, and cast into the current. In the consulship of Rusticius, a distinguished man (A.D. 520). John, who before Justin had been chosen for the empire, is ordained bishop of Heraclea, and Justinian, nephew of Justin Augustus, from being one of the candidati is appointed regular master of the soldiers. In the consulship of Valerius and Justinian (A.D. 521).

When Dioscorus, bishop of the Church of Alexandria, had died, Timothy succeeded him. Of the Church of Antioch, however, Severus, chief of the heretics, is made head, and John of the Church of Jerusalem. The emperor Justin joined the Eastern bishops to the Western prelates under fitting satisfaction, excepting five lesser pontiffs—Acacius formerly of Constantinople, Peter of Antioch, and Peter of Alexandria, bishops entangled in their former error—and revived the decrees of the Council of Chalcedon, which had been repudiated in the times of the princes Zeno and Anastasius. In the consulship of Symmachus and Boethius (A.D. 522). Vitalian, having received a pledge, returns to Constantinople; Justin Augustus, receiving him graciously, makes him master of the soldiers and permits the consulship to be granted him. In the consulship of Maximus, a distinguished man

consul (A.D. 523). Trasamund, king of the Vandals, dies at Carthage; his wife Amalafrida, fleeing to the barbarians, after an engagement had taken place, is captured at Capsa near the desert, and dies in private custody. Hilderic, who was born of the daughter of the emperor Valentinian—she having been taken captive by Geiseric and joined to Huneric—reigned 7 years and 3 months. This man therefore, bound by oath by his predecessor Trasamund, before he should reign, not to open churches for the Catholics in his kingdom nor to restore their privileges, in order not to overstep the bounds of the oath, ordered both that the Catholic priests should return from exile and that the churches should be opened; and at the petition of the whole city of Carthage he consecrated Boniface, a man vigorous enough in divine doctrines, as bishop of the Church.

Vitalian is said to have been slain at Constantinople within the palace, in the place which they call in Greek the Delphic, by the faction of the patrician Justinian. In the consulship of Justin Augustus and Apion (A.D. 524). To the Roman Church in the episcopate, Symmachus having died, Hormisdas succeeds. In the Church of Alexandria Timothy still survived. Of the Church of Antioch, Severus, the detractor of the Council of Chalcedon, when he was sought out by the emperor Justin for punishment, fled; and in his place Paul is substituted. Over the Church of Jerusalem John presided. But over the Church of Constantinople Epiphanius succeeds John as bishop.

After the consulship of Justin II and Apion, Justin Augustus, at the entreaty of the senators, unwillingly makes his nephew Justinian Caesar. In the consulship of Philoxenus and Probus (A.D. 525). In the consulship of Marbotius (A.D. 527). The emperor Justin dies. Justinian, the 52nd of the Romans, reigns 39 years and 7 months. He had a wife by the name of Theodora. In the consulship of Justinian Augustus (A.D. 528). The Eastern Churches, by the order of the same prince, publicly and with voice acclaim the four synods—of Constantinople, of Ephesus, and of Chalcedon, and the faith of the 150 holy Fathers—with the sacrifices being present. In the consulship of Decius, a distinguished man (A.D. 529).

By the faction of Theodora Augusta, he imposes upon all by a general law that One of the Trinity is to be confessed as having suffered—not in a qualified sense, but absolutely—and violently exacted subscriptions from the clergy and monks. For which cause very many withdrew themselves from the Church, and monks departed from their own monasteries, declaring that the faith of those who had come together in the aforesaid four holy synods sufficed for them. In the consulship of Lampadius and Orestes (A.D. 530). Hypatius, nephew of the prince Anastasius, assuming tyranny at Constantinople, with many thousands of men slain by the soldier's sword during a circus spectacle, is captured; and by night he is killed together with Pompey and cast into the current. After the consulship of Lampadius and Orestes (A.

