worthy bidders, whose only anxiety was to gratify their own and the emperor's insatiate avarice.[1] The reign of Justinian was a continued scene of persecution, but, while the decrees of the council of Chalcedon were by him forced on the eastern bishops, the cause of the Eutychians found a powerful advocate in the person of the empress. Theodora had been educated in the faith of the Monophysites, and whilst her husband was assisting the partisans of the Melchite sect with his authority, she supported the opposite party with her money and her influence.[2]
The accession of Justin, who held the orthodox creed of Chalcedon, had been the signal for new disturbances and persecutions. The bishops who had been banished during the late reign were recalled, Severus fled to Egypt,[3] the see of Antioch
- ↑ Ὁς πρωτοις τοις αλλοις κακοις, και ες τας πολιτικας αρχας κα θιστηανδρας απηνεις, και ωμοτατους, ῶν ην Στεφανος ὁ Ευνουχος Περσης ταμιας των βασιλικων χρηματων.. Id. ib. Compare what the same writer says in v. Θεοδοτος, and Evagrius, lib. iv. c. 30.
- ↑ Αλλ' ὁ μεν των εν Καλχηδονι συντεθειμενων μαλα σπουδαιως αντελαμβανετο, ἡ δε, μετα των απεναντιας ουσα, των λεγοντων μιαν φυσιν παντοιως προὑνοει, και τους γε ἡμεδαπους περιεθαπτε, και τους αλλοδαπους μεγαλοις χρημασιν εδεξιουτο. Evagrius, lib. iv. c. 10. See Barhebræi Chron. Syr. p. 83.
- ↑ Benaudot, p. 138. Eutychius, p. 149. tom. ii. Victor, Chron. p. 329, &c. A synod was held at Constantinople, κατα δυσεβους Σευηρου και των τα ομοια αυτῳ φρονησαντων αἱρετικων. Montfaucon, Bibliotheca Coisliniana, p. 86. In a MS. containing, Οροι πιστεως ορθοδοξιας ἁγιων πατερων κατα Ευτυχους του ατυχους και Διοσκορου του ασεβους (p. 265), he is termed, Σευηρον τον ασεβη και Ελληνοφρονον (p. 200). Many of his
