Read the account of the synod held at Side[160] against the sect of
the Messalians,[161] Euchites,[161] or Adelphians.[162] Amphilochius,
bishop of Iconium, presided, supported by twenty-five other bishops.
Read in the same a letter of the synod to Flavian, bishop of Antioch,
giving him an account of the proceedings.
In consequence of this letter, Flavian summoned another synod against
these same heretics, assisted by three other bishops, Bizus of
Seleucia, Maruthas, bishop of the Sufareni,[163] and Samus. There
were also present priests and deacons to the number of thirty. The
synod refused to accept Adelphius’s profession of repentance or
to admit him when he offered to renounce his heresy; for it was
shown that neither his renunciation nor repentance was sincere. The
founders of this sect were Adelphius, who was neither a monk nor a
priest, but one of the laity, Sabas, surnamed _Apokopos_ (castrated),
who assumed the garb of a monk, another Sabas, Eustathius of Edessa,
Dadoes, and Simeon, the tares of the evil one, and others who grew
up together with them. Adelphius and his followers were condemned,
although they sought opportunity for repentance, which was refused
them, since they were detected communicating in writing, as if they
shared their views, with persons whom they had anathematized as
Messalians.
Flavian wrote a letter to the Osroënians, informing them of what had
been done and giving an account of the punishment and excommunication
of the heretics. The bishops who received it wrote back to Flavian,
thanking him and expressing their approval. Litoius,[164] bishop of
Armenia, also wrote inquiring about the Messalians, and a copy of the
decree and sentence of the council was sent to him. The great Flavian
also wrote to another Armenian bishop on the same subject; in this
second letter he accuses the bishop of sympathy with the Messalians.
Atticus, bishop of Constantinople, also wrote to the bishops of
Pamphylia, bidding them everywhere expel the Messalians as accursed
and an abomination. He wrote in similar terms to Amphilochius, bishop
of Side.
Sisinnius of Constantinople and Theodotus of Antioch sent a joint
letter to Verinianus,[165] Amphilochius, and the rest of the
bishops in Pamphylia, addressed “To our colleagues, beloved of God,
Verinianus, Amphilochius, and the rest of the bishops in Pamphylia:
Sisinnius, Theodotus, and all the holy synod which by the grace of
God was assembled in the mighty city of Constantinople to consecrate
the most holy Sisinnius, beloved of God, and our emperor Theodosius,
beloved of Christ, greet you in the Lord.” In this letter from
the council Neon the bishop declared that if any one, after the
excommunication of the Messalians, should at any time be detected
saying or doing anything which rendered him suspect of favouring this
heresy, he should not be allowed to retain his position, not if he
offered to pay ten thousand times the penalty imposed upon those who
repent; and that any one who supported him, a bishop or any one else,
should be liable to the same penalty. John of Antioch also wrote
a letter to Nestorius about the Messalians. The holy oecumenical
council, the third, at Ephesus,[166] also issued a decree, exposing
the blasphemies and heresies of the Messalian book _Asceticus_ and
anathematizing it. Archelaus, bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, also
wrote twenty-four anathematisms against these articles. Heraclidas,
bishop of Nyssa, also wrote two letters against them, in the second
of which evidence is given of the antiquity of the worship of the
holy images.
Some time afterwards, Gerontius, presbyter and superior of the monks
at Glitis, wrote to Alypius, archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia,
bringing various charges against Lampetius,[167] a profane impostor,
who was the first of the Messalian sect who succeeded in worming his
way into the dignity of the priesthood. Alypius, on receipt of the
letter, commanded Hormisdas, bishop of Comana, to investigate the
charges against Lampetius. The heads of the indictment were: that
he had been guilty of unlawful intercourse with women; that he had
used obscene language in reference to such matters; that he sneered
and scoffed at those who chanted the hours as being still under the
law. He and the Messalians were accused of many other impious words
and deeds; and we ourselves, while endeavouring, as far as was in
our power, to lead them from the error which was lately beginning
to spring up again, have seen much festering passion and vice
consuming their souls. But this Lampetius, Gerontius the presbyter
being his accuser and bishop Hormisdas his judge, convicted partly
on the evidence of witnesses and partly out of his own mouth, was
unanimously degraded from the priesthood. Alypius of Caesarea who
had been misled and had promoted the miscreant to the dignity of
presbyter joined in the vote. This thrice sinful Lampetius composed a
book called the _Testament_, in which some of his impious doctrines
are inserted; Severus, who usurped the see of Antioch, while
still only a presbyter, refuted it. A certain Alpheus, bishop of
Rhinocorura,[168] defended Lampetius as innocent in word and deed of
the charges brought against him, and although, so far as one knows,
he introduces no blasphemies in his published work, he was deprived
of his office as a supporter of Lampetius. Another Alpheus, who had
been ordained presbyter by Timotheus of Alexandria, was removed
from office for the same heresy, as we learn from a report made by
Ptolemy, also bishop of Rhinocorura, to the same Timotheus.