531). Gelimer seizes the kingdom in Africa by tyranny, and, entering Carthage, deprives Hilderic of the kingdom, and delivers him with his sons into custody, and destroys Oamer and many of the nobles. In the third year after the consulship of Lampadius and Orestes, Belisarius, master of the Roman soldiery, after two battles had been fought, marvelously overcame the Persian in the Thracian battle. In the third consulship of Justinian Augustus (A.D. 533). The tyrant Gelimer cruelly destroys many of the nobles of the province of Africa, and through Boniface carries off the goods of many. In the fourth consulship of Justinian (A.D. 534). The emperor Justinian,

prompted by the visitation of the bishop Laetus—who had been made a martyr by Huneric, king of the Vandals—sends an army into Africa against the Vandals, with Belisarius the master of the soldiers as commander; these Belisarius, overcoming in battle, slays Gunthimer and Gebamund, brothers of King Gadinges (Gelimer), and, King Gelimer himself having been put to flight, takes Africa, in the ninety-seventh year of the Vandals' entry. At Belisarius' very entry, moreover, before the entry took place, the tyrant Gelimer killed King Hilderic together with certain kinsmen of his family. Belisarius, master of the soldiers and patrician, captures the tyrant Gelimer, and brings him with the riches gathered from the plunder of Africa to Constantinople, to the emperor Justinian. In the consulship of Belisarius, a distinguished man (A.D. 535).

Reparatus receives the episcopate of the Church of Carthage after Boniface. Of the Church of Jerusalem, however, Peter succeeds to the prelacy, John having died. In the second year after the consulship of Belisarius (A.D. 536), the emperor Justinian issued books concerning the Lord's Incarnation, and compelled the Illyrian bishops to subscribe. In the third year after the consulship of Belisarius (A.D. 537). Epiphanius, bishop of the Church of Constantinople, who had succeeded John, having died, Anthimus, bishop of Trebizond, by the faction of Theodora Augusta, invades the Church of Constantinople. In the consulship of John, a distinguished man (A.D. 538).

For the Roman Church, after Hormisdas John is ordained bishop, after John Felix, after Felix Boniface, after Boniface another John, and after John Agapetus. For the Church of Alexandria, Timothy—who had succeeded Dioscorus the Younger—having died, two perverse men are ordained bishops on one day by the choice of the people, namely Theodosius and Gaianus. When these had been ordained, Alexandria was divided among both enemies of Christ. From Theodosius they chose to be called Theodosians, from Gaianus Gaianites, although both alike do not accept the Council of Chalcedon and make the error of Eutyches and Dioscorus their own. In the consulship of Apion for the third time, a distinguished man (A.D. 539).

Severus of Antioch, chief of the heresy from whom the Severians are named, and Julian of Halicarnassus, bishops, assailants of the apostolic faith and of the Council of Chalcedon, are sent into exile to Alexandria by the sending of Justinian, where, writing against the followers of the Council of Chalcedon, they said that there is one nature in Christ out of two; and while Severus asserted this nature to be corruptible and Julian incorruptible, Alexandria, Egypt, and Libya were divided among both enemies of Christ. For the Theodosians followed Severus, and the Gaianites Julian. But from the Theodosians two other heresies came forth: one of the Agnoetae, and the other of the Tritheites.

The Agnoetae, indeed, add to the perversity from which they came forth this, that Christ's divinity does not know the future things that are written concerning the last day and hour. But the Tritheites, just as they assert three persons in the Trinity, so also assert that there are three Gods, against that which is written: «Hear, O Israel: the Lord thy God is one.» And again: «There is no God but one»; and, «I am God, and there is none other beside me.» In the consulship of Justin, a distinguished man (A.D. 540). Agapetus, archbishop of Rome, came to Constantinople, and deposed Anthimus, bishop of the Church of Constantinople, perverter of that Church and enemy of the Council of Chalcedon; he deprived of communion Theodora Augusta, his patroness; and forthwith made Mennas bishop of the Church of Constantinople.

Theodosius and Gaianus, bishops of Alexandria, condemned with their error, are transported into exile. But Theodosius, banished to Sycae at Constantinople, defiled with his perfidy almost the whole palace and the greatest part of the royal city. Which occasion granted license to almost all the heresies, so that not only the Theodosianites but also the Gaianites had built monasteries and oratories in the royal city. For the aforesaid heretic Theodosius lived until the first consulship of Justinian the Younger Augustus. In that year, Paul, bishop of Antioch, being still alive, Euphrasius is substituted. In the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.D. 541). Agapetus, archbishop of Rome, having died at Constantinople, Silverius is ordained bishop in his stead.

But of the Church of Alexandria, Theodosius and Gaianus having been exiled, Paul first in their place, celebrating the deposition of Dioscorus the heretic his predecessor of the Zabinnensiotae, is deposed by a Palestinian council, and in his stead Zoilus is ordained bishop. In the aforesaid consulship, Stotzas seizes the kingdom in Africa in the regions of the desert by tyranny. In the second year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.D. 543), by the faction of Theodora Augusta—who from the time she began to reign never ceased to be a secret enemy of the Council of Chalcedon—the snares of proscriptions are prepared. Silverius, bishop of Rome, is sent into exile, and in his stead Vigilius is ordained:

from whom the aforementioned Theodora Augusta, before he was ordained, extracted by a secret bond in writing that, once made pope, he would in the proscription condemn the Three Chapters, that is: the letter of Ibas of Edessa to Maris the Persian, which by the judgment of the Council of Chalcedon was approved and judged orthodox and joined to the synodal acts; then Theodore, bishop of Mopsuestia, likewise praised in the synodal acts at Antioch under John, bishop of that Church, and at Chalcedon; and the sayings of Theodoret, bishop of Cyrrhus, extolled together with Theodoret himself by the voices of the Council of Chalcedon.

This man, therefore, having been made pope, is compelled by Antonina the patrician, wife of Belisarius, to write—to Theodosius of Alexandria, Anthimus of Constantinople, and Severus of Antioch, already long since condemned by the Apostolic See—as though they were Catholics, and thus to hold concerning the faith just as they held. The tenor of that letter of his is proved to be as follows: «To the lords and, in the charity of Christ our God and Savior, united brethren, the bishops Theodosius, Anthimus, and Severus, Vigilius the bishop. I know indeed that the belief of my faith reached your holiness before, God helping. But since now the glorious lady and my daughter the most Christian patrician has my desires fulfilled»,

«so that I should send to your fraternity the present writings; I, greeting you by the grace through which we are joined in Christ our Lord and Savior, signify that the faith which you hold I too have held and do hold, God commanding—we knowing this among ourselves, which we preach and read, that we have one soul and one heart in God. I have hastened to announce to you the joys of my advancement, which is yours, God helping, and my fraternity, out of my own heart, freely embraces you as it desires. It is fitting, therefore, that she who writes these things to you should acknowledge them; but rather that your wisdom should reckon me before others to be, as it were, an object of suspicion, so that God may more easily be able to perfect what he has begun to work.»

And the subscription: «Pray for me, my lords and brethren, joined in the charity of Christ our Lord and Savior.» The beginnings of these evils are followed by a general mortality of the whole world, and by the plague of the groin the greater part of the peoples is destroyed. In the third year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.D. 544), the tyrant Stotzas, with a multitude of nations marshaled, meets at Cillium Solomon, master of the soldiery and patrician of Africa, and Aeducius, commanders of the Roman soldiery; where, an engagement having taken place, through the sins of Africa the soldiery of the Roman republic is overcome, Solomon of both.... In the fourth year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.

545), the emperor Justinian, instigated by the machinations of the Acephali, subtly compels Vigilius, bishop of Rome, to hasten to the royal city and, under the appearance of an assembly of those who are divided from the fellowship of the Church, to condemn the Three Chapters. To the prelacy of the Church of Jerusalem, after Peter, Macarius succeeds. In the fifth year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.D. 546), the tyrant Stotzas, at the port of Tacia in Africa, an engagement having taken place, was struck by the javelin of John, commander of the Roman soldiery; and by like turn John by Stotzas: who forthwith fell each by the other's sword, and died on the Lord's day, on which the battle was fought. In the sixth year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.

547), Ferrandus, deacon of the Church of Carthage, is held illustrious. Guntarith, master of the soldiers, slays by night within the palace at Carthage Areobindus, patrician and chief of the Roman soldiery in Africa, who at that time had been sent by the emperor, and seizes the kingdom by tyranny. Him Artabanus, duke of Carthage, killed as he was dining on the thirty-sixth day of his reign. In the eighth year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.D. 548), the emperor Justinian writes most urgently through the various provinces established within the bounds of his realm, and compels all the prelates to condemn the aforesaid Three Chapters. To Euphemius, bishop of Antioch, succeeds Domninus. In the ninth year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.

549), the Illyrian synod writes to Justinian Augustus in defense of the Three Chapters, and condemns Benenatus, bishop of the city of Prima Justiniana, a detractor of those same Three Chapters. Theodora Augusta, enemy of the Council of Chalcedon, her whole body suffused with the ravages of a cancer, ended her life monstrously. In the tenth year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.D. 550), the African prelates synodically exclude Vigilius, bishop of Rome, condemner of the Three Chapters, from Catholic communion—a place of penance being reserved for him—and, in defense of the aforementioned Three Chapters, send sufficiently fitting letters to the prince Justinian through Olympius the magistrianus. At that time the seven writings of Facundus, bishop of the Church of Hermiane, shone forth:

by which he declared most evidently that the aforesaid Three Chapters had been condemned in the prescript of the Catholic and apostolic faith of the Council of Chalcedon. In the eleventh year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.D. 551), Reparatus, archbishop of the Church of Carthage, Firmus, primate of the bishops of Numidia, and Primasius, and Verecundus, bishops of the council of Byzacena, are summoned for this cause to the royal city by the order of that same prince. Apollinaris is substituted as bishop of the Church of Alexandria in place of Zoilus, who was unwilling to condemn the three aforementioned Chapters. In the twelfth year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.

552), Reparatus the archbishop, assailed with very many calumnies because he did not give assent to the condemnation of the aforementioned Three Chapters, deprived of his office and means, is banished into exile at Euchaïta; and Primasius his deacon and apocrisiarius, after he had condemned the things which had been synodically and universally defended, while Reparatus was still living, against the wishes of both clergy and people, is ordained bishop of the Church of Carthage. Firmus, primate of the council of Numidia, corrupted by the gifts of the prince, gave assent to the condemnation of those same Chapters. But returning to his own country, he perished on shipboard by a most shameful death. Primasius too was banished to the monastery of Aquimetum.

But Boethius, primate of Byzacena, having been forestalled by death, in order to succeed him he forthwith assented to the aforesaid condemnation, and returning to his own affairs, he attacked with the most violent persecutions the very things he had formerly defended, both by fabricating calumnies against the faithful and by carrying off their goods. But in the things wherein he sinned, he could not lie hid. For indeed, after he had been condemned by the Catholic prelates of his own council for his prevarications, he is destroyed by an unhappy death; and the things he had acquired by fraud are faithfully taken away by the judges. But Verecundus, bishop of the Church of Nicea, persevering in the defense of the aforementioned Chapters, in the city of Chalcedon where he had taken refuge, in the lodging of the glorious mother Euphemia, departed from this life to the Lord.

Macarius, bishop of Jerusalem, is expelled, and, while he still survived, Eustochius is ordained. In the thirteenth year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.D. 553), a synod is gathered at Constantinople by the order of the prince Justinian; at which the prelates of the sees were present: Vigilius, bishop of Rome, ordained while Silverius was still surviving; Apollinaris of Alexandria, promoted while Zoilus was living; Domninus of Antioch; Eustochius, made bishop when Macarius, bishop of Jerusalem, had been removed; and Eutychius of Constantinople, who had been substituted for Mennas.

There they subject the aforesaid Three Chapters, together with their defenders, to condemnation, and penally shut off for themselves the way of return to penance, binding themselves by a perpetual anathema should they ever attempt to absolve them; to which sentences of condemnation they subscribed. Rusticus, deacon of the Roman Church, and Felix, hegumen of the monastery of Gillis in the province of Africa, contradicting their decrees, are sent into exile in the Thebaid in writing, together with their companions. When these things had thus been done, an earthquake, shaking the royal city from its foundations, cast down very many buildings and porticoes, and, the basilicas remaining standing, overthrew almost all the altars. In the fourteenth year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.

554), Frontinus the bishop, summoned to the royal city, is assigned exile in Antinoë, the chief city of the Thebaid, in defense of those same Three Chapters; and in his place Peter is ordained by the heretics for the Church of Salona. The priests of the proconsular council of the province of Africa, deluded by the craft of the bishops Rufinus and Vinus, detractors of Archbishop Reparatus, go to meet them as though they were defenders of the faith, and, all but a very few, defile themselves with the communion of Primasius, the prevaricator of the Church of Carthage. Dacius, bishop of Milan, came to Constantinople, and, consenting to the condemnation of those same Three Chapters, was struck down and died that very day.

Narses the eunuch, from praepositus made patrician, marvelously overcame and slew Totila, king of the Goths, in battle in Italy, and took away all his riches. In the fifteenth year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.D. 555), the bishops of the council of Numidia, assembled after the manner of the proconsular priests, come to Carthage, and, defiled by the communion of Primasius the intruder of that same Church, and dispatched as prevaricators, return to their own country.

Victor, bishop of the Church of Tunnuna, author of this work, after imprisonments and likewise scourgings, which he endured under Sala and Valericus, and moreover in the monastery of Mandra a first and second exile on the island of Egimurus of Mauretania, and a third to Alexandria together with Theodore, bishop of the Church of Cebarsussi, is sent into exile for the defense of the aforesaid Three Chapters, and is thrust into the prison of the fortress of Diocletian after the praetorian prison. Of Antioch, Anastasius succeeds Domninus as bishop. In the sixteenth year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.D. 556), Primosus, the intruder of the Church of Carthage, afflicts those unwilling to give him assent now with cudgels, now with imprisonments, now also with exiles.

Victor and Theodosius, the aforesaid African bishops, are cast out of prison; and after continuous disputations in the praetorium for 15 days, they are sent to another custody of the monastery of the Tabennesiotae, which is near Canopus, 12 miles from the city of Alexandria. In the seventeenth year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.D. 557), Vigilius the Roman dies on the island of Sicily. At that time Felix, hegumen of the monastery of Gala, departed from this life to the Lord in exile at Sinope. In the eighteenth year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.D. 558), Pelagius, the Roman archdeacon, defender of the aforesaid Three Chapters, returns from exile at the persuasion of the prince Justinian;

and condemning the things which he had formerly most steadfastly defended, he is ordained bishop of the Roman Church by the prevaricators: which he held for 5 years. In the nineteenth year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.D. 559), the Illyrian bishops, all but the small monasteries and the small number of the faithful, having suffered persecutions, give consent, bringing their former faith to nothing. At that time the Huns most grievously afflicted Armenia. In the twentieth year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.D. 560), the Bulgars invade Thrace, and come as far as Sycae at Constantinople. They capture and likewise carry off Sergius the patrician, who had formerly been commander of the soldiery in Africa. But, valiantly beaten by the arms of the patrician Belisarius, and put to flight alike, they crossed the Danube. In the twenty-first year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.

561), the body of Saint Anthony the hermit, having been found, is conveyed to Alexandria with the greatest honor, and is honorably placed in the basilica of Saint John the Baptist. In the twenty-second year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.D. 562), Frontinianus, bishop of Salona, is transferred from exile in Antinoë to Ancyra in Galatia. Peter, the intruder of his Church, dies, and in his stead Prodinus is substituted. In the twenty-third year after the consulship of Basil, a distinguished man (A.D. 563), Reparatus, archbishop of the Church of Carthage, in exile at Euchaïta, passed to the Lord in glorious confession on the 7th day before the Ides of January. In that year the prince Justinian sends back the envoys of the nation of the Avars to the place whence they had come....

In the 32nd year of the reign of the aforesaid prince Justinian, Pelagius is ordained bishop of Rome: he presided 11 years. Eustochius, bishop of Jerusalem, who had been ordained while Macarius was still surviving, is expelled; and again Macarius is restored. In the 38th year of the same emperor (A.D. 564), Musicus, Brumasius, Donatus, and Chrysonius, bishops from Africa, and Victor and Theodore the bishop likewise from Egypt, are summoned to the royal city by imperial order. These, while present resisting the prince Justinian himself in person, and afterward Eutychius, bishop of the royal city, disputing, resist the new superstition; being separated from one another, they are sent into custody through the monasteries of that same city. In the 39th year of his reign (A.D. 565), Justinian

directs into exile Eutychius, bishop of Constantinople, condemner of the Three Chapters, and Evagrius, deacon of the hermitages, and Didymus the monk and confessor of Alexandria—whose praises we set forth above on the authority of illustrious men—and in his stead makes John, a bishop like him in the same error. In that year the Greens make civil war in the royal city, and lay low many men of the republic with the sword in frequent engagements. But very many of their fierce ones were afterward destroyed by Julian the prefect. In the fortieth year of his reign (A.D. 566), Justinian received the end of his life in the fifteenth indiction. Theodore, bishop of Cebarsussi, defender of the Three Chapters, dies in exile at the royal city in the same month and day as Justinian;

and he is buried next to the confessors whose tongues Huneric, king of the Vandals, had cut off. Justin the Younger, son of Vigilantia, sister of Justinian Augustus, born of his father Dulcissimus, takes up the scepters of empire with great tranquility of the people. His wife Sophia is said to be the niece of Theodora Augusta. There are gathered all the years from Adam, the first man, up to the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh, which took place in the year 5199. And from the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, which took place in the 43rd year of the empire of Augustus Octavian Caesar, up to the first year of Justin, first prince of the Romans, who succeeded to the empire of Justinian, there are 527 years. Together, from Adam up to the first year of the aforesaid prince of the Romans, there are 5726 years.